Free Legal Help for Tenants and Landlords in California

Legal aid organizations, right-to-counsel programs and official court self-help resources in California, gathered from the state, county and city pages on this site.

Right to a free lawyer in eviction cases

Statewide: No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. The Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act funds Judicial Council grant programs in selected courts that appoint counsel for low-income parties in housing and other civil matters, subject to funding. Some cities have their own right-to-counsel ordinances. Cal. Gov. Code §§ 68650-68651

Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, Long Beach): LA County Tenant Right to Counsel Ordinance (TRTCO): free legal services for eligible tenants living in UNINCORPORATED Los Angeles County during unlawful detainer proceedings; includes landlord notice requirements. Source
San Diego County (San Diego): Sargent Shriver Housing Project: free legal representation in unlawful detainer cases for eligible low-income parties, provided by the Legal Aid Society of San Diego (866-244-0101). Not a universal right to counsel. Source
City and County of San Francisco: Tenant Right to Counsel (Proposition F, the No Eviction Without Representation Act, approved by voters June 5, 2018, codified as S.F. Admin. Code Sec. 58.4, effective July 20, 2018; the City had up to 12 months to fully implement it, and the program was in effect July 11, 2019): the City must fund full-scope legal representation for all residential tenants facing eviction, available 30 days after service of an eviction notice (any notice to terminate tenancy) or on service of an unlawful detainer complaint, whichever occurs first, and continuing until the notice or complaint is withdrawn, the case is dismissed, or judgment is entered. It does not apply when the landlord or master tenant lives in the same unit as the tenant, or where a state or federal program already provides full-scope representation. Intake: Eviction Defense Collaborative, 415-659-9184 (per sf.gov, https://www.sf.gov/evictions-san-francisco). Code text: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/san_francisco/latest/sf_admin/0-0-0-60051 Source
Berkeley: No right-to-counsel ordinance. City and Rent Board-funded eviction defense is available to low-income tenants through the Eviction Defense Center and the East Bay Community Law Center. Source
Fresno: Partial. The city's Eviction Protection Program may appoint free counsel to tenants it screens as facing a potentially unlawful eviction. It is not a universal right. Source
Long Beach: Funded program, not an ordinance. Low-income tenants facing eviction can get counsel through Stay Housed LA (City/County partnership). Source
Los Angeles: Yes. Effective August 20, 2025, for tenants at or below 80% AMI who apply within 30 days of being served with an unlawful detainer. Landlords must provide and post the Notice of Right to Counsel. Source
San Francisco: Yes. Tenants served with a termination notice are eligible for free help through the Tenant Right to Counsel Program, with intake through the Eviction Defense Collaborative. Source

Free legal aid organizations

Stay Housed L.A. — Free eviction defense service for income-eligible tenants in LA County (rights information, referrals).
Serves: Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, Long Beach)
Shriver-L.A. Housing Self Help Center — Court-based self-help for unlawful detainer cases, located in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.
Serves: Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, Long Beach)
Legal Aid Society of San Diego — Clinic at the Central Division; also the court's Sargent Shriver housing provider (866-244-0101).
Serves: San Diego County (San Diego)
San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program — Landlord-tenant clinic at the North County Division.
Serves: San Diego County (San Diego)
Community Legal Aid SoCal (Legal Aid Society of Orange County) - UD/eviction diversion — Listed by the court as the Unlawful Detainer (Eviction) Clinic.
Serves: Orange County (Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine)
Public Law Center — Listed on the court's landlord/tenant self-help page.
Serves: Orange County (Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine)
Fair Housing Council of Orange County — Listed on the court's landlord/tenant self-help page.
Serves: Orange County (Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine)
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley — Listed on the court's eviction self-help page.
Serves: Santa Clara County (San Jose)
Bay Area Legal Aid — Free legal help with housing (court listing).
Serves: Santa Clara County (San Jose), City and County of San Francisco
Asian Law Alliance — Listed on the court's eviction self-help page.
Serves: Santa Clara County (San Jose)
Project Sentinel — Landlord-tenant dispute resolution.
Serves: Santa Clara County (San Jose)
East Bay Community Law Center — Eviction defense clinic (listed by the court).
Serves: Alameda County (Oakland, Fremont, Hayward)
Legal Access Alameda — Low-income landlord clinic (listed by the court).
Serves: Alameda County (Oakland, Fremont, Hayward)
Inland Counties Legal Services — Listed by the court (Rancho Cucamonga 909-980-0982; San Bernardino 909-884-8615; Victorville 760-241-7072); runs the Tenant/Landlord Assistance Program.
Serves: San Bernardino County (San Bernardino, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga)
Inland Counties Legal Services - Tenant/Landlord Assistance Program — Local legal aid; UD clinic (listed by the court).
Serves: Riverside County (Riverside, Moreno Valley)
Riverside Legal Aid — Free legal assistance (listed by the court).
Serves: Riverside County (Riverside, Moreno Valley)
Fair Housing Council of Riverside County — Information/research (listed by the court).
Serves: Riverside County (Riverside, Moreno Valley)
Legal Services of Northern California - Sacramento — Listed in the court's legal resources directory.
Serves: Sacramento County (Sacramento)
Advisory Clinic for Small Claims and Unlawful Detainer (court) — Court self-help clinic, 916-875-7846.
Serves: Sacramento County (Sacramento)
Eviction Defense Collaborative — Free legal help for tenants facing eviction, (415) 947-0797.
Serves: City and County of San Francisco
La Raza Centro Legal — (415) 575-3500.
Serves: City and County of San Francisco
Tenderloin Housing Clinic
Serves: City and County of San Francisco
Central California Legal Services — 2115 Kern Street, Suite 1, Fresno, (559) 570-1200.
Serves: Fresno County (Fresno), Madera County
Fair Housing Council of Central California — 333 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 14, Fresno, (559) 244-2950 (listed by the court).
Serves: Fresno County (Fresno)
Bay Area Legal Aid (Contra Costa County office) — Free civil legal help incl. housing for qualifying low-income residents; Legal Advice Line 800-551-5554.
Serves: Contra Costa County (Concord, Richmond, Antioch)
Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA) — Listed by the Kern County Superior Court; GBLA runs the court's Landlord-Tenant Assistance Center (1415 Truxtun Ave., 3rd Floor, Bakersfield; (661) 610-6299) with the court under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act. Source: https://www.kern.courts.ca.gov/general-information/legal-resources and the court's Eviction Packet (rev. 01/23/2026), https://www.kern.courts.ca.gov/system/files/forms-and-filings/1-new-complaint-012026.pdf
Serves: Kern County (Bakersfield)
Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County — Free consultation by phone 650-517-8911, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (per County housing page).
Serves: San Mateo County (San Mateo, Redwood City, Daly City)
Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto — Listed by the County as a tenant resource.
Serves: San Mateo County (San Mateo, Redwood City, Daly City)
California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) — Free legal services for eligible low-income Californians; housing is a practice area. Statewide line 1-800-337-0690. Confirm local office.
Serves: Ventura County (Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Ventura), San Joaquin County (Stockton), Stanislaus County (Modesto), Monterey County (Salinas)
Legal Aid of Sonoma County — Listed by the Superior Court under related links.
Serves: Sonoma County (Santa Rosa)
Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County — Listed by the court. Lompoc/Solvang (805) 736-6582; Santa Barbara (805) 963-6754; Santa Maria (805) 922-9909.
Serves: Santa Barbara County (Santa Maria, Santa Barbara)
Central California Legal Services (Visalia office) — Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents; housing is a practice area. Visalia office 2025 W Feemster Ave; advice line (800) 675-8001.
Serves: Tulare County (Visalia)
California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), Tulare office — 438 N M St, Tulare, CA 93274; (559) 218-5795. Serves eligible low-income residents.
Serves: Tulare County (Visalia)
Tulare-Kings Counties Legal Services — Listed by the court for self-represented parties preparing for an unlawful detainer trial: 208 West Main Street, Suite U-1, Visalia; 559-737-8770.
Serves: Tulare County (Visalia)
Legal Services of Northern California (Vallejo office) — Serves Solano County. The court lists 1819 Capitol St, Vallejo; (800) 270-7252; housing and landlord-tenant help for low-income residents.
Serves: Solano County (Vallejo)
San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation (SLOLAF) — Nonprofit legal help for San Luis Obispo County residents, including a housing program; (805) 543-5140. Listed on the court's eviction page.
Serves: San Luis Obispo County (San Luis Obispo)
California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), San Luis Obispo office — 1880 Santa Barbara Ave, Suite 240, San Luis Obispo; (805) 544-7994. For eligible low-income residents.
Serves: San Luis Obispo County (San Luis Obispo)
Legal Services of Northern California (Auburn office) — LSNC's Auburn office serves Placer County (also Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Nevada, Sierra). Housing help for eligible low-income residents.
Serves: Placer County (Roseville), El Dorado County
Central California Legal Services (Merced office) — 1640 N Street, Suite 200, Merced; (209) 386-1696 or (800) 675-8001. Free civil legal help, including housing, for eligible low-income residents; a Los Banos satellite office is listed as opening soon.
Serves: Merced County (Merced)
California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), Watsonville office — (831) 724-2253; services by phone or appointment. For eligible low-income residents.
Serves: Santa Cruz County (Santa Cruz)
Legal Aid of Marin — Tenant rights and eviction defense; (415) 492-0230. Call to confirm eligibility.
Serves: Marin County (San Rafael)
Legal Services of Northern California (Chico office) — LSNC's Chico office serves Butte County (also Colusa, Glenn, Plumas). Housing help for eligible low-income residents.
Serves: Butte County (Chico)
Legal Services of Northern California (Woodland office) — LSNC's Woodland office serves Yolo County; linked from the court's eviction page. Housing help for eligible low-income residents.
Serves: Yolo County (Davis)
Legal Services of Northern California - Redding Office — 1370 West Street, Redding, CA 96001; (530) 241-3565, toll-free (800) 822-9687. Serves low-income clients in Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou and Tehama counties. Hours Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 9-11:45 a.m. and 1-4:45 p.m.; Thursday 1-4:45 p.m.
Serves: Shasta County
Legal Services of Northern California (Eureka) — Listed by the court: 123 3rd Street, Eureka, CA; 707-445-0866. Assists tenants only; income qualifications may apply.
Serves: Humboldt County
California Rural Legal Assistance - El Centro office — (760) 353-0220; call for services (in-person services temporarily unavailable). Statewide line 1-800-337-0690; housing help at https://crla.org/get-help/housing.
Serves: Imperial County
Bay Area Legal Aid - Napa County Office — 1250 Main St, Suite 210, Box 18, Napa, CA 94559; (707) 259-0579, by appointment. Housing help through the Legal Advice Line 800-551-5554 for qualified low-income residents.
Serves: Napa County (Napa)

Find a tenant or eviction lawyer in California

If you do not qualify for free legal aid, a bar lawyer referral service can match you with a landlord-tenant lawyer for a low-cost first consultation.

State Bar of California directory of certified Lawyer Referral Services
The State Bar does not refer you to a lawyer itself. Its directory lists certified referral services you can search by county, practice area and language. Lawyers referred by certified services give a first consultation for a reduced fee or free. Each service sets its own fees, and the State Bar page does not list them.

Official court and state resources

Legal aid groups set their own eligibility rules (usually income-based). Call ahead or check their site.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.