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San Francisco Public Library and Library staff cannot make legal referrals or
provide legal advice. Following is a list of some legal resources:
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Legal Advice and Referral
Clinic (LARC) is a free program held at Main Library on the second
Saturday of each month, and provides free private consultations for problems
which may require an attorney. It is sponsored by the Volunteer Legal
Services Program of the Bar Association of San Francisco. Check the
Library's Events Schedule for
details.
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California Courts
Self-Help Center, Free & Low-Cost Legal Help
An excellent place to start--online guide to legal aid offices, lawyer
referral services, and local bar associations.
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California State Bar Attorney Search
This is the site to check to make sure an attorney is entitled to practice
law in California at this time (includes current contact information and
notations of any disciplinary action). Click on the "Attorney Search"
link to the right to search the official state bar membership records.
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The California
State Bar's Public Services page also includes
consumer information pamphlets dealing with legal issues, information
on filing complaints against attorneys, and a list of
certified
lawyer referral services.
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San Francisco Bar Association
A nonprofit membership organization which offers a free volunteer legal services
program, a legal referral service (for a fee), and the publication, Directory
of San Francisco Attorneys (available in print only)--a roster of attorneys
and legal professionals for the Bay Area that lists lawyers by area of practice and
can be found at the Government Information Center (5th Floor), Main Library.
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San Francisco Community Services Directory
(Database by San Francisco Public Library)
Search this database for local agencies, organizations, and associations
which offer legal services or referrals. Enter "legal" in the
search box and click on the "Subjects" button.
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Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Locator
Use this site for finding lawyers who speak other languages (in addition to English) by
searching under the "Location/Area of Practice" tab. International in scope this is the
largest directory of attorneys and law firms available on the Internet. Includes searches
by location (city, county, state, and country), area of practice, law schools attended,
languages spoken, and attorney status by peer review.
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California Legal Specialists
Search this site for attorneys who are certified as legal specialists by the
California State Bar.
Specialties include: Appellate, Business Bankruptcy, Civil Trial, Consumer
Bankruptcy, Creditors' Rights, Criminal, Criminal Trial, Elder Law, Estate
Planning, Trust and Probate, Family, Family Law Trial, Immigration and
Nationality, Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy, Taxation, and Workers'
Compensation.
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American Bar Association Network
Consumer's Guide to Legal Help on the Internet, including hiring
a lawyer, free legal help, and self-help.
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Lawyers' Committee Legal Services Clinic
(by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area)
Conducts a free weekly legal services clinic that offers assistance and possible
representation for the following legal issues: Tort Defense/Uninsured Motorist,
School Suspension/Expulsion, Public Benefits, and Debt Collection. Clients must
be low-income and must call to set up an intake appointment.
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Nolo Press
"To help people handle their own everyday legal matters -- or learn enough
about them to make working with a lawyer a more satisfying experience -- we publish
reliable, plain-English books, software, forms and this website." Includes
an online "Law Center." Try typing the words "hire lawyer" in
the search box. Many Nolo Press books can be found at the San Francisco Public
Library.
Guides to Finding a Lawyer:
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How Can I Find And Hire The Right Lawyer?
A publication by the State Bar of California.
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Hiring
A Lawyer
Describes options available for hiring a lawyer through the Internet, published by
the American Bar Association
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When
And How To Use A Lawyer (PDF)
Published by the American Bar Association
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How
To Find An Excellent Lawyer
A different perspective by Nolo Press, premiere publisher of self-help law guides
And if you need forms:
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California Court Forms
Has printable versions of the official Judicial Council court forms, which are
adopted for mandatory use by all California courts
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FedForms
"One-stop shopping" Web site for federal forms most-used by the public
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