Legal Assistance and Advice

Private legal services are expensive. However, there are places to obtain free or less expensive legal services. Each of the agencies listed below deals with specific legal matters; there are certain cases they do not handle. Read each listing carefully before calling.

Back on Track Community Services

Website: backontrack-ca.org
Telephone: (925) 658-8278

“Criminal Record Expungement/Dismissal” is the process of going to court to ask a Judge for a Dismissal of your criminal record. When a “Conviction” is “Dismissed: “You are no longer considered a “Convicted Felon”! Your previous charges will reflect as being “Dismissed”! It is important to remember your “Criminal Record” is not destroyed! State and Federal Officials will have access to “Expunged” court files for certain purposes. Expungements are needed to pass a background check. Hours of services: 8:00 AM-8:00 PM. Cost of Services: Sliding fee scale offered to those who qualify. Services are available in English and Spanish.

Bay Area Legal Aid Line

Legal Advice Line: (800) 551-5554

A free legal hotline available to qualified low-income residents living in the Bay Area. The Legal Advice Line provides counsel and advice in all languages on a range of civil legal issues. Attorneys may give a caller legal advice, schedule eligible clients for an appointment in a neighborhood office, or provide the caller with a helpful referral to other social services organizations, when appropriate.

Center for Human Development: Mediation & Conflict Resolution Programs

Website: chd-prevention.org/programs/conflictresolution-php
Address: 901 Sunvalley Blvd. Suite 220, Concord, CA 94520
Telephone: (925) 687-8844

Mediation is a voluntary conflict and alternative dispute resolution process that supports two or more parties with working through their differences, with the help of a third-party neutral mediator. Trained and experienced mediators help people talk to each other, define the issues, understand different points of view, explore workable solutions, and guide the parties in reaching agreements acceptable to everyone. Decision making power remains with the parties. A range of community and court-based cases are mediated including neighbor/neighbor disputes, tenant/landlord and homeowner association issues, elder/aging and family disputes, coparenting and separation issues, workplace/co-worker disputes, consumer/merchant, and organizational disputes. Services are offered on a sliding-scale basis and are available to community members, employees, community and non-profit organizations, public agencies, businesses, the courts, and schools.

Children’s Interview Center of Contra Costa County

Website: cvsolutions.org/childrens-interview-center
Telephone: (925) 608-5650

The Children’s Interview Center is a child-friendly center where children who allege sexual abuse can safely tell their story in a comfortable, compassionate setting. The goal is to reduce the number of interviews as well as interactions with different adults to reduce trauma. Clients must be referred by local police. Services are free. Spanish services are available.

Contra Costa County Department of Child Support Services

Website: contracosta.ca.gov/1374/Child-Support-Services
Telephone: (866) 901-3212

The Child Support Program works with both parents and legal guardians to ensure children receive court ordered financial and medical support. Services provided include: locating absent parents, establishing paternity (fatherhood), establishing and enforcing support orders, and collecting/distributing child support payments. Hours of services are Mon-Fri, 7:30 AM-4:30 PM. A $25 annual fee is charged on collections over $500. Translation for most languages is available.

Community Violence Solutions (CVS)
(Formerly Rape Crisis Center)

Crisis Line 24 Hour: (800) 670-7273
Antioch: (925) 706-4290
Marin: (415) 259-2850
San Pablo: (510) 237-0113
Children’s Interview Center: (925) 608-5650

Community Violence Solutions is a collaborating partner in the countywide Anti- Trafficking project. Victims of sexual and/or labor trafficking, may receive crisis intervention, counseling, comprehensive case management, advocacy, linkage & resources, and accompanying services. Community Violence Solutions operates two Drop-In Centers for individuals under the age of 24 that have experienced Commercial Sexual Exploitation. CVS also conducts training for law enforcement and Service Providers and provides community presentations free of charge to bring awareness about the important issue of Human Trafficking.
Hours of services: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm or 24hrs a day through Crisis Line.
Languages spoken: English and Spanish.
Are interpreters available? Yes, all languages through Language Line.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

Website: cccocasa.org
Telephone: (925) 256-7284

The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program recruits, trains, and supports volunteer advocates as a powerful voice for the best interest of abused and neglected children during the court process, in order to help every child ultimately thrive in a safe and permanent home.

Family Justice Center

Website: cocofamilyjustice.org
Central Center (Concord): (925) 521-6366
West Center (Richmond): (510) 974-7200
East Center (Antioch): (925) 281-0970

The Family Justice Center is a “one-stop” center for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, child and elder abuse or neglect. We provide advocacy, court accompaniment, emotional support and access to counseling, mental health services, assistance with emergency shelter, law enforcement assistance, safety planning, and legal assistance: restraining orders, custody and divorce issues. Our hours of services are Mon-Fri, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. We offer drop-in services on Mondays. Walk-ins are welcome; however, appointments are encouraged. There is no charge for our services. Our services are offered in English, Spanish, Korean, Lao, and Thai.

Lawyer Referral Service – Contra Costa Bar Association

Website: cccba.org/for-the-community/find-a-lawyer
Telephone: (925) 825-5700

Non-profit lawyer referral service. Will schedule a 30-minute consultation with an appropriate attorney in the Contra Costa County Area. Attorneys practice in most areas of the law. Free legal workshops.

Legal Services for Children

Website: www.lsc-sf.org
Telephone (English): (415) 780-6366
Telephone (Spanish): (415) 780-6367

Serves San Francisco and Bay Area Counties. Free comprehensive law firm for young people who are alone, abandoned, physically molested, sexually assaulted, and accused of or victims of crime. Assists with juvenile court, disability, mental health, education rights, institutional abuse, plus resources such as housing, guardians, school placement and job training. Serves HIV-affected families with children. Services are free. Services are available in Spanish, Mandarin and Tagalog.

National Center for Youth Law

Website: www.youthlaw.org
Address: 1212 Broadway, Suite 600: Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 835-8098

Uses law to protect abused and neglected children in Northern California. Expands access to health care for children and adolescents. Secures public benefits to meet children’s special needs and increase access to housing for families.

Online Legal Assistance: Virtual Self-Help Law Center
Spanish Speaking: Centro Virtual de Ayuda Legal

Website: www.cc-courthelp.org

Our goal is to provide information that will make it easier for you to handle your court case, whether you have a lawyer or not. This site can help you learn about court procedures, find forms, and links to other important resources.

Professional Supervised Visitation

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (510) 467-6336

Supervised visitation is the contact of a non-custodial parent and one or more children in the presence of a neutral third party, or supervisor, record the events of the visit and to ensure the safety of all parties. Third Party Professional offers no opinions, just records. This is a court approved field only service. Serving children 0 to 17 years old.

Public Defender of Contra Costa County

Website: www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/1555/Public-Defender
Telephone: (925) 335-8000
Richmond: (510) 412-4900

Free or low-cost attorneys for those unable to pay who are charged with a crime and, in cases of child reclamation, when the State tries to remove a child. Sliding scale and free services are available.

The Hawkins Center

Website: hawkinscenter.org
Telephone: (510) 232-6611

Provides legal representation to individuals with disabilities who are applying for Social Security and/or SSI disability benefits and have been denied. Limited representation available for Contra Costa residents facing cut-off of benefits.