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| Legal Service Organizations |
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| California
Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) |
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| What
is CRLA? |
CRLA
is a private, non-profit law firm founded
in 1966. It provides free legal assistance
throughout California. CRLA provides representation
and legal advice to persons whose income is
below certain limits. Please contact the office
for details. Each case is reviewed individually.
Due to limited staff, it is not possible to
provide full representation to each person
who needs a free lawyer. However, we always
try to provide some assistance, from referrals
to other agencies. |
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| What
types of cases does CRLA handle? |
Examples
of the typical types of CRLA cases are listed
below:
- Denial of benefits: Unemployment insurance
benefits; state disability insurance;
Cal WORKS (Welfare); general assistance;
food stamps; Medi-Cal; Social Security
& SSI.
- Labor & Employment: Minimum wage and
overtime claims; working conditions; retaliation
and sexual harassment.
- Health: Pesticide poisoning; health
and safety at work; hospital bills; access
to medical services; Medi-Cal
- Education: Discipline; special education.
- Housing: Evictions; lockouts and utility
shut-offs by landlords; rent deposit refunds;
poor housing conditions.
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| What
types of case does CRLA not handle? |
Types
of cases CRLA does not handle are listed below:
- Criminal Law: You may ask the court
to appoint legal counsel at your court
appearance.
- Family Law: CRLA will provide you with
referrals to other agencies that may assist
in your legal issue.
- Personal Injury: CRLA does not handle
cases that are regularly accepted by private
attorneys on a contingency fee bases.
- Traffic Law: CRLA does not handle any
traffic ticket issues.
- Worker's Compensation: CRLA does not
handle cases that are regularly accepted
by private attorneys on a contingency
fee bases.
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| How
do I contact CRLA? |
You may call or stop by CRLA office at:
1011 Pacific Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 544-7997
The office hours as follows:
Monday - Tuesday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Wednesday CLOSED
Thursday - Friday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
CRLA staff is available to meet in Paso
Robles. Please call the office to set up
an appointment.
Or check out the CRLA web site at: http://www.crla.org/
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| Senior
Legal Services |
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| What
is the Senior Legal Services? |
Under
the provisions of a grant from the Area Agency
on Aging, the San Luis Obispo Legal Alternatives
Corporation provides free legal services to
seniors aged 60 and older in San Luis Obispo
County through the Senior Legal Services Project.
The Project offers individuals confidential
advice and counsel by appointment. The Project
provides attorneys at senior centers throughout
the county, meeting with seniors by appointment
to answer their individual questions. |
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| Do
I have to make an appointment? |
Senior
Legal Services can arrange to meet with you
by appointment in San Luis Obispo. General
questions may be answered by telephone. |
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| What
types of cases does the Senior Legal Services
handle? |
The
Project is especially concerned that those
most in need receive assistance with income
benefit programs (social security, SSI, food
stamps, etc), housing needs (landlord-tenant,
evictions, nursing homes and board and care
situations), and protection from elder abuse
situations. Services are available, however,
regardless of income status.
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| How
do I contact the Senior Legal Services? |
Contact
the Senior Legal Services by calling (805)
543-5140 or check out their web site at http://www.sanluissenior.com/Legal.html
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| Central
CREATIVE MEDIATION |
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| Who is Creative Mediation? |
Creative Mediation provides dispute resolution services to individuals and organizations as a low-cost alternative to filing a suit in court or to resolve suits already filed.
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| Who
are the Mediators? |
Mediators are trained professionals who typically volunteer their time.
Mediators are third party neutrals and do not take sides or decide who is right or wrong.
Mediators facilitate constructive dialog and help people work out their own solutions.
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| What
types of cases can be handled through mediation? |
Mediation can help resolve non-criminal cases such as Small Claims and Civil. Examples include the following:
- Family Disputes
- Business/Commercial
- Contractor/Client
- Child Visitation
- Employee/Employer
- Co-Workers
- Landlord/Tenant
- Neighbor/Neighbor
- Personal Injury
- Personal Relationships
- Probate
- Sales/Leases
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| Is
there a cost to mediation? |
Creative Mediation is a non-profit organization committed to offering a low cost forum for people to resolve their conflict. Free services exist for residents of San Luis Obispo County. Please call Creative Mediation at 549-0442 to discuss your case and learn about the fee. |
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| What
is the mediation process? |
Upon receipt of your mediation request, you will be contracted to discuss your needs and further information. The person(s) with whom you are having a problem will be contacted. Mediation is a voluntary process. Once both parties have agreed to mediate, a mediation session is scheduled at a convenient date and time for you. Mediators will be assigned to help you reach a resolution, which the parties may agree to make legally binding. Your case will be scheduled for mediation within two weeks of your request. |
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| How
do I contact the Central Coast Mediation Network? |
Creative Mediation is located at: 285 South St., Suite P San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Or call (805) 549-0442 |
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| Women's
Community Center (WCC) |
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| What
is the Women's Community Center? |
The Women's Community Center (WCC) is the
only grassroots all volunteer organization
in the county with the direct mission to
maintain an accessible center to collect
and exchange information of interest and
concern to women, to organize and facilitate
workshops, clinics, seminars, classes and
support groups on subjects of interest and
need, and to engage in and facilitate interaction
among local, state and national agencies
and organizations working to benefit women.
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| What
types of legal services does the WCC offer? |
The main legal focus for the WCC is Family
Law.
WCC presents an educational seminar (Divorce
Class) for people contemplating divorce,
giving practical tips to be prepared and
information necessary to help the client
help her attorney through the process.
In collaboration with the Family Law Section
of the San Luis Obispo County Bar Association,
the WCC provides a legal pro per clinic
once a month. Clients speak to lawyers about
their cases, in a one-on-one setting.
Participants in the pro per clinic must
not be represented by an attorney in their
court proceedings. The attorneys who talk
to them at the clinic will not be representing
them in court but can give them specific
legal advice how to proceed on their own.
Participants are welcome to return to this
clinic as many times as necessary.
WCC has also created a handbook for participants
of our services to assist them in shepherding
their own divorce matters through the court
system.
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| When
and where are the Divorce Classes held? |
The Divorce Class is held the 3rd Wednesday
of every month starting at 7:00 pm. The
Class is held at:
WCC
1129 Marsh St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
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| Is
there a cost to attend the Divorce Class? |
A
donation of $5.00 is asked to attend the Divorce
Class. |
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| When
and where is the Pro Per Clinic held? |
The Pro Per Clinic is held the 4th Tuesday
of every month starting at 5:30 pm. Advance
registration is required. The Clinic is
held at:
WCC
1129 Marsh St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
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| Is
there a cost to attend the Pro Per Clinic? |
A
donation of $25.00 is asked to attend the
Pro Per Clinic. |
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| What
other types of services does the WCC offer? |
WCC
also serves as the umbrella for Real FACTS,
a group which monitors and advocates against
abuses in the child welfare system. Paramount
for this group is the needs of the families
whose lives have been impacted by the governmental
agencies charged with protecting children
and families from abuse.
As advocates for a fair and equitable treatment
of women in the family court system. WCC
also provides court watchers. These are
volunteers who sit in the courtroom and
observe the proceedings, especially in cases
where one party has no attorney and the
other side does. We have found that the
presence of a neutral observer has helped
improve the atmosphere in the courtroom
so that the self-represented person has
a fair opportunity to present her case.
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| How
do I contact the WCC? |
WCC
maintains an office in San Luis Obispo with
a 24-hour message phone. We have a dedicated
staff of volunteers who come in every day
to take the messages and return calls. Call
544-9313 for more information. |
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| Small
Claims Advisory |
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| What
is the Small Claims Advisory? |
The Small Claims advisor provides individual
assistance and advice to small claims court
litigants and potential litigants at no
charge. In San Luis Obispo County, the small
claims advisory is part of the District
Attorney Economic Crime Unit.
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| What
can the Advisor help me with? |
The advisor is not an attorney and cannot
provide you with legal advice about your
claim. However, the advisor can assist parties
with filling out small claims forms, answering
procedural questions, and identify potential
resources and publications. The advisor
may only discuss issues relating to small
claims court.
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| How
do I contact the Advisor? |
The Small Claims Advisor maybe contacted
by telephone at (805) 781-5856.
Or stop by during the following office hours:
Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Fridays 9:00 am - 12:-00 pm
No appointment is necessary
The Small Claims Advisory office is located
at the County Government Center Room 223.
Information regarding small claims court
can be found on the following website: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/smallclaims/#prepare.htm
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| Family
Law Facilitator |
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| What
is the Family Law Facilitator? |
The Family law facilitator is a lawyer
with experience in family law who works
for the superior court in your county to
help parents and children involved in family
law cases with child and spousal support
problems.
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| What
can the Facilitator help me with? |
The Facilitator and volunteers will assist
you by:
- Helping you select the necessary forms
- Providing you with samples of the completed
forms
- Helping you perform child support and/or
spousal support calculations ("Dissomaster"
program)
- Answering brief individual questions
- Giving you a better understanding of
court procedures
- Teaching classes about family law actions
- Referring you to other community resources
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| How
do I contact the Family Law Facilitator? |
For further information on this service
including hours, please call (805) 546-3769.
Or visit the following web site: http://www.slocourts.net/family/famfaci.htm
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| CASA – COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN
OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
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| What is CASA? |
The CASA program provides trained volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children who are under the jurisdiction of the juvenile due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. Volunteers spend many hours with their assigned child(ren) as a friend and support person. They investigate all aspects of the children’s situation, speaking with teachers, social workers, friends, relatives, anyone who might provide insight into the child’s unique situation and needs. CASA volunteers are the eyes and ears of the court, providing the judge with valuable information that will help guide the decision making process for the future of these children.
CASA volunteers also advocate on a daily basis for these children’s educational needs in the school system and connect them with appropriate services ranging from language based preschool for toddlers to getting teenagers on track for graduation.
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| How do I volunteer? |
CASA holds information sessions for prospective volunteers on the fourth Wednesday of every month at noon at the CASA office in the Pacific Coast Center, 75 Higuera Street, Suite 180, San Luis Obispo, 93401.
Monthly information sessions are also held at selected Starbucks locations throughout San Luis Obispo County. See www.slocasa.org for a schedule of these sessions.
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| How do I contact CASA? |
Contact CASA by calling (805) 541-6542; by mail at Post Office Box 1168, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401; or check out their website at www.slocasa.org
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| Other
Legal Service Organizations |
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| ACLU
The ACLU is an advocate of individual
rights and equal justice, and leading guardian
against unwarranted government interference
and abuse.
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1-213-977-9500
http://www.aclu-sc.org/
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| California
Department of Fair Employment and Housing
"The Mission of the Department of Fair
Employment and Housing is to protect the
people of California from unlawful discrimination
in employment, housing and public accommodations,
and from the perpetration of acts of hate
violence."
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Employment/Public Accommodations:
1-800-884-1684 (Within California)
1-916-227-0551 (Outside California)
Housing:
1-800-233-3212 (Within California)
1-510-622-2945 (Outside California)
Hate Violence:
1-866-460-HELP (4357)
TTY:
1-800-700-2320 (Within California)
http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/
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| Department
of Consumer Affairs
"The Department of Consumer Affairs'
mission is to promote and protect the interests
of California consumers. We have information
to help you make smart choices and solve
problems. We'll educate you regarding your
rights and responsibilities. To protect
consumers, we license and regulate 2.3 million
professionals, including doctors, dentists,
contractors and auto-repair technicians."
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1-800-344-9940
http://www.dca.ca.gov/
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| National
Fraud Information Center
"Our mission is to give consumers the
information they need to avoid becoming
victims of telemarketing and Internet fraud
and to help them get their complaints to
law enforcement agencies quickly and easily."
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1-800-876-7060
http://www.fraud.org/
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San Luis Obispo County District Attorney
Victim/Witness Assistance Program
This program supports victims of Domestic
Violence, Elder Abuse, and sexual assault.
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(805) 781-5821
http://www.sloda.com/page3.html
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San Luis Obispo County District Attorney
Economic Crime Unit Program
The Consumer Advisor mediates to
resolve disputes between customers and businesses,
reviews victim complaints to determine whether
issues are civil or criminal, or whether
the complaint should be referred to law
enforcement.
The Bad Check Program is a service
provided to victims who have received a
nonsufficient fund or account closed check.
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(805)
781-5856
http://www.sloda.com/page4.html
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| Social
Security |
(800)
772-1213 or (805) 544-5251
http://www.ssa.gov/
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| U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
"HUD's mission is to increase homeownership,
support community development and increase
access to affordable housing free from discrimination.
To fulfill this mission, HUD will embrace
high standards of ethics, management and
accountability and forge new partnerships--particularly
with faith-based and community organizations--that
leverage resources and improve HUD's ability
to be effective on the community level."
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1-800-669-9777
http://www.hud.gov/local/
index.cfm?state=ca |
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| Workers
Compensation Division of the State of California
"DWC monitors the administration of
workers' compensation claims, and provides
administrative and judicial services to
assist in resolving disputes that arise
in connection with claims for workers' compensation
benefits."
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1-415-703-4600
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/
dwc_home_page.htm |
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