Veteran Benefits Assistance

The agency provides legal services for low-income people, including veterans, who live in metropolitan Los Angeles and other areas of Los Angeles county, excluding the San Fernando Valley. Services include advocacy, community awareness and education, dispute resolution, forms assistance, and legal counseling and representation. The program also provides the Maynard Toll Family Law Counseling Center, (see information below) and the Homeless Veterans Project and technical assistance for other advocates and service providers. Geographic and income restrictions apply for most services.

Assistance is provided in the areas of government benefits, consumer law, certificates/forms assistance, student loans, family law and victims of crime assistance. The agency's individual rights office assists people to seal arrest records and to have records expunged. It also helps victims of crime for compensation.

The Bill Smith Homeless Veterans Project, based at the East Los Angeles LAFLA site, provides individual advocacy and legal representation for homeless mentally ill veterans to receive their VA benefits. Services for Veterans are also provided at the Long Beach Office, the Maynard Toll site, and the Santa Monica Office site.

The agency also provides legal services to community organizations that have community economic development and protection of low and moderate income housing as priorities.

THE MAYNARD TOLL FAMILY LAW COUNSELING CENTER The center provides legal advice and counseling about family law issues including divorce, custody, paternity, and child support for low-income individuals not currently represented by an attorney. Divorce assistance is provided for battered women with minor children only. It also assists people who have a pending family law matter obtain a TRO. Priority is given to clients receiving CalWORKs.

Staff assist with court forms, and provide self-help materials and referrals for additional services. Staff do not provide general domestic violence TRO assistance, cannot file court papers, and do not represent clients in court. These services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis at the Los Angeles County Superior Courthouse by volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and students under the direction of a staff attorney.