Self-Help Legal Access Centers
Here you will find
Self-Help Legal Access Centers
The SHLAC program meets a critical need in Los Angeles County by providing information and resources to litigants that are representing themselves in court without the help of an attorney.
What We Do
Developed and funded by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Self-Help Legal Access Center (SHLAC) program is administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, and operated by Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS), Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), and Community Legal Aid SoCal.
SHLACs:
- Provide information about court procedures;
- Provide required court forms;
- Provide trained legal professionals to review court forms after they have been filled out;
- Conduct workshops; and
- Provide one-on-one assistance.
Each SHLAC is staffed by a trained attorney, knowledgeable professionals, and volunteers.
There is no attorney-client relationship between SHLAC staff and SHLAC patrons. SHLAC staff does not go to court with the patrons they assist. The purpose of SHLAC is to provide information and resources to patrons so that they can effectively represent themselves in court.
SHLACs provide assistance for the following types of cases:
Divorce
Paternity
Guardianship
Child Custody
Tenant Eviction
Name Change
Restraining Order
Consumer Debt
What We Do
Developed and funded by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Self-Help Legal Access Center (SHLAC) program is administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, and operated by Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS), Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), and Community Legal Services (CLS).
SHLACs:
- Provide information about court procedures;
- Provide required court forms;
- Provide trained legal professionals to review court forms after they have been filled out;
- Conduct workshops; and
- Provide one-on-one assistance.
Each SHLAC is staffed by a trained attorney, knowledgeable professionals, and volunteers.
There is no attorney-client relationship between SHLAC staff and SHLAC patrons. SHLAC staff does not go to court with the patrons they assist. The purpose of SHLAC is to provide information and resources to patrons so that they can effectively represent themselves in court.
SHLACs provide assistance for the following types of cases:
Name Change
Obtaining a Civil Restraining Order
Civil Complaint
Tenant Eviction
Unlawful Detainer
Divorce
Guardianship
Paternity
Child Custody
Tenant Eviction
SHLAC Locations and Hours
LOCATIONS
Van Nuys Self-Help Center Van Nuys Courthouse
Superior Court – East Building
6230 Sylmar Ave.
Room 350
Van Nuys, CA 91401
Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Pomona Self-Help Center Pomona Courthouse
400 Civic Center Plaza
7th Floor
Pomona, CA 91766
Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Inglewood Self-Help Center Inglewood Courthouse
1 East Regent St.
Room 107
Inglewood, CA 90301
Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Antelope Valley Self-Help Center Michael D. Antonovich Courthouse
42011 4th Street West
Room 3700
Lancaster, CA 93534
Monday*-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
(*court referrals are priority)
Long Beach Self-Help Center Long Beach Courthouse
275 Magnolia Ave.
Room 3101
Long Beach, CA 90802
Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Santa Monica Self-Help Center Santa Monica Courthouse
1725 Main St.
Room 210
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Torrance Self-Help Center Torrance Courthouse
825 Maple Ave.
Room 160
Torrance, CA 90503
Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Compton Self-Help Center Compton Courthouse
200 West Compton Blvd.
Compton, CA 90220
Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Chatsworth Self-Help Center Chatsworth Superior Courthouse
9425 Penfield Ave.
Room 3700
Chatsworth, CA 91311
Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
SHLAC History
There has been a steady increase in the number of litigants that represent themselves in California Courts. People that go to court without a lawyer are called “pro per” or “pro se” litigants. Pro per litigants represent a new challenge for the court system because they are often unfamiliar with court procedures and requirements. The Self-Help Legal Access Center (SHLAC) program was developed to help the large number of pro per litigants by providing information and resources to them. SHLACs help the court process run more smoothly and increase citizens’ feelings of satisfaction about the justice system.
The County of Los Angeles began funding the SHLAC program in 2000. Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) was chosen in a competitive process to operate the centers. The first SHLAC opened in Van Nuys in October of 2000. Since then the County has funded eight additional facilities in Pomona, Inglewood, Antelope Valley, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Chatsworth, Compton and Torrance.
SHLAC Statistics
Number of visitors helped at a Los Angeles County sponsored SHLAC since SHLAC’s inception in 2000.
Average percentage of SHLAC visitors that have a household income below the federal poverty line.
Average percentage of SHLAC visitors that speak a language other than English at home.
Average percentage of SHLAC visitors that are college graduates
Average percentage of SHLAC visitors that have a family law related legal issue.
Volunteer hours donated to SHLACs.
