Legal Access is an Oakland-based non-profit that provides free legal assistance to low-income folks in the greater Bay Area. Legal Access serves as the chair for the Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative (DLAC), a coalition that works to provide statewide legal assistance to survivors of disasters, like wildfires, in California. DLAC partners include law firms, non-profits, legal aid organizations, FEMA, and the Red Cross who all work to provide free services across the state.

Legal First Responders is a statewide program run by the Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative (DLAC) that keeps a corps of volunteer attorneys trained and ready to respond in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Legal issues can occur weeks, months or even years after a disaster. Many disaster survivors are not aware that their issues are in fact legal issues that can be resolved with an attorney. We currently need attorneys to respond to the recent California wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are the current volunteer opportunities we have available.

California Free Legal Answers: Help those affected by COVID-19 and disasters from the comfort of your desk! Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal advice clinic that offers free legal advice to low-income residents of California. The clinic is hosted by Legal Access Alameda, California Lawyers Association, and the ABA. Click here to sign up. Contact freelegalanswers@acbanet.org for any questions.

Disaster Legal Assistance Hotline: A Statewide legal assistance hotline dedicated to wildfire-related questions. Respond to those that have been impacted by a wildfire. If you’re interested in volunteering for this program, you can sign up HERE.

Remote FEMA Appeals Clinic: A remote clinic that will take place via Zoom. This clinic is aimed at helping wildfire survivors complete their FEMA appeal process. If you are interested in volunteering, please email the program coordinator Alexa Montalvo at alexa@acbanet.org.

LFR Information.pdf

LFR Training.pdf