Legal Services

Conduct an intake with Legal Services

The Legal Services Department provides LGBTQ-specific, inclusive, and affirming legal assistance in the greater Long Beach area.  Legal Services can conduct an intake with community members with any legal issue.  We will work with you to determine the best fit for resources.

All Legal Services at The Center are FREE!

Our resources are accessible through bi-lingual staff and interpreter services.  Staff are trained on accessibility issues, including service provision to clients with limited English proficiency.

We do not recommend emailing us with facts or information pertinent to your case as we are a department that exercises strict confidentiality. 

Please note that emailing or calling Legal Services does not create an attorney-client relationship.

if you do not have access to a phone and/or are unable to leave a voicemail, please indicate this in your email to us.

1-562-433-8595

If this is an emergency and you need to speak to someone immediately

Please call the 24-Hour National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-7233

Our Legal Services

  • Legal Services can conduct an intake with community members to see whether they may be able to receive victims of crime legal assistance. Legal Services provides direct holistic legal services to survivors/victims of any crime, including hate violence, domestic/intimate partner violence, sexual violence (including non-intimate partner sexual violence), stalking (including non-intimate partner stalking), elder abuse, assault, robbery, fraud, identity theft, family member or partner of homicide victim(s), human trafficking (including labor and sex trafficking), witnesses of violence, and other forms of violence/crimes.

    If this is an emergency and you need to speak to someone immediately,
    please call the 24-Hour National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233.

  • Legal Services can conduct an intake with community members to see whether they may be able to receive legal assistance. We will work with you to determine a best fit for legal resources. Legal Services can make referrals to local LGBTQ-friendly attorneys and low-cost legal resources.

  • Legal Services can conduct an intake with community members to see whether they may be able to receive a free consultation in our Legal Clinic. In collaboration with local volunteer attorneys, we provide free confidential legal consultations with state-licensed attorneys on-site in a wide range of practice areas. Consultations are by appointment only. During the appointment, clients can discuss any legal issue(s) they are experiencing and receive confidential advice. If the issue cannot be addressed during the Legal Clinic and/or if the issue cannot be resolved within the appointment time, Legal Services can make referrals to local LGBTQ-friendly attorneys and low-cost legal resources.

  • Legal Services can conduct an intake with community members to see whether they may be able to receive Name and/or Gender Change Petition assistance. If the issue cannot be resolved within the appointment time, our attorneys can make referrals to local LGBTQ-friendly attorneys and low-cost legal resources. This service is provided by appointment only.

  • The Legal Services department provides training and technical assistance to service providers on LGBTQ anti-violence legal issues, including hate violence, domestic/intimate partner violence, sexual violence, violence in schools, LGBTQ inclusivity, trauma-informed legal service provision, and other LGBTQ legal issue areas. Please refer any requests for training or technical assistance to Legal Services at 562-433-8595 or legalservices@centerlb.org

Legal Clinic FAQs

  • A: Make sure to bring all documents pertaining to your legal consultation with you to your appointment. This includes any letters sent to you about the issue, any court documents related to the issue, supporting documents (W2s, receipts, notes, etc.), and/or blank legal forms about which you have questions.

    If this is an emergency and you need to speak to someone immediately, please call the 24-Hour National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

  • A: No. Legal Services will never take any legal action or provide your information to anyone without your permission. Legal Services provides a confidential legal intake to help determine a best fit for resources. We can talk to you about your rights and options so that you can decide how you are the most comfortable addressing your legal issue.

  • A: If you have an upcoming court appearance, make sure to conduct an intake as soon as possible to see whether Legal Services is able to assist you. If you are unable to schedule an appointment before your scheduled court date, please keep in mind that Legal Services is not responsible for what occurs if you do not attend your court date. Legal Services is not responsible for what occurs if our attorneys provide consultation after your scheduled court date. Legal Services is not available to represent anyone in jail, prison, or court. Legal Services is also not available to go to any detention facility to provide legal consultation. Please note that contacting Legal Services does not create an Attorney-Client relationship.

  • A: Volunteer attorneys are not available to represent anyone in jail, prison, or court. Attorneys are also not available to go to any detention facility to provide legal consultation.

  • Legal Services will work with community members to determine the best fit for resources. However, Legal Services cannot guarantee Legal Assistance to anyone.