Legal Services

LEGAL SERVICES

Need a lawyer?

The Legal Referral Service of California Lawyers for the Arts [C.L.A.] operates as a lawyer referral service under the authority of the State Bar of California. We use our informational resources to match artists, arts organizations and others in the California arts community with lawyers who have a special interest and the necessary expertise to work with those clients.

For a fee of $30 ($20 for C.L.A. members), the Legal Referral Service provides the client with a 30 minute consultation with an attorney who is familiar with the specific legal issues that the client is confronting. That consultation may take the form of a face-to-face meeting or a telephone conversation, if convenient for the client. Legal Referral staff can sign you up for membership during your intake interview and give you the members' referral price immediately, if you choose.

Pre-payment is required, and referrals usually take 3-5 business days. Please call (310) 998-5590 in Southern California or (415) 775-7200 Ext. 107 in Northern California to start the referral process or receive more information.

The referral process is outlined below. The process begins with a brief (usually about 10 minutes or less) intake interview with a C.L.A. Intern. During this interview, the Intern takes the client's contact information and the client describes the relevant facts, circumstances, parties involved and general reasons for which she seeks legal assistance, and any other additional information the client considers important.

It usually takes from 3 to 5 business days for us to locate the attorney. This is an important consideration where the potential client is facing an emergency situation. Also, our obligation to the client does not begin (i.e., we don't begin searching for an attorney) until we have received the client's payment. We accept Master Card, VISA, cash, checks, and money orders. Where appropriate, a client may apply for referral assistance under C.L.A.'s Pro Bono Program, in which case the legal fees are waived. (Be advised that due to the high demand for free legal assistance and the State Bar's stringent income reporting requirements, pro bono referrals require an extended placement period). We handle all arts related issues, including:

Copyright
Contract drafting, review and negotiation
Nonprofit Organization Issues
Landlord/Tenant
Organizational Tax (not individual tax)
Employee/independent contractor
Mediation and Arbitration
And more

This referral service is registered with the State Bar and conforms with the Minimum Standards for a Lawyer Referral Service in California Business and Professions Code Section 6155, both effective January 1, 1995 Certificate #0021.

Sometimes self-education can help you get more out of the referral process. You may want to consider our self- help legal books or our educational programs.

Lawyer Referral in Northern California: ncalegal@calawyersforthearts.org

Lawyer Referral in Southern California: UserC.L.A.@aol.com

Webmaster: Josie Porter