Call us to schedule an appointment (Llámenos para agendar una cita):
Welcome to the USD Legal Clinics. If you need free legal help, our law students, guided by expert attorneys and faculty, are here for you. We cannot accommodate walk-ins. Please contact us at (619) 260-7470 to schedule your appointment.
¡Bienvenido(a) a las Clínicas Legales de la Universidad de San Diego! Si requiere apoyo legal sin costo, nuestros estudiantes de derecho, bajo la supervisión de abogados y profesores especializados, están listos para asistirle. La atención se brinda solo con cita. Para obtener una cita, llámenos al (619) 260-7470.
- Free Legal Assistance
- Ayuda Legal Gratuita
- Adoptions
- Bankruptcy
- Business litigation
- Government benefits such as CalWorks, CalFresh and general relief
- Criminal matters and expungements
- Estate planning
- Medical or legal malpractice
- Patent law
- Personal injury
- Tax return preparation
- Real estate and property law
- Restraining orders unrelated to domestic violence
- Small claims court
- SSI appeals
- Adopciones
- Bancarrota
- Litigios Empresariales
- Beneficios gubernamentales como CalWorks, CalFresh y ayuda general
- Asuntos Criminales
- Borrar los Antecedentes Penales
- Planificación de Sucesión Testamentaria
- Negligencia Profesional – Médica o Legal
- Patentes
- Lesiones Personales
- Preparación de Declaraciones de Impuestos
- Bienes Raíces/Propiedad Inmobiliaria
- Orden de Restricción no relacionadas con la violencia doméstica
- Reclamos Menores
- Apelaciones de Seguro Social o de Seguridad de Ingreso Suplementario (SSI)
Our Impact in Numbers
Quantifying Our Commitment to Justice
Discover the significant impact of the USD Clinics in 2025. These numbers show our strong commitment to providing free legal help for the San Diego community. Every case we solve means a big, positive change in someone's life, proving our dedication to justice.
600+
Cases Resolved
19,200+
Hours Committed
140+
Student Interns
600-700
Active Cases
Success Stories
Client Experiences
The stories of our clients capture what we're all about: providing top-notch free legal help and making a real difference in our community. Let these stories inspire you to start handling your legal issues with confidence and support. Your journey to justice begins with us.
I was surprised and taken back by how quickly the case moved along after three semesters. The service is too good to be true.
The clinics are beyond helpful. A great place for those who cannot afford to pay outside fees from private attorneys.
Recomiendo la clínica a todos que pueda por la gran ayuda que me han dado.
Saved my entire financial record by helping me with my case.
Expanding Your Legal Aid Options
Supplementary Legal Resources
If your case is outside our expertise, check out LawHelpCA.org, an essential online resource. This site is your gateway to other legal aid options in California. LawHelpCA.org has a detailed list of non-profit legal groups for issues we don't cover. The site also offers self-help tools, information about your legal rights, and links to local legal aid offices to make sure you get the help you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our mission is to help the underserved community in San Diego County. As part of this commitment, most of our clinics have income eligibility guidelines in place to prioritize legal aid for individuals and families with limited resources. Legal services are provided free of charge to the client. Clients are responsible for paying other costs such as filing fees, biometrics fees and document fees. We will inform you of any such fees or costs prior to their occurrence.
Contact the Legal Clinics at (619) 260-7470 to be prescreened for your legal issue and income. Please leave your name, phone number, and brief description of your matter if you reach the voicemail system. Due to the high volume of calls, it may take several business days for a callback.
At the prescreen level, we will ask you for a brief description of your matter to determine your needs. Based on our clinic availability, legal issues, and income, we will determine if we can move forward with the prescreen. If we are not able to assist you, we will provide you with non profit resources. If you qualify for an intake, a legal intern or staff member will contact you to schedule an intake appointment. It may take approximately 2-3 weeks for a call back regarding an appointment.
Your case will be taken care of by our law students and guided by attorneys and faculty members, ensuring that you receive comprehensive support. We deliver the highest quality free legal services and advocate passionately on your behalf.
We may be able to represent individuals in court on a case by case basis. The USD Legal Clinics review each case carefully to provide you with the best help, based on our clinics’ areas of expertise and availability.
To get the most out of your first meeting, bring any important papers and write down key details and dates about your case. Creating a list of questions you want to ask can also be helpful. This helps us give you the best free legal advice and makes sure you're ready to move forward confidently.
Yes, we hold all our cases at the highest level of confidentiality. Our staff, professors, and legal intern should not disclose any identifying information about any client in any context, whether social or professional, except in the furtherance of the client’s legal representation.
If your legal needs are different from what we offer, we suggest exploring LawHelpCA.org. This comprehensive resource features a directory of legal aid organizations that might provide the assistance you need.
Contact Us
If you are seeking legal assistance from the USD School of Law Legal Clinics, please contact us at (619) 260-7470.
Si está solicitando asistencia de las Clínicas Legales de la Facultad de Derecho de USD, póngase en contacto con nosotros al (619) 260-7470.