The Los Angeles Regional Small Business Legal Aid Program provides free legal education and direct representation to qualified small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic on a number of legal issues such as drafting and reviewing commercial leases and negotiating with landlords, drafting and reviewing contracts, business structure and entity formation; employment law advice; application of COVID-19 regulations to business operations; accessing COVID-19 relief including loans and aid; and other transactional legal matters like intellectual property assistance.
The program is administered by EWDD in partnership with the County of Los Angeles Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Public Counsel and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.
The program is administered by EWDD in partnership with the County of Los Angeles Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Public Counsel and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.
No Cost Legal Representation
Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Public Counsel and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles will use best practices to provide services that might include providing legal representation by pairing attorneys with small business owners to address COVID-related and other small business legal issues, providing referrals to available resources and partner organizations, and answering general legal questions.
All legal services provided by Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Public Counsel and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles are free to eligible business owners and are primarily transactional in nature. Services will include, but will not be limited to, contract drafting and review, commercial lease issues including review of contracts and negotiations with landlords, employee safety, wages, paid leave and benefits, intellectual property matters, setting up business structures and organizations, and other legal issues.
All legal services provided by Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Public Counsel and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles are free to eligible business owners and are primarily transactional in nature. Services will include, but will not be limited to, contract drafting and review, commercial lease issues including review of contracts and negotiations with landlords, employee safety, wages, paid leave and benefits, intellectual property matters, setting up business structures and organizations, and other legal issues.
Eligibility & Support Services
Eligibility Requirements
- Annual profits not to exceed $75,000; Annual sales not to exceed $250,000
- Personal income of primary business owner not to exceed:
- 300% of Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG); or
- 500% of FPG if the business has a “qualifying community impact,” including whether the business is female owned, veteran owned, LGBTQ owned, or BIPOC owned
- 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), as determined by HUD
Eviction Protection Support Services
- Access to webinars that provide small businesses information on COVID-19 related legal issues including, but not limited to commercial leasing, safety and reopening
- Access to Small Business Legal Academies, providing specific legal topic workshops and consultations with attorneys during the event
- Assistance negotiating with landlords to create payment plans and drafting settlement agreements
Participant Information
Applicants must be ready to provide:
All Program participants' sensitive personal information is secured and safeguarded.
- Business Address
- Business Phone Number
- Business Email
- Income information
- Business Industry
- Business ownership demographics such as minority-owned, woman-owned, LGBTQ, and/or disabled-veteran business status
- Business Tax Registration Certificate (BTRC)
Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Public Counsel and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles will prioritize assistance to eligible businesses that were awarded funding through the City’s Small Business Rental Assistance Grant Program, businesses referred by the City’s BusinessSource Centers or those businesses located in JEDI Zones. Undocumented immigrants will not be excluded from receiving services offered under the LA Regional COVID-19 Small Business Owners Legal Aid Program.
Get Help
For assistance, please complete the Online Intake Form on the LALegalHelp.org website. If you need help filling out the form or require assistance in another language, please contact the LA Regional COVID-19 Small Business Owners Legal Aid Program at 866-375-9511.
