Dealing with Government Agencies and Rules Category: Administrative Law
Back to Search Civil Rights: Section 1983
Title 42, Section 1983, of the United States Code is a procedural vehicle by which one whose federal statutory or constitutional rights have been violated can bring an action against state “actors” who commit these violations “under color of law.” The statute was rarely used until 1961, when the Supreme...
Read MoreSchool Discipline
Summer break is over, kids are back in school, and some of them will misbehave. School officials stand in loco parentis (“in the place of a parent”); all students must obey the prescribed rules and regulations that school officials and teachers have authority to enforce. When a student breaks the rules of...
Read MoreClaims Against the Government
California Tort Claims Act Before you may sue a public entity, you must first file a claim meeting the requirements of the California Tort Claims Act (Government Code §§ 810-996.6). This law applies to public entities such as state, county, and local government agencies or departments, as well as to...
Read MoreVolunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
Administrative Law
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) administers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program to provide free basic tax return preparation for low- and moderate-income taxpayers. The California State Controller works with the IRS and other agencies to make these programs available in communities throughout California.
Assistance is generally available from February 1 through April 15th. Dates and times vary by location, and some VITA sites require appointments.
Senior Legal Hotline
Estates Wills and Trusts
Free legal advice and assistance to those age 60+ on almost any civil issue. Common issues are tenants’ rights, estate planning, grandparent’s rights, pensions, and public benefits. No criminal law or assistance with conservatorships. Must have legal immigratnt status.
Legal Aid at Work
Civil and Human Rights
Legal Aid at Work provides assistance to low-income Californians on work-related legal issues. Areas of assistance include wage theft, race discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation based on immigration status, unemployment insurance, paid family leave, and workers’ compensation.
Legal Services of No. Cal.: Health Program
Health
Serving health consumers in 32 counties, with problems related to obtaining and keeping health coverage, and accessing health care services.
Legal Services of Northern California
Courts and Procedure
Provides free civil representation to low-income clients on issues related to housing (landlord-tenant disputes) and government benefits issues (CalWorks, General Assistance, Social Security, Unemployment, etc.), health benefits (Medi-Cal, Medicare, Covered California, private insurance, etc.), and other civil legal matters.
Office of the Attorney General
Crime and Prisons
Primary public access window to the Attorney General’s office. Assists in answering questions on a wide variety of issues ranging from consumer fraud to public safety. Serves as a centralized office for consumer complaints and requests for information.
Disability Rights California
Administrative Law
Advice on rights, some legal representation available for disability-related legal matters.
Elder and Health Law Clinic
Estates Wills and Trusts
Academic year only. Typically open for intake during June/July and November/December for one to two weeks., Certified law students provide legal advice and undertake representation of low-income individuals 60 and older in the greater Sacramento area. Priority cases include nursing home residents’ rights, alternatives to conservatorships, Social Security, Medicare, Medi-Cal, SSI, health care access, housing, elder abuse, advance health care directives, and simple estate planning tools.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Civil and Human Rights
In-person, phone, or online assistance in filing a claim, as well as mediation services.
HICAP Services of No Cal (Medicare)
Health
HICAP Services of Northern California offers the following free basic services related to Medicare and Long Term Care Insurance: counseling and advocacy, legal representation and referral services, and community education. Services are available to residents in El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties regardless of income or age.
Community Legal Services Clinic (McGeorge)
Health
Students at the McGeorge School of Law can serve low-income clients in the areas of Immigration, Bankruptcy, Elder & Health Law, and Homeless Advocacy.
Consumer Information Center
Administrative Law
Complaint filing assistance, referrals in non-department issues, licensing professions and businesses. Call, write or go online.
Dept of Workers Comp Information and Assistance Unit
Accidents and Torts
Monthly workshops on workers’ rights and workers’ compensation procedures, individual advice available.