Legal Assistance

Since the onset of the U.S. HIV epidemic in 1981, stigma and discrimination have detrimentally affected people living with the disease in every aspect of their lives — in employment, education, housing, insurance, healthcare, and in relationships with family, friends, and significant others. This has resulted in harms including firing from jobs, erosion of social support networks, eviction from homes, loss of health insurance, deportation, and denial of healthcare. When you have a serious illness like HIV infection, losing a place to live, a job, health insurance or public assistance can become life-threatening. Despite increased education, there is still widespread discrimination and stigma attached to people living with HIV.

Legal assistance can be a highly effective tool to confronting these issues. However, with local legal fees averaging $350 an hour, more than 50,000 individuals and families living with HIV and AIDS in Southern California can’t afford an attorney.

HALSA offers an experienced and seasoned legal staff coupled with a panel of dedicated pro bono attorneys and law students to provide low-income clients with a range of legal services including: referral, assessment and advice, letter or phone advocacy, out-of-court settlement negotiations, document preparation, and full representation in court or at administrative hearings. We save lives, fight HIV discrimination, remove barriers to employment, increase access to health care, and support independent living.

To better understand what we do, explore the practice areas on the right. For each area, you will also find links to legal guides and other resources. If you are a client who needs assistance visit our Get Help section.

Core Practice Areas

• DISCRIMINATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY
• HOUSING
• IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS
• PUBLIC BENEFITS & PRIVATE INSURANCE
• TAX ADVOCACY
• DEBT HARASSMENT
• FUTURE PLANNING