Neighborhood Legal Services – Los Angeles

Hit or miss some staff are great others are rude. Experienced extremely rude intake staff today. Reached out to the intake line to see if I could speak to the advocate I spoke to last week. Did not remember the Advocate’s info so just gave my name and info. I had already been on hold for an hour. Intake worker was extremely curt, kept cutting me off. Asked me to explain my situation, even though my purpose in calling was to reach out to the advocate who already worked with me. I attempted to be as brief as possible. She asked for more info. When I started giving more info she said “we are not counselors”. I was’nt even sharing anything that would warrant that response, just new info on my case. You never know what someone is going through. She had no clue that I am a cancer patient navigating a difficult landlord. She treated me like a number not like a human being. It’s not that difficult to be kind or respectfully redirect a conversation.

I was very disappointed with Neighborhood Legal Services. It was nearly impossible to reach anyone—no one ever answered the number listed on their website, and the only way I got a callback was through another organization. My attorney was polite, but every conversation went in circles for 30–60 minutes, and nothing was ever accomplished. In the end, I had to handle everything myself, only to be told they could no longer help me. Based on my experience, the service was ineffective and I felt I was treated unfairly.

After waiting on hold patiently for more than 25 minutes today, 07/06/26, at approximately 3:30 PM, a female employee came on the phone line. She was very poorly trained. She fumbled through the questions that they're supposed to ask (to determine if you qualify for free legal advice). When I responded to her questions, she responded in a manner that showed her POOR understanding of the answers being provided to her, such as that I am currently approved for LTD through my employer, which she MISINTERPRETED as my getting a salary from my employer). When I asked for her first name a few times, she REFUSED to provide her first name. She was POORLY TRAINED and unqualified to take down simple answers to their set questions. I called after a major holiday weekend, so I probably did not receive the more competent care or service that perhaps others have received through this organization. I am VERY CONCERNED and surprised that someone THIS unknowledgable and incapable was assigned telephone duty with the NLS. She single-handedly gave a bad reputation to the NLS today afternoon. When I am already going through a stressful time, the incompetence of this NLS female employee (volunteer?) really HURT and came at the most inopportunte time. Would someone experienced from NLS please call me back? Thank you.

An NLSLA paralegal contacted me to offer their legal services. My Unlawful Detainer case started off scary. But, my worry quickly changed when my NLSLA attorney realized that I didn't have an executed lease. Sounds great for me, right? Wrong! My entire case went terrible after my attorney set up a meeting with their case manager. He somehow prepared a relocation Grant for me without interviewing me and gathering my personal information first. Sounded strange to me too at the time. It's kinda a long story that's still ongoing. I learned that just because an attorney is offered for free. That doesn't mean you should hire them. Horrible experience!

This place is a joke! They do not vet their clients, truly do not steward the funds they receive. If you are thinks of donating to this establishment, you should really reconsider!