Be Empowered.

Get surgical, targeted, expert help exactly where you need it—whether it's drafting a complex motion, reviewing a settlement offer, or coaching you for a hearing—without the cost of a full case retainer.

On-Demand, Limited Scope Services

Document Review

California Residents. Document review and analysis. Includes leases, bidding contracts, employment/contractor agreements, and severance packages. Billed hourly for documents in excess of 20 pages. Billed by the page if less than 20 pages in the document.

Emergency Protective Orders and Victim Advocacy

California Residents. Includes preparation and filing of Emergency Protective Orders and 5 hours of face-to-face meeting time for preparation and court appearance preparation, either in person or via zoom.

Need help with victim advocacy while a case against your abuser is pending? We provide advisements for victims who need assistance navigating a prosecution to ensure that your rights are respected and your voice is heard in the often confusing midst of a criminal case.

Billed hourly at $350 per hour for court appearances on your behalf (Bay Area Counties Only.)

Writing Coaching

Nationwide. Six 1-hour sessions via zoom geared towards those who need support with legal writing. Includes mock writing assignments and proofing/editing. Student discounts available. Groups for workshops are capped at 10 participants.

Criminal Process Office Hours

California Residents. This essential workshop is your proactive legal shield, giving you expert training on handling police encounters and/or the court system from stop to release to arraignment. We will cover actionable strategies covering Search and Seizure Rights, Criminal Procedure, and even First Amendment rights. This also includes crafting immediate preparation for pretrial detention, if needed. Gain the insight you need to navigate these critical moments confidently. Designed for both groups and individuals, tailored to audience. Emergency representation on an extremely limited basis (additional fees, intake, and retainer agreement required.)

FAQs

  • The most famous quote regarding self-representation, or pro se litigants, sounds something like: “he who represents himself has a fool for a client.”

    We reject that framing. Full stop. And we want to honor the courage and tenacity that it takes to solve a legal entanglement on your own, often up against powerful people and entities, in the constant face of rejection from traditional lawyers.

    But, beware the “expert” who is not an attorney, not a designated self-help specialist, nor a person obligated to follow ethical standards, supervised (at least at some point) by an actual attorney.

    Get the proofing you need from a real attorney—and also the gut check you need before you chase a waterfall.

  • In California, only attorneys can practice law. When someone who is not licensed to practice law provides services that can only be performed by attorneys, that conduct is called the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) and in California, it is a crime.

    Most people committing UPLs aren’t so brazen as to hold themselves out to be lawyers, knowing full well they do not have a license. But a lot of well-meaning people will feel empowered to give legal advice when they have secured their own small victory, and they may naturally want to help out others (for example, a non-lawyer has successfully sued their landlord in small claims has agreed to coach you through the paperwork so that you can sue yours.)

    All this to say, UPLs are tricky, but it’s better to be safe than sorry! Attorney information is publicly available, and each state has their own way of verifying the licensing status of attorneys—not to mention that every state has their own requirements for continuing legal education, and it is their job to keep up with relevant updates in the law. Your unlicensed coach is not duty-bound to that same requirement.

    Self-help is a powerful tool that courts themselves encourage by providing resources to unrepresented litigants. Make sure that assistant comes from proper channels, though. When in doubt, run that information by a licensed attorney who is experienced in the details that you didn’t even know existed.

  • Limited-scope legal service, or unbundling, is an arrangement where an attorney provides assistance for only specific, agreed-upon tasks in a legal matter, rather than handling the entire case.

    This approach is used to make legal help more affordable by allowing the client to take responsibility for all other tasks, such as gathering facts or filing documents. The attorney's duties are strictly defined and documented in a written agreement, limiting their representation to critical areas like document drafting, legal coaching, or making a limited court appearance.

  • I offer four types of self-help services, created for the empowered litigant or community member that needs crucial proofing before they take the step of advocating for themselves.

    Examples:

    • Document Review: you feel good about drafting your own demand letter, but want to make sure that you’re not missing any legal issues or filing deadlines.

    • Emergency Protective Orders: You’re leaving an abusive relationship and would like to strategize with an attorney so that you can increase the likelihood of properly securing a restraining order.

    • Writing Coaching: Not only do you need a second set of eyes, you need a crucial back-to-basics crash-course regarding your legal writing.

    • Criminal Law Office Hours. You’re going to a protest and want to consult with an attorney about best practices so that you don’t end up on the wrong side of imperial entanglements.