Asian Law Aliance may help some people, but those are the ones that should rush to buy lottery tickets. The service is free because it should be, they don't do anything. You sit down with a friendly take-in clerk, you explain your issue to them. They in turn, email a supposed attorney (only the clerk and God know where that "attorney" really is). Their "attorney" then emails back to the clerk with a short-shrift, ill-informed response about your case. Why doesn't the unicorn attorney sit and talk with potential clients face-to-face in the first place? Very disappointing!!! read more

He spent about an hour telling me I needed to put evidence in my civil complaint, and then contradicted himself completely by phone. then he ghosted me read more

Asian Law Alliance Post Asian Law Alliance participates in Citizenship Day events through partnerships with organizations like the Pars Equality Center and the County of Santa Clara's Santa Clara County Citizenship Collaborative, providing assistance to low-income individuals with their naturalization applications. These events typically include legal consultations and application assistance, and are often supported by funding for services like Project New Citizen. ALA helps all ethnic groups. read more

Asian Law Alliance is a nonprofit, so they are limited in what they can offer. They serve on legal issues of immigration, tenant rights, public benefits, and DV. They don't charge for their legal services, and because of that, they are BUSY. They operate during intake hours, which are listed on the website. You have to go through the intake process to get information on whether they can help you or not. And since they are a nonprofit, their intake times are staffed by volunteers. Languages are available depending on volunteer availability. If not, they would have to use a third party (which is highly unreliable). It's recommended you provide your own translation if that's a necessity. If you have issues outside of what they can help with, they would give you referral/information. Everyone works really hard at the office. They do so much for the community and I don't think they get as much appreciation as they deserve. Thank you ALA for all that you've done for us for nearly half a century!! read more

*ALA services are available for people of ALL ethnic backgrounds! My landlord is attempting to not renew my lease for June 2020. I called an attorney from the Santa Clara Bar Association, I also consulted with Bay Area Legal Aid. Both were helpful but DID NOT compare to Kenneth at Asian Law Alliance. My case is ongoing but no matter the outcome, I cannot express my gratitude enough for the help I've received from ALA. Real Estate Law and the Eviction Moratorium are confusing and constantly changing. I needed guidance desperately and I was met with empathy, patience, and a competent attorney. PLEASE hire ALA, donate, volunteer, and spread the word about their amazing organization. read more

Asian Law Alliance is a nonprofit, hence you have to jump through hoops to get a right person. Good luck getting an appointment.

Please read this review -- after seeing other 1-star reviews and hearing echoes of what I **also** experienced, I feel validated & grateful to know that I'm not overreacting. I think they're probably "5-stars" for clients they deem worthy of helping, but 100% 1-stars to people like myself, who they find distasteful, I suppose! The "please don't be angry, go somewhere else if you need help" review in 2017 captures exactly how tonedeaf & entitled they are -- not understanding a very basic & obvious fact that people seeking legal help probably have a TON of reasons to be angry, frustrated, stressed, and anxious. These people are total and utter shitters; seems like they're only after cases that can generate either money or ~publicity~ in a fucked up sense of "moral justice", which is incredibly rich considering I'm both a leftist and Asian myself. (Of course this wasn't information I revealed, because my political leanings and ethnicity are frankly irrelevant.) I've never in my entire life needed to potentially retain a lawyer or attorney; I'm a firm believer in trying to solve things without the interference of the law, and certainly without the police. I called them only because it was on a list of phone numbers on a pdf file given to me by the Sunnyvale Housing Mediation Team (Project Sentinel). A very recent subtenant moved in -- one week before I signed my agreement with the master tenant myself -- who has refused to pay rent, and refuses to even talk with me about how her very young and untrained puppy is peeing all over my living space (the living room; I live in a converted situation). This has left me and my very young roommate (who herself is a foreign student from Vietnam, and honestly too trusting) in a lurch; we've had to cover for this new subtenant's rent without any possibility of recouping that cost, plus the daunting possibility that this subtenant could continue to squat and not enable us to find a replacement roommate who would actually be serious about taking on the appropriate financial responsibility (or at the very least, be open to normal avenues of communication between mature adults to work out any solutions to possible problems). I left all of these details, abbreviated, in the voicemail; the phone call was promptly returned by a kind representative who gave me a litany of further details for doing an "intake" with them. I found that extremely formal, as I was only looking for the answer to a single question: Do I need a lawyer in this situation? What should I do hypothetically if the subtenant refuses to leave after the 30 days are up? I wasn't planning on immediately retaining their services, nor did I feel entitled to their services; I assume that if they couldn't help me, they'd let me know -- but in a polite and kind fashion. At the very least I assumed they'd let me know if a lawyer was needed -- at all. When I connected with the actual attorney, both he and the assistant were quite rude in telling me that they don't "deal with people acting as landlords", and the attorney in particular wouldn't even tell me if I **needed** a lawyer, or perhaps Sunnyvale Mediation was overreacting and giving me incorrect advice. If there were legal reasons why he couldn't impart this information, that wasn't told to me either. When I told them to please inform the representative who first took my information down that they don't "take cases like mine" so that other people's time (and dignity, tbh) could be saved, I was MUTED from the conference call, though somehow I wasn't hung up on -- maybe so they can feign technological breakdown. (Also what case?! There's no case yet! I'm literally asking "should I be prepared for a case?" lmao) The way I was treated like a sexist caricature of a nagging harpy and/or horrible evil Karen out to evict people for fun ... was really quite something. I'm still out the money I covered for rent, and I still am unable to fully move into my new place. But of course! I'm just some evil person who is positively excited at the prospect of being party to evicting someone for the first time in her entire life!! Never mind the fact that this subtenant who is failing to pay rent has extremely well-off parents, and that me and the master tenant are between employment and a student, respectively. I'm glad to know that if I ever need legal assistance in any other fashion, I know for SURE which firm I wouldn't be giving my business to. Thanks for letting me know straight up. Not all skinfolk are kinfolk, as they say read more

Asian Law Alliance has been helping the community for many years. They provide with great service and help for people in need for 0 cost. Don't let the Asian part full you, they help anyone in need of legal help or advice. My experience was much better than I had with a lawyer that was charging me for the same services. They patiently assisted me from beginning to end with all the filling of my paperwork to become a US citizen. Thank you ALA for al your help. Sincerely, Hector Cruz read more

ALA staff are very nice,friendly and helpful. I've been there several times for DACA renewal of my 2 children. They also answer questions regarding my immigration problem through phones. Thank you so much. read more

Unfortunately, I was not a person who would be saved by their support. I went there different times over 3 years, and what I gave as their request was my passed immigration application papers which I prepared it from draft to the end by myself, and they gave me minus time for travel for intake, confer, and again minus money to travel and leave child at paid daycare and additionaly, their front desk person were cold hearted as they don't know their position for the purpose of the agent in our community. I didn't have a car, no friend, no money, but Wic, calfresh or cashaid. I was scared of my ex husband who abused me and my son for years and now. I had no English fluency and now. I am Japanese. There was no translator available at the time. Personally, I felt betrayal by putting my over expectations on that. read more

I have nothing but so much gratitude and love to share about this place. I love the way they work, the questionnaires that they do when you are trying to make an appointment. They make sure you get the right services, no mistakes, honesty and clarity. I been going there to renew my DACA since 2013 and I don't have regrets. Thank you so much everyone for all you do. read more

Wow just called this place, after taking my information, they then hung up on me. I called back and talked with someone and explained my situation which was a frustrating one (which is why I was seeking assistance) and the person said "If you're going to get angry, you should go somewhere else!" First of all, I wasn't angry, I was frustrated with the system. I didn't express any frustration at her personally at all. And for a Non-Profit Agency to treat a new potential client with a statement like that speaks volumes about the practice! Certainly, in my opinion, not worth the call or my time! read more

Totally bad experience. The front desk lady is very not professional, and talk so loud. I tried to ask her about the appointment questions and she is so not patient and told me "call back on Monday". Finally I did a walked in next Monday for a consultation, met with a lady, and I think she is a young Indian. Absolutely NO smile, annoyed, and with her shoes off on the ground. This is a professional office, but I feel like I am at a social worker place. She filled out the form and just asked me to sign. WTH? This is America, can't you let me know what this is before asking people to sign? I asked her can I have her name so that next time I know who I have talked to, and she said "You don't need to know my name, we have so many people working here, probably someone else will work with you next time." I am 100% sure people are so rude here because this is a non-profit organization. My advice to all the people in this office: If you don't like your job, go work for car dealership and make $$ through commission. You guys are not helpful AT ALL. read more

I like to second other reviewers' comments and ratings. ALA is a wonderful resource to have for senior and low income citizens housing or any other legal issues. On a chance I found ALA from Googling to help my parents(both in their 80's) fight for their rights at their senior home. Our experience with the ALA team there was first rate. Once you qualified for their program they took immediate actions to raise my parents issues with the landlord, and after going through the legal process, got my parents their full rights (under Federal Law) at their senior home restored. Having being personally involved through this process on behalf of my parents, I am very grateful for ALA(esp Shawn and his team) support. For once it's great to see our hard-earned tax dollars are being utilized properly to protect the citizens, esp. the seniors who otherwise would not know all their rights under the law. Thank you ALA and keep up the great work! read more

ALA is located in Japan town, so there is free parking on 4th and 5th street and cheap metered parking on Jackson street. ALA deals with housing, immigration, domestic violence, etc. They are staffed by attorneys who will either give you advice, or take your case. They also provide immigration clinics for people who want to know how to fill out certain forms, or need help with the immigration process. No appointment is necessary; you can simply walk in and see an attorney, although the ALA does encourage clients to call ahead of time to schedule an appointment. The attorneys will pretty much hear any case, and if they can't take it, or you dont qualify (you have to be considered low income), they will refer you to other attorneys. The ALA does not charge at all, I think they get their money from the state and other means. That is also the reason they can only help people w/low incomes, BUT, if you go in the office and simply want some advice, they are more than happy to give it. read more

I don't know how thank Asian Law Alliance enough for consulting me with my immigration process. I got the USCIS letter today to inform me that my application is approved and I should expected my green card within 3 weeks from today. I am so happy Me and my husband got married in April this year and after the marriage we filed for my adjustment of status. We were overwhelming with the information from the internet regarding the process and paper works that we may need to submit. The website of USCIS did provided information and forms but as each case is unique, we don't know what or how should we process. Luckily I found Asian Law Alliance on Yelps and contacted them. They are so friendly and immediately asked for details regarding my situation. And they advised in details what forms I will need to submit as well as what supporting documents we should have. I followed their advise and the whole process of our filing went so smoothly. No delay, no additional or missing form required. My filing process only took more than 3 months! Thanks to the precise advisory from Asian Law Alliance. They didn't charge us a penny! We will definitely sending over their office something to thank them for their great service! read more

If you have no clue what to do when it comes to law, this is the place to go. Just call them and they will guide you through the process. You will need to give them your information and the person who takes your call will speak with an attorney about your case and let you know whether or not to proceed to a claim. By the way, the call and anything you talk to the representative is confidential and FREE. The claim is not free though. Hope this helps!!! read more

Absolutely do not go here if you have a housing issue! These people do not know what they are doing. They give extremely bad advice. I went down there for an appt several times and the attorney didn't have anything else to say, and although I did a great deal of research on my own and my rights were clearly violated by an apt manager entering and attempting to change my locks without notice then after I complained evicted me. They had no suggestions to help me with filing a response or how to obtain the notice as I was not properly served so I could file my response in a timely manner. I swear I educated him on resources in the county and the law, its ridiculous. They dragged their feet acted like a dumbasses, and guess what? had to come up with some money to hire an attorney to try to repair the damage. too little too late unfortunately. Do not waste your time with these people just borrow the money and have it done right in the first place. These people suck. They are not knowledgeable and probably do not understand English as well as you think. Many in that city speak well but....do not really get the language so its deceptive. It's a corrupt city unfortunately and there are no laws protecting tenants. read more