The State Bar’s Office of Legal Services has educated attorneys and housing advocates about foreclosure prevention and mitigation while encouraging pro bono attorneys to provide much needed legal services for California's distressed homeowners and tenants. Here are some resources that can help attorneys who have clients facing foreclosure.
The Office of Legal Services, in partnership with legal services programs and housing agencies, developed training materials from a series of foreclosure workshops held between 2009 and 2013. The forums provided legal training on a variety of topics, including foreclosure prevention, loan modification, collaboration and eviction defense under newly enacted federal legislation.
For copies of these forum materials, contact Michael Dayao at michael.dayao@calbar.ca.gov.
The State Bar's Offices of Legal Services produces CLE programs for pro bono attorneys in conjunction with the Practising Law Institute (PLI) on topics directly and indirectly related to foreclosure. The Office of Legal Services helped to develop free video training programs that can be accessed through the Practising Law Institute (PLI).
Attorneys interested in ethics information, including guidelines for what is permissible in loan modification practice, can call the State Bar’s Ethics Hotline at 800-238-4427.
You can also review these ethics resources specifically developed for attorneys:
Other state and federal agencies can also help consumers fight foreclosure or file a complaint.
You can direct consumers to other agencies that will help them apply for a mortgage, get approved for credit, understand a loan, make payments or sign a loan agreement.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
California Department of Real Estate
Office of the Attorney General
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
KeepYourHomeCalifornia.org
MakingHomeAffordable.gov