• Who are Levitt & Quinn’s clients?
The majority of Levitt & Quinn’s clients are working families and about ninety percent of Levitt & Quinn's cases involve families with children.  Typical clients are low-wage earners such as factory workers, caregivers, janitors, domestic workers, service workers, unskilled laborers, and clerical workers.   Many clients are social security recipients, permanently disabled, or homemakers.  Other clients are self-employed as gardeners, food vendors, beauticians, mechanics, and artists, while moderate-income professionals such as teachers, nurses, and construction workers also need our services.   Occasionally, we see professionals who have fallen on hard times or have high out-of-pocket medical bills for terminal illnesses.  In all circumstances, Levitt & Quinn gives priority to families with children, persons in violent relationships, and cases where court action must be taken promptly to avoid irreparable harm.  Levitt & Quinn does not receive government grants or subsidies for operations; therefore, there are no restrictions on who can be served. 

• How does Levitt & Quinn’s approach to providing legal services help its clients?
Levitt & Quinn provides professional, unbundled, and affordable legal services in the area of family law, thereby providing access to the court system which can then provide fair, enforceable orders to ease the family’s tension.  Unlike other non-profit legal services providers, Levitt & Quinn is able to provide attorney consultation, representation in court, and timely assistance.  Levitt & Quinn guides litigants through the complex and confusing court procedures from initial filing of pleadings to final judgment.  Levitt & Quinn educates clients about their rights and helps them achieve their long-term goals.  After meeting with an attorney, clients have realistic expectations of what a family law court can do for them.

• How does Levitt & Quinn help the community?
When legal advice is not accessible, many family members suffer needlessly, especially the least powerful members.  Inequities of power between parties often leave one party at a severe disadvantage.  These inequities result largely from one party’s lack of access to professional legal advice, usually due to financial limitations, limited knowledge, and fear of the complicated legal system.  Unless tempered by good counsel, highly charged emotions usually overlay the legal issues leaving minor children embroiled in parental conflicts.  Unrepresented litigants often face disastrous results in court because of incomplete or incorrect paperwork, which did not reflect their desires or realistic expectations.   Court delays cause prolonged emotional suffering of children and exacerbate financial hardships.  Professional legal advice is especially critical for families when child custody and support matters are at issue.

• Don’t free government programs, other non-profit organizations or other attorneys, cover the needs for family law services?
Unlike criminal matters, to date there is no recognized constitutional requirement for the government to provide representation in civil matters.  There are very few non-profit organizations which provide family law services, and even fewer who can respond to emergencies.  Part of this deficit was documented in a recent study by the California Commission on Access to Justice which reported that the state would need to triple its combined public and private investment in legal services to adequately meet the need of low-income Californians.  Only the poorest families who fall within strict guidelines qualify for free services from providers supported by government funds.  Organizations which accept government funds must limit their service to families which have incomes below a level fixed by the federal government and who meet other guidelines, including property, zip code, family size, age, race, citizenship, and immigration status.  For example, a parent with one child must earn less than $1,244 per month to be eligible for some government-subsidized services.  Individuals seeking assistance with a divorce involving property—even a family house or pension—are often disqualified.  Even those who qualify are often not served because of the shortage of legal service providers.   To meet the needs of unrepresented litigants, many legal services providers have focused limited resources by developing pro per clinics and workshops. Although more people are now provided with information and assistance with forms, fewer have access to attorney representation in contested matters.

Additionally, there is a growing population of families in L.A. County who do not qualify for government-subsidized services but are, nonetheless, living at poverty levels due to the high living costs related to housing, transportation, health care, and child care.  Family crises happen to all of us.  Like medical emergencies, family law issues often arise unexpectedly.  Few people budget for legal expenditures or have the resources to pay for an attorney. Family law attorneys in Los Angeles generally charge between $150 and $500+ per hour and most require a retainer of at least $2,500.  Clients are advised to set aside approximately $5,000 to $20,000 for legal bills, depending on the complexity of the case.  Obviously, these fees are beyond the means of many Angelenos.