California Wildfire Resources - Pro Bono Training Institute

California Emergency Wildfire Resources

PBTI partners have reached out to our team to share emerging pro bono training opportunities and resources related to the California wildfires. If you are interested in having your training or resource shared on this page, please email pbti@lafla.org.

UPCOMING TRAININGS

NOTE: PBTI does not provide CLE credit for the below trainings, which are reflected in Pacific Time.

Thursday, 2/20
- Healing Together: Trauma-Informed Strategies for LA’s Wildfire Recovery
  - 11am-12pm; remote
  - Public Counsel registration link
Friday, 2/21
- Federal Relief for Wildfire Victims: A Conversation with the Small Business Administration and FEMA
  - 12-1:30pm; remote
  - Los Angeles County Bar Association registration link
Wednesday, 2/26
- Navigating Your Contents Claim (community education event: contents claim, home inventory strategies, and understanding depreciation)
  - 5pm; remote
  - United Policyholders registration link

PAST TRAININGS & RESOURCES

Past Trainings (NOTE: PBTI does not provide CLE credit for these trainings)

Disaster Relief and Assistance
- Beverly Hills Bar Association – A Guide to Property Damage Claims Following Natural Disasters (1/14/2025)
- Pepperdine Caruso School of Law – Attorney Training for Pro Bono FEMA and Insurance Practice (1/16/2025)
Employment
- Beverly Hills Bar Association – Supporting Employees Through Wildfire Disasters: Legal Guidance for Employers (1/22/2025)
Housing and Real Estate
- Stay Housed LA – Post-Disaster Tenants’ Rights (2/6/2025)
  - Passcode: D5JL$bF5
  - Reference material link: Tenant FAQs
Tax
- Beverly Hills Bar Association – A Guide to Tax Issues Following a Natural Disaster (1/21/2025)
Other Disaster Support
- Inner City Law Center – Help Fire Victims and Low-Income Individuals Replace Vital Documents (1/22/2025)
  - Passcode: $@G9.KSX

Preparing to Provide Disaster Relief

National Disaster Attorney Guidebook (reference for attorneys assisting in disaster relief and recovery)
FEMA Disaster Psychology Manual (overviews how disasters can impact mental health and how to prepare to assist others while taking care of your own needs)

Understanding Anticipated Issues

Disaster Relief
- Beverly Hills Bar Association – Disaster Recovery resources
- FEMA – California Wildfires Disaster Declaration and Resources
- Los Angeles County Bar Association – Emergency Resources Library
- Loyola Law School – Hazardous Materials and Fire Debris Removal Timeline and Services
  - NOTE: March 31st deadline to submit Right-of-Entry form
- Public Counsel – FAQs on FEMA Financial Assistance
Employment
- Los Angeles Dept. of Consumer & Business Affairs – After the Disaster: Labor Protections and Resources for Workers
Housing and Real Estate
- National Housing Law Project & Western Center on Law and Poverty – State Law Protections from Rent Hikes
  - NOTE: Includes a section on price gouging protections for tenants
Insurance
- California Dept. of Insurance – Wildfire Resources
Price Gouging

Government Agency Resource Referrals (e.g., to report price gouging)

Other Resource Referrals (e.g., to share with impacted Californians)

State resources
- California LifeLine (state program that provides discounted home phone and cell phone services to eligible households)
- Cal OES – Replacing Personal Documents After a Natural Disaster
- California State Bar – Legal Help After a Disaster (consumer webpage and pamphlet for the public on legal help after a disaster)
Local government resources
- Los Angeles County – CareConnect (connects residents to beds, services, and other resources)
- Los Angeles County Dept. of Consumer and Business Affairs – After the Disaster: Digital Toolkit (compiled materials to prepare and recover)
- Los Angeles County – Local Assistance and Disaster Recovery Centers (state agencies, county departments, and legal services organizations available on-site)
Organization-specific resources
- AAPI Equity Alliance – LA Wildfires Resource Guide (multiple translations)
- Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative – 2025 Disaster Legal Resources
- Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center (post-disaster relief and recovery resources)
- Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles – Los Angeles Fire Emergency Resources
- Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County – Disaster Assistance Project
- United Policyholders (nonprofit organization serving homeowners who have lost their homes to disasters for insurance claim and recovery help)

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