2 Free Resources
for Legal Appeals

ATAJ

Access to Appellate Justice Program

Are you representing yourself in an appeal in a civil case?  

If so, you might be interested in the Access to Appellate Justice Program (ATAJ).  This program helps self-represented parties of limited means search for an attorney who will represent them at no charge in their civil appeal.    

Apply Here »

Do you qualify for ATAJ? 

ATAJ applies only to cases in which:

  • A Notice of Appeal has been filed in the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One, in San Diego;
  • The case is a civil matter from the San Diego Superior Court;
  • The other side was represented by an attorney in superior court;  
  • You were not represented by an attorney in superior court OR you were represented by an attorney and the other side was a business or government organization; 
  • You can make AT LEAST ONE of the following showings of financial need:
    • (1) You obtained a fee waiver in Superior Court; OR
    • (2) You will qualify for a fee waiver in the Court of Appeal; OR 
    • (3) You cannot afford to pay an appellate attorney and pay for your household’s basic needs; OR  
    • (4) Your annual income is less than the amounts in this chart:

If you do not qualify for the ATAJ program at this time, you may be able to find the assistance you need from the San Diego County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral & Information Service. Learn more here »

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How Does ATAJ Work?  

ATAJ is a clearinghouse.  It has a list of attorneys interested in volunteering to help people who are representing themselves on appeal.  These attorneys are all independent volunteers.  

If you apply, the ATAJ team will review your application to determine whether you qualify. 

If you qualify, the ATAJ team will send the information you provide about your case to a list of volunteer attorneys. Your information will then appear on our clearinghouse list for four weeks.  

There is no guarantee that an attorney will agree to represent you, so you must continue to meet all appeal deadlines during this time.    

If an attorney wants to speak with you about your case, ATAJ will contact you and provide the attorney’s contact information.  You can then decide whether to contact the attorney to speak about a possible representation.

If you and the attorney decide to work together, the attorney will prepare a letter called an “engagement letter” for you to sign.  This letter will describe how the representation will work.  The attorney will not charge attorney fees.

If you do not receive a response from ATAJ after one month, this means there were no attorneys willing to take your case. 

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How Do You Apply?

If you think you qualify, please click this button to complete an application:

Apply Here »

Remember:  An application does not guarantee an attorney.  You must continue to represent yourself while your application is considered. 

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Questions About ATAJ Or Representing Yourself?

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Attorney Volunteers:

Are you an attorney interested in volunteering as pro bono counsel for this program?  Please complete our attorney application.

The Access to Appellate Justice Program is a subcommittee of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section. The San Diego County Bar Association and its Appellate Practice Section serve as a clearinghouse for this program. Attorney volunteers are not affiliated with or endorsed by the San Diego County Bar Association or its Appellate Practice Section.

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