O.C. KABA Foundation Offers Free Legal Counseling

“Early reservation will provide counseling by attorneys in various fields for free.”

The Korean American Federation (KAF) of Orange County, O.C. Korean American Bar Association (KABA) and its foundation held a media day on May 2 to explain its latest program.

The free counseling services first began in 2009 by the KAF O.C. and O.C. KABA. It was reformed in 2013 and has continued to this year.
“We are trying to help as much as we can for Korean immigrants who may not be so familiar with how the legal system works in the U.S.,” said KAF president Jong-dae Kim. “We hope to become a great resource for as many Koreans as possible.”

To receive free counseling, one must call the KAF O.C. at 714-530-4810 to make a reservation. Then, the three organizations will work in partnership to find the lawyers most suitable for the inquiries accordingly. The counseling sessions are available from 10 a.m. to noon.

“Counseling is available for almost all areas,” said Ji-hee Kim, the foundation president. “The lawyers will provide around 30 minutes for each session, but potentially more if needed. Also, we could even provide lawyers who aren’t a part of the O.C. KABA. We also provide Korean interpretation for the counseling services.”

Kim added: “We provide counseling to about seven people per week, but if the demand drives up, we can expand the service.”

By Naki Park