Tuesday, August 17, 2021:  12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

--- CLASS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME ---

In this introductory workshop, learn the basic steps to starting your business, plus get tools and resources for in-depth training on what you "didn't know you needed to know" about business, including the opportunity to connect with business counselors from the City of Los Angeles BusinessSource Centers.

Class covers:

• Developing a business idea and writing a business plan
• Identifying a market and reaching customers/clients
• The elevator pitch: Uncovering your unique selling proposition, connecting emotionally with potential clients, and creating a first impression that leads to success
• Obtaining proper licenses and permits, and complying with tax requirements
• Funding your business – including funding opportunities available for business affected by COVID-19
• Exercising your legal rights and avoiding common legal issues

Participants are encouraged to join by video as class may involve sharing of visual information and writings, participation via the chat function, and the opportunity to interact with others. Virtual networking reception to follow class.

Presented by: Michael Chavez and Lai Xu with the support of Hollywood Business Source, Angelica Urquijo of The Imagen Group, and Ryan Metheny:

Michael Chavez is the Program Specialist at the City of Los Angeles Business Source Center – Hollywood Region. There he has helped launch and fund numerous businesses in the greater Los Angeles Area by providing free services to anyone looking to start or grow their business in Los Angeles. These services include: help with permits and licenses, educational workshops, access to capital, financial planning/restructuring, profitability analysis, S.W.O.T analysis, and loan packaging. Within the past year alone, the Hollywood Business Source Center has sourced over $4,000,000 in commercial lending to small businesses in Los Angeles. The Center has also created 112 new jobs in the City of Los Angeles as a direct result of the services they provided, and was also responsible for helping to preserve 14 jobs that Los Angeles was in danger of losing this past year.

Lai Xu is one of the Business Consultants at the Los Angeles Business Source Center – Hollywood Region. He holds an MS in Financial Risk Management from University of Connecticut along with a BBA in Finance and Risk Management and an Insurance Certificate from University of Iowa. With a strong knowledge base of both finance and financial risk management systems, Lai has been responsible for identifying options for clients and suggesting recommendations for change, as well as helping with additional resources to implement solutions. As a recent example, Lai assisted two startup clients with getting a $125,000 working capital loan and acquiring needed inventory backup for their Los Angeles-based business developing board games.

Angelica Urquijo is the principal of The Imagen Group. After serving as a news anchor for 10 years, she now works to provide visibility solutions for companies that want to engage, persuade and mobilize consumers through Passion Branding.

Ryan Metheny is the Managing Librarian, Legal Education at LA Law Library. After graduating from UCLA School of Law, Ryan practiced First Amendment law at a public interest firm in Berkeley. He transitioned to librarianship to focus on his passions of research and education, and earned a master's degree in library and information science from the University of Washington. When not on the reference desk, Ryan coordinates the educational programming at the law library, the law student internship program, and the Members Program. He also teaches legal research at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Registration fees: FREE - sponsored by the Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library through the generous support of Pacific Western Bank.
Classes fill up fast, register today to reserve your seat! All registrants must check-in 10 minutes prior to class time to ensure your seat is not reassigned to waiting-list and walk-in attendees when classes are full.

Photography / Videography:
If you register for this class, you may be photographed or recorded. By registering for this class you are giving the LA Law Library your consent to photograph, videotape, record and broadcast your picture, likeness, voice and statements.  

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020:  12:00p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

In this introductory workshop, learn the basic steps to starting your business, plus get tools and resources for in-depth training on what you "didn't know you needed to know" about business. Stay after the session for one-on-one consultations with business counselors from the City of Los Angeles BusinessSource centers.

Class covers:

• Developing a business idea and writing a business plan
• Identifying a market and reaching customers/clients
• Obtaining proper licenses and permits, and complying with tax requirements
• Funding your business and managing your finances
• Exercising your legal rights and avoiding common legal issues

Presented by: Michael Chavez and Lai Xu with the support of Hollywood Business Source, and Ryan Metheny:

Michael Chavez is the Program Specialist at the City of Los Angeles Business Source Center – Hollywood Region. There he has helped launch and fund numerous businesses in the greater Los Angeles Area by providing free services to anyone looking to start or grow their business in Los Angeles. These services include: help with permits and licenses, educational workshops, access to capital, financial planning/restructuring, profitability analysis, S.W.O.T analysis, and loan packaging. Within the past year alone, the Hollywood Business Source Center has sourced over $4,000,000 in commercial lending to small businesses in Los Angeles. The Center has also created 112 new jobs in the City of Los Angeles as a direct result of the services they provided, and was also responsible for helping to preserve 14 jobs that Los Angeles was in danger of losing this past year.

Lai Xu is one of the Business Consultants at the Los Angeles Business Source Center – Hollywood Region. He holds an MS in Financial Risk Management from University of Connecticut along with a BBA in Finance and Risk Management and an Insurance Certificate from University of Iowa. With a strong knowledge base of both finance and financial risk management systems, Lai has been responsible for identifying options for clients and suggesting recommendations for change, as well as helping with additional resources to implement solutions. As a recent example, Lai assisted two startup clients with getting a $125,000 working capital loan and acquiring needed inventory backup for their Los Angeles-based business developing board games.

Ryan Metheny is the Managing Librarian, Legal Education at LA Law Library. After graduating from UCLA School of Law, Ryan practiced First Amendment law at a public interest firm in Berkeley. He transitioned to librarianship to focus on his passions of research and education, and earned a master's degree in library and information science from the University of Washington. When not on the reference desk, Ryan coordinates the educational programming at the law library, the law student internship program, and the Members Program. He also teaches legal research at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Registration fees: FREE - sponsored by the Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library through the generous support of Pacific Western Bank.
Classes fill up fast, register today to reserve your seat! All registrants must check-in 10 minutes prior to class time to ensure your seat is not reassigned to waiting-list and walk-in attendees when classes are full.

Photography / Videography:
If you register for this class, you may be photographed or recorded. By registering for this class you are giving the LA Law Library your consent to photograph, videotape, record and broadcast your picture, likeness, voice and statements.  

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020:  1:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Sharing legal fees with lawyers in other firms and referral fee arrangements have many advantages as well as legal and ethical consequences. This one-hour program will cover the requirements for enforceable fee-sharing and referral agreements and the consequences of noncomplying agreements.

Earn 1.0 hour participatory Legal Ethics MCLE credit.

Presented by:
Mark L. Tufft, Cooper, White & Cooper LLP
Ellen R. Peck, Former Judge, State Bar Court

Registration fees: $25 for the class
Register at the discounted rate of $95 for the same video presentations including lunch - Saturday, January 25, 2020. All fees are non-refundable, payment reserves spot. Reduced-rate parking options available during registration.

No legal advice:
LA Law Library provides access to legal resources and assistance with legal research. LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Class recorded August 28 2024

For updated information on e-filing and filing court documents in-person during COVID-19, please click here. If your case is being heard in California state superior court, please be sure to visit your court’s website for the most recent updates. L.A. Superior Court’s website is here.

A civil lawsuit starts with the filing and service of a written complaint; the defendant must then file an answer or other response. These are called pleadings, and they set the stage for all that comes afterward in the lawsuit. In this class, learn how to prepare, file, serve and respond to civil case pleadings in California state court.

Class covers:

• Is filing a lawsuit a good idea?
• Identifying possible legal theories
• Drafting the complaint
• Service of summons and complaint
• Answers and other responsive pleadings

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below.

Video Recordings: But we recognize that not everyone can attend in person, so even if you can't make it in, please watch any of these recordings and remember that we are still here to help! Call us at (213) 785-2513, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or chat with us online to get help finding information and resources on any legal (or not-quite-legal) question. Access to the video recordings is free.

Dated Material: Please note that the law changes. The original recording date for each class is provided on the display page. To be certain that you receive up-to-date information, please attend the in-person class, or contact us for help researching or updating your specific legal issue.

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.