Tuesday, September 3, 2019  12:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m.

In this class, government officials from the state and the City and County of Los Angeles will give new business owners and entrepreneurs important, practical information on how to “make it official,” obtain business licenses and comply with local tax requirements.

Class covers:

• Determining which licenses and permits you need
• How to apply for business licenses and permits
• City, county & state tax requirements
• How to avoid common license, permit & tax compliance issues

Presented by officials from the L.A. City Office of Finance, L.A. County Department of Business & Consumer Affairs, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

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.

Class recorded April 24, 2020.

For updated information on California’s COVID-19 eviction protections, see Housing Is Key. Although the statewide eviction moratorium expired September 30, 2021, tenants awaiting the results of a rental assistance application filed before March 31, 2022, may still qualify for eviction protections through June 30, 2022 (https://bit.ly/3JbLvCT). In addition, tenants in the City of Los Angeles may still be protected by the City’s eviction moratorium until the City declares the Covid-19 “state of emergency” over, and tenants in other parts of the County of L.A. may be protected by the County’s Updated COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution starting July 1, 2022. Contact our Reference desk at (213) 785-2513, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or via chat at https://bit.ly/341pHYU for further assistance.

Much of the brunt of California’s housing crisis has fallen upon women. According to the last homeless count, victims of domestic violence (majority female) and women generally are over-represented in the increase in the homeless population, and many more experience housing insecurity. In this class, learn about:

Class covers:

• How federal and state law protects against gender-based discrimination in housing
• Legal protections against sexual harassment by landlords or managers
• Rights of tenants who are victims of domestic violence, and landlords’ duties toward these tenants
• Where to report discrimination or harassment, and what to do about it

Presented by: California Women’s Law Center Staff Attorneys

Contact information will be shared with a third party.

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: We recognize that not everyone can attend in person classes, 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.

Tuesday, March 22, 2022: 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 ---

Business entities come in many shapes and sizes, and choosing the right one can avoid serious tax and liability consequences. Learn which business entity is right for you, how to prepare and file incorporation documents, and why supposed "formalities" like corporate by-laws can be so important to your business success.

Class covers:

• Creating legal structures that will protect business start-ups and accommodate the business as it grows
• Common myths and mistakes people make in setting up a business
• The difference between an LLC, C-Corporation and S-Corporation and how to determine which one is right for your business
• Why shouldn't you just operate as a partnership or a sole proprietorship?
• What are the issues that co-owners should address and resolve in a "Shareholders Agreement" before starting a business together?

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: Prof. Michael Chasalow
Professor Chasalow directs the USC Law School Small Business Clinic, where students gain hands-on experience handling transactional legal problems and providing basic corporate legal assistance to small businesses, entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations. Professor Chasalow has worked with start-up companies for over 25 years. His scholarly interests involve the development and structure of business ventures as well as corporate governance issues, fiduciary duty standards and issues relating to the operation and governance of partnerships and LLCs. Professor Chasalow received his B.A. from UC-Berkeley, his J.D. from Berkeley Law and his M.B.A. at UCLA. After law school Professor Chasalow practiced law for several years, initially as a transactional attorney with Latham and Watkins in Los Angeles, where he specialized in such complex corporate transactions as mergers and acquisitions and the issuance of sophisticated debt securities.

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, September 10, 2019  12:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Every business needs an initial investment to get off the ground, and established businesses often require investment in order to expand. Learn how to apply for and obtain small business loans, plus learn about vital alternative funding sources for startups.

Class covers:

• How to sell your business to investors
• Crafting a business pitch
• Best practices for loan applicants
• Other funding options, like friends and family, and crowdfunding

Presented by Kevin Lew with the support of Bixel Exchange, and Brian Ishida of Pacific Western Bank

Kevin Lew is the director of Bixel Exchange, the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce's Emerging Tech Center. He endeavors to connect community interests and needs to Bixel Exchange events and programs. Kevin has an extensive background as an event and content producer and partnership program specialist from his ventures at Opportunity Green and Eventologie. With a love for technology, sustainability, and design, Kevin hopes to promote and foster a pragmatic and sustainable business economy at a local and global scale. Now, with three-plus years leading the Startup Development Program at Bixel Exchange, Kevin has extensive knowledge about the early stage startup ecosystem in L.A.

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.