Disaster Relief Clinic
Our Work
The Pepperdine Caruso School of Law has established a strong framework for disaster recovery related legal services since beginning disaster recovery work in 2017. Its faculty, students, and staff have served neighbors recovering from Hurricane Harvey, Thomas Fire, Camp Fire, Woolsey Fire, Lahaina Fire on Maui, Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and now the 2025 Wildfires across Los Angeles.
The Disaster Relief Clinic and its associate pro bono programs seeks to close the justice gap for those affected by disasters by providing a swift and continuing response to disasters as legal needs transition from the immediate need for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and insurance to transitioning to recovery and rebuilding. For the 2025 Los Angeles Fires, the Disaster Relief Clinic is providing community education, attorney training, and pro bono limited scope clinics. The School of Law is planning to expand and scale these programs up soon to include direct legal services and more.
Student Experience
Students gain hands-on experience in the transitioning legal needs of clients recovering from disasters in matters navigating bureaucratic and administrative processes, insurance, government permits and benefits, and rebuilding. This work will include advice and counsel, evaluation and analysis, negotiation and advocacy, research and writing, and guidance on legal matters as they arise and evolve during the course of recovery and rebuilding.
January 2025 Wildfires in Los Angeles
In response to the devastating fires that have impacted so many in the Los Angeles area, the Pepperdine Caruso Law Legal Clinics are launching pro bono disaster response programs to support our neighbors in need and lawyers looking to serve them. These events are open to the public and recordings of online sessions will be available after the event. For additional disaster support resources, please visit our Wildfire Community Support webpage.
The Disaster Relief Clinic at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law has welcomed new supervising and staff attorneys to its practice and can now serve clients directly. The Disaster Relief Clinic will serve clients who have suffered losses in the 2024 and 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires through its staff attorneys and supervised law students. This is a pro bono practice, free to clients, addressing FEMA applications and appeals, insurance matters, renters’ issues and questions, and related matters. This is not a litigation practice, and, if the Disaster Relief Clinic cannot handle a matter, we will refer clients to other lawyers only with client consent and to lawyers who have agreed to take clients pro bono.
Neighbors who would like to meet with a Disaster Relief Clinic attorney or team of supervised law students may complete this form:
A staff attorney or law student will respond to each request timely, and filling out this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.
We are eager to help our neighbors recover and restore their homes after these disastrous wildfires.
Community Education Video
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law Disaster Relief Clinic: Community Education on FEMA and Insurance Questions
This video and its accompanying materials offer general guidance and advice on applying for FEMA assistance after the Los Angeles Wildfires of January 2025. These materials also include guidance and information on FEMA appeals, making initial insurance claims, and how FEMA and insurance relate. This is not legal advice, and this material does not create an attorney-client relationship with the School of Law Clinics. We hope that this information and guidance will be helpful to people just beginning to navigate the aftermath of losses from the wildfires.
Attorney Training Video
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law Disaster Relief Clinic: Attorney Training for Pro Bono FEMA and Insurance Practice
This video and its accompanying materials offer training to licensed California attorneys aiming to provide pro bono, limited-scope legal services to people who suffered losses in the Los Angeles Wildfires of January 2025. This training offers basic orientation to FEMA's Individual & Households Program and its relationship to early insurance claims. The training offers advice and guidance on practice for limited-scope clients in the early phases of survival, recovery, and rebuilding. Attorneys relying on this training for pro bono, limited scope practice always bear the burden of their own professional responsibility and their relationships with clients. We hope that this information and guidance will be helpful to lawyers serving our neighbors quickly and competently.
Resources
FEMA
- Overview of Federal Disaster Assistance
- Individual Assistance Handbook
- 25 Pro Tips for Working with FEMA
- National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center Quick Reference Guide
- FEMA Disaster Assistance
Insurance
- United Policyholders: Woolsey Fire - Insurance Claim Help
- United Policyholders: Claim Guidance Library
- United Policyholders: Contents Claim Help
- Insurance Commissioner: Important California Laws that Pertain to Property Insurance Policies after a Declared Disaster
- Insurance Commissioner: Expedited Claim Handling Billing Grace Period Procedures for California Wildfires
- Insurance Commissioner: Declaration of Emergency Situation
California
- Disaster Relief Helping Handbooks
- A Homeowner's Insurance Policy Guide for California Fire Survivors
- California's Statewide Wildfire Recovery Resources
Businesses
Unemployment
Food Assistance
For further information about the Disaster Relief Clinic, please contact Professors Jeff Baker and Peter Fendel.