Sara Sheikh Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles, California, United States

Senior attorney and supervisor onsite for the NLSLA's Self-Help Legal Access Centers, working with team members to provide litigants with services through one on one assistance, both remotely and in person, and to create informational materials and new protocols for assistance to the public. In charge of: 1) reviewing paperwork in areas of Family Law, Housing Law, and other civil/probate matters prepared by staff paralegals and volunteers. 2) Assisting litigants one-on-one with filling out paperwork for restraining orders (civil harassment, domestic violence and elder abuse), dissolution/paternity paperwork at all stages of the case, name changes, claims of exemptions, and answers to evictions. 3) Training and teaching volunteers to assist our litigants. 4) Developing and/or recording/editing/uploading trainings for new volunteers; creating materials to utilize during day to day operations. 5) Creating protocols for providing assistance to the general public and oversight to Center volunteers.

Van Nuys Self-Help Center

Staff attorney and supervisor onsite, working with team members to provide litigants with services through one on one assistance, remote and in person, and through a workshop model. In charge of: 1) reviewing paperwork in areas of Family Law, Housing Law, and other civil/probate matters prepared by staff paralegals and volunteers. 2) Assisting litigants one-on-one with filling out paperwork for temporary and permanent guardianship paperwork, restraining orders (civil harassment, domestic violence and elder abuse), dissolution/paternity paperwork at all stages of the case, name changes, claims of exemptions, and answers to unlawful detainers. 3) Training and teaching volunteers to assist our litigants. 4) Developing trainings and materials to utilize during day to day operations. 5) Creating protocols for providing assistance to the general public and oversight to Center volunteers.

Helped litigants fill out forms for criminal expungments (including declarations) and for unemployment benefits.Helped litigants apply for temporary and permanent guardianships. Explain local court rules for filing.Assisted litigants in filling out restraining order forms and writing declarations. Explain court procedures.Helped litigants fill out dissolution/paternity petitions, responses, requests for default, proposed judgment paperwork, and in filling out Order to Show Cause/Ex Parte motions for child custody and visitation. Helped litigants fill out answers to unlawful detainers, raising all valid defenses.

Assisted litigants in filling out citizenship and adjustment of status formsPerformed consultations, informing litigants of their immigration options.

Performed all intake functions, conciliated resolutions, while handling a variety of conflicts, such as landlord/tenant, consumer/merchant, debtor/creditor and neighbor-to-neighbor conflicts.Received a Mediation Certificate that satisfies the California Dispute Resolution Programs Act

Helped clients in writing declarations to obtain restraining orders, and to obtain spousal and child support.Communicated with clients over the telephone concerning updates on cases and deadlines.Helped clients fill out divorce petitions, listed property for division and helped calculate spousal/child support.

Researched state codes, investigated various lawsuits, and searched through case files for exhibits.

Juris Doctor

Activities and Societies: American Bar Association, Student Member; Women’s Law Association, Member; South Asian Law Student Association.

Bachelor Of Arts, English And Psychology

Double Major, English and Psychology.