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Investors with limited income or with small dollar claims may find it difficult or impossible to hire a lawyer. Law schools in California, New York, and Pennsylvania have established securities arbitration/mediation clinics to provide legal representation to investors who cannot hire a lawyer to handle their claims. If you cannot hire a lawyer to represent you, you may wish to contact the clinics listed below to see if they can help you.

All of the clinics are authorized to operate by the courts in their respective states. You will be represented by law students who work under the supervision of faculty members at the school. You will have to determine if you qualify for help from a clinic: some clinics will not handle claims above a set amount or if your household income is too high. Please check directly with each clinic for information.

Investors who live outside California, New York, and Pennsylvania can request help from the clinics. A clinic may be willing to provide written advice about your claim and how to draft your complaint. The clinics are limited in the help they can give to out-of-state investors. Some may be unable to assist anyone outside their local area. Generally, representatives from the clinics cannot travel out of their local area to assist investors. If you live outside these states, you will have to check with each clinic to see if it can help you.

University of San Francisco School of Law
Investor Justice Project
Attn: Professor Robert Talbot
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-1080
(415) 422-5326
  • The claim cannot exceed $25,000.
  • Household income cannot exceed $50,000.
  • Claim amount and household income limits may be waived if an investor cannot get a lawyer to take the case.
  • Focus is on resolving cases through mediation, but will also represent claimants through simplified arbitration proceedings.
Brooklyn Law School
Securities Arbitration Clinic
1 Boerum Place, Room 300
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 780-7994
  • The clinic has guidelines as to the amount of the claim and household income. Investors should contact the clinic to discuss their eligibility. The clinic will try to help all who can't get a lawyer to take their case.
State University of New York at Buffalo
School of Law
Legal Assistance Program
P.O. Box 9
Getzville, NY 14068-0009
(716) 645-2167
  • The claim cannot exceed $25,000.
  • Household income cannot exceed $50,000.
  • Claim amount and household income limits may be waived if an investor cannot get a lawyer to take the case.
Fordham University
School of Law
Securities Arbitration Clinic
33 West 60th Street
3rd Floor
New York, NY 10023
(212) 636-7059
  • Each request will be considered on an individual basis to see if the law school can help.
Pace Univ. School of Law John Jay Legal Services
Securities Arbitration Clinic
78 North Broadway
White Plains, NY 10603
(914) 422-4333
  • The claim cannot exceed $50,000.
  • Household income cannot exceed $75,000.
  • You can't have any major assets except your home and car.
Duquesne University
School of Law
Attn: Alice Stewart, Esq.
600 Forbes Ave.
Pittsurgh, PA 15782
(412) 396-5877
  • The claim cannot exceed $75,000.
  • Household income cannot exceed $120,000.
  • Each complainant is responsible for filing fee.

Learn more about arbitration, how to find a lawyer who specializes in securities, and the limited appeal rights from an arbitrator's decision.

http://www.sec.gov/answers/arbclin.htm