“I had five days to answer the court papers and I'd already used two. Noelani called me back the same afternoon and filed our answer before the deadline. We're still in the apartment.”
Dorian K.Tenant in Fruitvale
Tenant lawyer in Oakland
Tell me what's happening at home, and I'll tell you if I can help
I represent renters in Alameda County, never landlords. Pick the line closest to yours. Each one opens a plain page on what you can do this week, and whether it's something my office takes on.
What's going on?
- I got an eviction noticeOr court papers about my home
- My landlord won't fix itMold, leaks, no heat, pests
- I need to leave to be safeAbuse, stalking or threats at home
- My deposit didn't come backOr it came back with charges I don't follow
- I'm being pushed outHarassment, buyout offers, a sudden rent hike
- I'm not sure yetSee what a first call is like
Before you call
Four questions that tell us if I'm the right lawyer
If you can say yes to the first three, call. If you can't, call anyway: I'll point you to someone who fits.
Do you rent your home?
An apartment, a room, an in-law unit, a house. Sublets and month-to-month count. I don't take cases for owners or landlords.
Is it in Alameda County?
Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, San Leandro, Hayward, Fremont and the towns between. For a home across the bay, I'll give you names.
Is it about the place you live?
A notice on the door, a repair that's months late, a deposit kept after you moved, a reason you have to leave early.
Could free help fit you better?
I'm a private practice, not a clinic. If you may qualify for free legal aid, I'll tell you where to apply first, and help if they can't.
Renters only
I've never taken a landlord's side, so I never have to choose
Every client of this office rents the place they live in. That's the whole practice.
Most of my week is spent reading the papers people bring me: the notice taped to the door, the lease signed in a hurry, three months of texts about a leak. I go through every page with you and say what it means in plain words, what the deadline is, and what I would do first.
You'll talk to me, not a call center, and you'll know what it costs before I start.
Noelani Prewitt
Tenant attorney
From tenants
What renters said after their case
“The bathroom ceiling had been leaking for a year. She wrote one letter, then another, and the repairs were done in a month, with part of the rent back.”
Yesenia R.Tenant in West Oakland
“I needed to get out of my lease without telling anyone why. She told me exactly what to write, and who would see it. It was the first thing that felt safe in months.”
Lourdes M.Left a lease early
Every tenant's case is different, and what happened in one case doesn't predict the result in yours.
Asked often
Short answers to the first things renters ask
I got court papers about my apartment. How long do I have?
Not long. An eviction lawsuit can give you only a few days to file a written answer, and if you miss it the landlord can win without a hearing. Call the day the papers arrive, and keep every page, envelope included.
Can my landlord change the locks or shut off the utilities to make me leave?
A landlord who wants a tenant out generally has to go through the court. Changing locks, removing doors or shutting off water or power to force you out is usually not allowed. If it's happening now, call me, and call the police non-emergency line if you can't get in.
Should I stop paying rent until the repairs are done?
Not before you talk to a lawyer. Holding back rent is allowed in some situations and gets tenants evicted in others, and the steps have to be done in order. I'll tell you which side of that line you're on.
Will my landlord know I called you?
No. What you tell me stays between us. Your landlord hears from me only if you decide that's the next step.
What does it cost?
The first call is free. If I can help, you'll get the fee in writing before any work starts, and we'll talk about what the case could cost besides my fee, like court filing costs.
Not sure which line is yours? Call and say it in your own words
Most first calls take twenty minutes. Have your notice or lease nearby if you can.