How to begin
If you are unhappy with the agency’s decision, you can use an Administrative Writ of Mandamus to ask the Superior Court to review the final decision made by an administrative agency. The following guides explain the process and include links to form templates and instructions that you can use to create your own document.
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- Administrative Hearings and Appeals (Sacramento County Law Library) This page provides templates for appealing decisions from the Labor Commission and the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. https://saclaw.org/legal_topic/hearing-for-labor-issues-unemployment-claims-social-security-claims/
- Writ of Administrative Mandamus Guide: Intro and Overview (San Diego County Law Library) https://sdlawlibrary.libguides.com/adminmandate
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- Writ of Administrative Mandamus Guide (San Mateo County Law Library)
https://www.smclawlibrary.org/ResearchGuides/WritAdministrativeMandate.pdf (PDF, external)
- Writ of Administrative Mandamus Guide (San Mateo County Law Library)
Videos
LA Law Library
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- Writs: How to Challenge Government Agency Decisions https://www.lalawlibrary.org/hidden-classes/2261-on-demand-writs-how-to-challenge-government-agency-decisions-pbw
Books
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- California Administrative Mandamus, KFC782 .D4 2003, shelf 114A. Also available online via CEB OnLaw.
- California Practice Guide: Administrative law, KFC780 .A975 2014, chapters 13-21, shelf 114A. Also available online via Westlaw.
- California Forms of Pleading and Practice, KFC1010 .A65 C3, volume 41A, chapters 474 – 474C, shelf 106A. Also available online via Lexis and the Lexis Digital Library.
Free Legal Help
Community Legal Assistance Saturday Program (CLASP)
Free all-topics telephone legal clinic on the first Saturday of the month. Volunteer attorneys speak with individuals for 15-20 minutes. To make an appointment, call the intake line at (510) 485-9933 between 10:00 am – noon on the first Saturday/month and an attorney will call you back later that day.
Flyer: https://lawlibrary.alamedacountyca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Virtual-CLASP-Flyer.pdf (PDF)
Bay Area Legal Aid
The Legal Advice Line provides counsel and advice in all languages on a range of civil legal issues. Attorneys may give a caller legal advice, schedule eligible clients for an appointment in a neighborhood office or provide the caller with a helpful referral to other social services organizations, when appropriate.
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- Address: 1735 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA (510) 663-4744
- Legal Advice Line (510) 250-5270 or 1 (800) 551-5544 Hours vary. See website for current Legal Advice Line hours.
- Website: https://baylegal.org/
Hire an Attorney
BALI – Bay Area Legal Incubator
Affordable legal services. Some attorneys offer sliding scale fees. In-take form available on website, and you can also read the profiles and get contact information for the BALI attorneys.
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- Address: 125 12th St. Oakland, CA Mezzanine Level
- Phone: Visit the website to view BALI attorneys and get individual contact information.
- Website: https://www.bayarealegalincubator.org/
ACBA Lawyer Referral Service
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- $40.00 administrative fee for an attorney referral and 30-minute consultation. Attorneys charge $200 – 400/hour for services.
- Phone: (510) 302-2222 x4
- Can also self-book consultations online: https://www.acbanet.org/need-a-lawyer/
California State Bar Attorney Referrals
The California State Bar hosts a certified lawyer referral service search page. The organizations are certified by the State Bar and can be identified by their State Bar certification number or mark in all advertising. Certified Lawyer Referral Services in California are managed by a variety of associations, legal service programs, and other organizations. They operate independently from the State Bar. Use the link to find certified services in your county.
Website: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/public/find-legal-professionals/find-lawyer-referral-service
Updated 4.1.2026
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