Welcome to the new ASUCR Legal Clinic, a service provided by the Riverside County Barristers Association, the young and new attorneys’ division of the Riverside County Bar Association!
Follow the legal clinic on Facebook for legal updates and helpful information!
Scope of Services
ASUCR works with volunteer attorneys to provide free legal services to registered undergraduate students at UC Riverside.
Our attorneys do not provide formal legal representation but rather education and self-help services to assist and help students to solve problems. Students are encouraged to seek assistance from an attorney outside of the legal education clinic if they need further legal assistance or representation.
When to Contact an Attorney
There are various reasons a student may need legal assistance, including:
Limitations on Services
We provide legal assistance to currently registered students at UCR. As the attorneys work on an entirely volunteer basis, our attorneys limit their assistance to inquiries relating to the UCR student, not their family member or friends. Please contact your local bar association if you are looking for legal assistance for someone other than a currently enrolled UCR student.
Contact an Attorney
Confidential and Independent Attorneys
The attorneys in the ASUCR Legal Education Clinic are volunteers involved in the Riverside County Barristers Association under the direction of a volunteer attorney director. We are not beholden to UCR, the administration, or any other department or entity you may have had an issue with, including the UCPD, housing or campus conduct. In fact, our attorneys do not work on the UCR campus and often have only limited contact with other campus departments. Your inquiries are treated with the same attorney-client privilege that you would expect if you hired a private attorney. Note that attorneys may not advocate for one student in an action adverse to another student, such as roommate disputes. We will, however, work to mediate and solve conflicts between students.
Attorney Profiles
Arlene M. Cordoba – Family Law (Legal Clinic Director)
Arlene Cordoba
Arlene M. Cordoba grew up in Riverside, CA and is actively involved in the community. Ms. Cordoba obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California, Irvine in 2002. She then attended the University of La Verne, College of Law earning a Juris Doctorate. After her admission to the California State Bar in 2008, Arlene served as a Staff Attorney and Interim Managing Attorney at Inland Counties Legal Services. As an attorney with Inland Counties Legal Services, Arlene served as the Staff Attorney in the Riverside Family Law Courthouse, helping low-income litigants with their family law issues. She also assisted indigent clients with Unlawful Detainer matters. Arlene Cordoba is currently an Associate Attorney with The Legal Action Group, Inc. in Chino, CA. Arlene’s areas of practice include Family Law, Civil Law, and Bankruptcy. Arlene zealously represents litigants in cases involving divorce, paternity actions, custody, visitation, support and property division. If you need more information or have not heard back from an attorney, please contact Arlene at attorneycordoba@gmail.com.
Scott Talkov – Real Estate, Civil and Media Litigation (Legal Clinic Founder & Assistant Director)
Scott Talkov
Scott is a real estate, business and media litigation attorney at the law firm of Reid & Hellyer, APC in Riverside. Before attending law school, Scott attended UCR, where he was an ASUCR Senator and later elected to the equivalent position as a student at UCSB. He graduated cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law where he served on the board of editors of the Washington University Law Review. He is active in numerous groups in the Riverside community, including the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce as well as the Riverside County Bar Association, where he serves as a board member of the Barristers (young attorneys division). In his free time, he is the Editor-in-Chief of InlandEmpire.com. As the Assistant Director of the Legal Clinic, Scott is available for comments or suggestions you may have at scott.talkov@ucr.edu.
Gilbert Diaz – Criminal Law
Gilbert Diaz
Gilbert is criminal defense attorney who focuses on defending those accused of driving under the influence (DUI’s), traffic, and misdemeanor citations. Gilbert has experience working for the McKinley County District Attorney’s Office, he has worked for the San Bernardino County Public Defender’s Office, and now maintains a private practice with a full-service law firm in Chino. Prior to becoming an attorney, Gilbert was a graduate of Boston University and then obtained his law degree from the University of La Verne College of Law. Gilbert maintains an active presence in the practice of law as well as the community at large as a member of the California State Bar, American Bar Association, the Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino County Bar Associations, and the Inland Empire Latino Lawyer’s Association.
Jean-Simon Serrano – Personal Injury
Jean-Simon Serrano
Mr. Serrano grew up in British Columbia, Canada and moved to California when he was 20. He graduated with honors from California State University Dominguez Hills, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  Jean was recruited and attended University of La Verne College of Law on a full scholarship. While in law school, he was selected to be a member of the moot court honors program and the school’s moot court traveling team in nationwide competitions. He also received a CALI award in the area of Legal Research. Admitted to practice before California State and Federal Courts, he has an active practice in both as a personal injury attorney at Heiting & Irwin. He has argued before the California Court of Appeal for the Fifth District and has petitioned for California Supreme Court review. Mr. Serrano is a member of the Riverside County Bar Association and is an officer on the board of the Riverside County Barristers Association. He is also a member of the Leo A. Deegan American Inn of Court, the Riverside Chapter of an organization devoted to the fostering of excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility, and legal skills. Coming from a multi-lingual heritage, Mr. Serrano also speaks French fluently.
W. Derek May – Bankruptcy
W. Derek May
Derek attended George Mason University in Northern Virginia and received a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Politics in 2003. Thereafter he attended law school at University of La Verne College of Law where he graduated as valedictorian of the University of La Verne College of Law with a juris doctor in May 2006. Derek joined the Law Offices of Stephen R. Wade, a bankruptcy firm, in December 2006 as an associate attorney after working as a law clerk for the office since his second year of law school. He appears as counsel for clients at various hearings related to Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases. He also joined the Inland Empire Bankruptcy Forum and has maintained membership since 2007.
Joshua W. Centeno- Immigration
Josh Centeno
Joshua W. Centeno grew up in Glendale, California. Upon graduating from high school, he relocated to the Inland Empire and began his pursuit of higher education.  Joshua attended and graduated from the University of California with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He later attended Chapman University School of Law in Orange, California and obtained his Juris Doctor degree. Since graduating from Chapman Law, Joshua has worked as a law clerk and associate attorney in the areas of personal injury, family law, and immigration law. Currently at The Law Office of Joshua W. Centeno, his practice focuses on providing bilingual (Spanish) services in the areas of Family Law, Estate Planning, and Immigration.  Joshua is active in the community and volunteers with several organizations including Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association.
Luis Arellano – Public Entity Defense and Labor and Employment
Luis Arellano
Luis Arellano practices law in the areas of Public Entity and Labor and Employment defense. He was born and raised in Cali, Colombia, but, at the age of 20, he moved to California and attended UCR where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics/Law and Society, magna cum laude. He subsequently moved to San Francisco to attend law school at the University of California Hastings College of the Law where he graduated, cum laude, in 2009. During law school, Luis externed for the former Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, the Honorable Ronald George. He also represented indigent clients in wage and hour matters at the Hastings Civil Justice Clinic.
Mr. Arellano has experience representing employees in individual lawsuits and class actions involving unpaid overtime, insufficient meal or break periods, failure to pay minimum wage, employees misclassified as contractors, and other employment related matters.
Luis has represented corporations, regional businesses, sole proprietors, and public entities regarding prevention of administrative complaints and lawsuits involving labor disputes, drafting of employment policy manuals, and general litigation of employment-related lawsuits of all kinds, including wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, wage and hour, breach of contract, violation of privacy, and defamation claims.
Luis is admitted to practice law in California and speaks Spanish and French fluently. Luis enjoys running, playing indoor soccer, and snowboarding.
Intellectual Property
On a case by case basis, we have been able to find intellectual property lawyers to assist students. Please choose “other” above.
Disclaimer: The law firms that the attorneys in the legal clinic practice at are provided for identification and informational purposes only. Any advice provided by the legal clinic attorneys in a free appointment through this website is provided through UCR and ASUCR, not through the firms identified in their biographies.
Looking to hire a lawyer? Contact the Lawyer Referral Service.
If you’re looking to hire an attorney, please contact the Lawyer Referral Service in the county that is most appropriate for your case: An initial consultation with a lawyer may cost a nominal fee, depending on the type of case.
- Riverside County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
- San Bernardino County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
- Orange County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
- Los Angeles County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
- San Diego Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
- North County (San Diego) Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
- Any other county in California
Self-Help Resources
One of the best resources on the Internet is the self-help website run by the Riverside County Superior Court. This site offers numerous forms and advice that may be of help to you if you are asserting your legal rights without an attorney.
You can also seek help from Inland County Legal Services or the Riverside County Bar Association’s Public Service Law Corporation, both of which have attorneys on hand to assist and sometimes even to represent you.
Alternative Dispute Resolution / UCR Ombuds
If your concern relates to UCR or a member of the UCR community, you may consult confidentially with the UCR Office of the Ombuds. The Office of the Ombuds is functionally independent from the UCR administration. It remains impartial and cannot provide legal advice or serve as your advocate. However, the Ombuds can help you evaluate your options, and may assist you in reaching an informal resolution.   For more information, check out the UCR Office of the Ombuds online at ombuds.ucr.edu and contact their office by phone at (951) 827-3213.
Frequently Asked Questions & Links to Resources
Rather than reinvent the wheel, we’ve provided you with links to some of the best resources on California law, usually from government agencies.
Rental / Security Deposits
- Rental Deposit Law in California (California Department of Consumer Affairs)
- California Civil Code Section 1950.5 – Rental Deposit Law in California
Evictions / Unlawful Detainer
- Unlawful Detainer Procedures and Time Chart (San Francisco Tenants Union)
- Riverside County Superior Court Tenant’s Guide
Buying or Selling a Car
- Guide to Selling Your Car (UCSB Legal Resource Center)
- Buying a Car (Federal Trade Commission)
Small Claims (Lawsuit for $7,500 or Less)
Name Change
Employment Law
- Overtime (Cal. Division of Labor Standards Enforcement)
- Vacation Time (Cal. Division of Labor Standards Enforcement)
- Meal Periods (Cal. Division of Labor Standards Enforcement)
- Paydays (Cal. Division of Labor Standards Enforcement)
- Other employment issues (Cal. Division of Labor Standards Enforcement)
- Wrongful Termination (FindLaw) – Remember, not all terminations are wrongful. Read up and consult with a lawyer if you think you may have been wrongfully terminated.
Forming a Non-Profit Corporation
- How to form a non-profit corporation (Cal. Attorney General)
Student Successes
- Landlord/Tenant: Students were issued three day notice to perform covenants or quit. Students drafted letter after meeting with legal clinic attorney. Landlord considering the notice a warning and did not pursue eviction. -Students M.S. and H.V.R., November 2010.
- Landlord/Tenant: Lndlord kept a rental deposit and demanded the student pay an additional fee for damage to the unit. The student filed in small claims court seeking a return of a portion of their deposit based on an improper calculation of the damage. Subsequently, the landlord discovered their “miscalculation” and will be returning part of the deposit back to the student. May 2011.
Links
- UC Irvine Associated Students Legal Clinic
- UC Santa Barbara Associated Students Legal Resource Center
- UCLA Student Legal Services
- UCSD Student Legal Services
- UC Davis Associated Students Legal Services
- UC Berkeley ASUC Student Legal Clinic
- UC Merced Associated Students Director of Student Advocacy (legal clinic currently forming)
- Cal State San Bernardino Associated Students Incorporated College Legal Clinic
