Compton’s pioneers came to settle there in the wake of the waning California gold rush. The climate was difficult to adjust to but they braved through the harsh weather conditions, creating the city in 1889.

Today, Compton is a center for industrial growth and is a transit point for land, air and sea travel in Southern California. From a population of just 500, it is now home to nearly 100,000 people. Statistics from the 2010 United States Census show that the median age is 28 years old.

Compton was seared into popular consciousness with hip-hop music made famous by rappers like Dr. Dre and Eazy-E. The 2015 film, “Straight Outta Compton” showed the rise of gangsta rap as well as the high incidence of gang violence in the city from the 80s to the 90s. The film is associated with a much-publicized case, which involved Jerry Heller, manager of rap group N.W.A., filing for defamation and copyright infringement. The case was dismissed in June 2016, and Heller died due to a heart attack 3 months later.

Another groundbreaking lawsuit was filed in the same year by students and teachers against the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) alleging lack of support to address their traumatization in school. The plaintiffs argued that victims should qualify as claimants under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case lists traumas induced by physical and sexual abuse, addiction to narcotics, and witnessing gun violence and murder.

Compton’s rise from a city affected by gangs is mostly attributed to Compton Mayor Aja Brown’s drive to decrease crime and violence by successful conflict mitigation between rival gangs Bloods and Crips. Another factor is the expansion of its educational system, which includes 36 primary and high schools and Compton College. There is also a large selection of reference materials and computers with internet connections at the Compton Public Library.

If you are looking at getting law courses in the Compton area, the nearest and best options would be Irvine University College of Law (Cerritos) and Pacific Coast University College of Law (Long Beach). A short distance away are Pepperdine University School of Law, Loyola Law School, Southwestern Law School Los Angeles, and the premier UCLA School of Law. All of these universities have good track records in producing competent legal professionals.

There are a lot of Compton lawyers with ample experience in dealing with diverse cases, most notably on Bankruptcy, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Criminal Law, DUI, Family Law, and Divorce. If you want to file a civil lawsuit, you will have to do so at the Compton Courthouse on Compton Boulevard. Before that, you have to find and consult with a good litigation lawyer. Read our tips on filing in civil courts in Compton here.

Free legal clinics are also available in Compton. Check these links for more information:

• Los Angeles County Family Law Facilitator
• Community Legal Aid SoCal – Compton

If you feel that your case does not require legal services or you are just studying and weighing your options, you may also check the LegalMatch Online Law Library. It has over 4,000 articles for you to browse and read.