OUR MISSION IS TO GIVE LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS ACCESS TO CIVIL LEGAL COUNSEL > Give Now
Teenager Becomes a Naturalized Citizen

I've lived here since I was 8 years old. I always thought I was an American citizen. But when I applied for a Social Security card and a college scholarship, I learned my parents had never properly secured my legal status.

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Now, More Than Ever.

Programs

The need for local legal assistance has never been greater. Federal and local governments, foundations, and other agencies have all slashed or outright eliminated funding for civil legal services for the poor.  These individuals-our neighbors-need our help now more than ever.

No single legal services agency can meet the needs of all who qualify for aid.  THE CAMPAIGN for Legal Services provides grants that ensure balanced funding to proven local legal aid organizations.  Only 15% of THE CAMPAIGN's donations go to administration, well below the national average.  That means 85% of your donations go directly to providing legal services to the elderly, the disabled and the disenfranchised.  And, when you donate on-line, this reduces our costs even more!

The agencies that serve the legal needs of the poor cannot meet their budgets without our help.  In the last two years, the eight agencies we fund had a combined 64 percent decrease in funding from the federal government, foundations and public agencies.  Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) funding falls as interest rates decline. And the current economic crisis has further strained scarce resources.

Your donation of the equivalent of your hourly wage or one billable hour means these eight local legal service agencies can meet the legal needs of the elderly, the disabled, and at-risk children and families of all backgrounds and ethnicities.

The Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center Opens in a new window

  • The Center provides free legal assistance, with a focus on workers' compensation, employment rights, immigrant rights, and consumer fraud.  Some 82 percent of their clients are ethnic minorities, primarily Latino.

The Asian Law Alliance Opens in a new window

  • The Alliance provides free and low-cost legal assistance, with a focus on immigration and citizenship, employment law, housing, domestic violence and elder law. Some 94 percent of their clients are ethic minorities, primarily Asian/Pacific Islanders.

Bay Area Legal Aid Society, Santa Clara County Opens in a new window

  • Bay Area Legal Aid provides civil legal services to aid with affordable housing, access to health care, economic security, and domestic violence prevention. Last year, they provided legal assistance to more than 2,300 low-income residents, and reached an additional 1,500 residents through workshops and educational programs.

Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto Opens in a new window

  • CLSEPA provides legal assistance with housing, immigration, predatory lending, home mortgage foreclosure and a variety of civil and consumer issues to residents of East Palo Alto, east Menlo Park (Belle Haven) and the surrounding communities.  More than two-thirds of CLSEPA's clients qualify as extremely low-income.

Law Foundation of Silicon Valley Opens in a new window

  • The foundation operates five programs, focusing on AIDS and mental health issues, fair housing, and assistance for children and youth.  Additionally, the Foundation has a public interest arm that handles class action and impact litigation on behalf of a wide range of low-income county residents.

Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County Opens in a new window

  • The Society provides advice and direct representation around legal issues of health care, housing, government benefits, and domestic violence, among other issues.  Last year, the organization provided legal assistance to more than 2,000 low-income individuals, families and seniors.

Pro Bono Project Silicon Valley Opens in a new window

  • The Project links low-income clients with volunteer attorneys, with a focus on family law and consumer law issues.  The Project is often the provider of last resort for clients who have been unable to obtain assistance from other providers.

Senior Adults Legal Assistance (SALA) Opens in a new window

  • SALA provides legal assistance to low-income seniors in eight areas: government benefits, elder abuse, housing, incapacity planning, nursing homes, health insurance, probate, and simple wills.