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About Us
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Legal Access Alameda (Legal Access) is the pro bono arm of the Alameda County Bar Association. Legal Access provides free legal services to low-income litigants in Alameda County via 30+ legal clinics a month in the areas of family law, bankruptcy, guardianship, housing and more. At Legal Access, we are committed to bridging the justice gap for those in our community who cannot afford an attorney. We strongly believe that a person's access to justice should not be determined by their income.
Our History
In 1983, the Alameda County Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services Corporation (VLSC) was founded in response to cutbacks in federal funding to the Legal Aid Society and the increasing demand for legal services for low-income community members. In 1983, the VLSC budget was just $37,800. We changed out name this decade but the commitment to pro bono has never changed.
During our 30+ years, Legal Access has served more than 35,000 clients, providing legal education, advice, counsel and representation to low-income people throughout our community. On average, Legal Access has supported 300 volunteers annually through training, technical assistance and mentorship. Over the last three decades, Legal Access volunteers have logged approximately 60,000 pro bono hours—this translates to $18 million worth of free legal services for Alameda County!
Legal Access has grown tremendously from a committee of the ACBA to a separately incorporated program that holds over 40 legal clinics each month. Legal Access has also created partnerships with the Court and nearly every single local legal services provider to ensure that coordinated quality legal services are provided without duplication of resources.
As we reflect on our accomplishments, Legal Access is grateful for the many supporters and donors throughout the years. Without you, we could not continue to provide quality legal services every day in Alameda County. We look forward to 30 more years of providing legal assistance to low-income families and individuals in Alameda County.
Our Focus
Legal Access Alameda focuses on civic issues as guaranteed representation as provided by the constitution only applies to criminal matters. But civic issues can be life changing in devastating ways. When we help people with their issues around bankruptcy, family law, tenancy, low-income landlords (of which Alameda County has many), we can help them maintain housing, maintain income to sustain themselves and their families, even help them stay safe from harm.
Being a "Niche Filler"
We try to create and take on programs that other pro bono services aren’t able to. We are a “niche filler” who works in particularly underserved spaces. We are often helping folks who are representing themselves, which is NOT uncommon. Estimates of the pro se rate of family law overall averaged at 67% in California Low income self represented litigants receive almost no pro bono support whatsoever. In Alameda County, Legal Access provides this kind of critical support for the community through multiple programs
Helping Beyond
Legal Access is a major contributor to two programs that reach beyond Alameda County: Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative (DLAC) and CA Free Legal Answers. Both programs provide legal help and aid across California and Legal Access is a major contributor to both.