News
Consumer Defense Unit Stepped Up – A Testimonial from a Senior Client
When I was sued over a debt of $5,873.77 that resulted from a fraudulent transaction, I did not know what to do as I am a monolingual and cannot [Continue Reading]
Holistic Legal Services for a Young Client
By Sarah Mays, Supervising Attorney Our client Clarissa (fictitious name) was 13 years old when her parent called our hotline in April 2025 requesting assistance with a public benefits [Continue Reading]
Court Reporter Shortage Case: Frequently Asked Questions About CA Supreme Court’s Decision
What is this lawsuit about? Historically, California courts relied on court reporters to create a word-for-word record of what happens in court, known as a “verbatim record.” In recent [Continue Reading]
California Supreme Court Issues Landmark Decision on Equal Access to Justice for Low-Income Litigants
For Immediate Release Santa Ana, CA (August 10, 2026) - Today the California Supreme Court issued its ruling in the landmark case Family Violence Appellate Project, et al. vs. Superior [Continue Reading]
Supporting Our Client’s Goal
By Melanie Pearce An Unlawful Detainer action was filed on May 15, 2026 by our client’s landlord based on a 30-Day Notice to Vacate. Community Legal Aid SoCal Housing [Continue Reading]
Q & A with Robert Siemer on Volunteering in the Health Unit
Robert Siemer is a creative legal professional with a broad understanding and experience in hospital operations and legal healthcare issues. Robert holds an AA and a BS (pharmacy), a [Continue Reading]
Board Meeting Agenda—July 27, 2026
Welcome (Mike Behrens, Board President) Annual Election (Mike Behrens) Minutes Approval (Mike Behrens) Committee Reports (Various) Executive Director’s Report (Kate Marr) Next Meeting Dates (Yashina Burns) Board Orientation (Various) [Continue Reading]
Support and Solution During a Transition
By Tabitha Adeleke, Case Manager Our client Marvin Richter (fictitious name) contacted Community Legal Aid SoCal (CLA SoCal) in January for assistance with an eviction matter. Following an assessment [Continue Reading]
Rights and options…
A Testimonial by a Consumer Defense Unit Client When I first contacted the Consumer Defense Unit in 2024, I was being sued for a debt of about $5,000 and [Continue Reading]
Finding Opportunity and Community In Crisis
Over the past year, one of the most pressing issues facing the civil legal aid community has been the threat to Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and other federal funding. [Continue Reading]
Intervention to Resolution
Marla Cox (fictitious name) is a 60-year-old woman with Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal who contacted CLA SoCal for assistance with resolving a financial dispute concerning unrendered dental services. In December 2025, her [Continue Reading]
Board Meeting Agenda—March 23, 2026
Welcome (Mike Behrens, Board President) Call Meeting to Order (Mike Behrens) Minutes Approval (Mike Behrens) Committee Reports (Various) Board Retreat Recap and Next Steps (Mike Behrens and Yashina Burns) [Continue Reading]
