News
CLA SoCal January 2024 Board Meeting Notice
Meeting Agenda – January 22, 2024, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm 1. Mission Moment: Alexis Salinas, Housing Unit 2. Consent Agenda Board Meeting Minutes, November 27, 2023, - pg. 2, [Continue Reading]
CLA SoCal November 2023 Board Meeting Notice
Meeting Agenda - November 27, 2023 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm WELCOME 1. Call meeting to order by Lauren Grochow 2. Consent Agenda Vote to Approve Minutes: Meeting Minutes July, [Continue Reading]
Records Expungement Helped Me to Change My Life
By Gavin Montague, former client From 2009-2015, I was arrested and convicted of more than six cases, including possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia, and even sales of drugs. I was [Continue Reading]
Building a Sense of Mission, Teamwork, and Camaraderie While Working Remotely
Among the challenges of remote or hybrid work is engendering a sense of mission, shared purpose, teamwork, and camaraderie among staff. This effort is particularly important in a legal aid setting, where the motivations for and rewards of work are not remuneration but a sense of a shared mission and accomplishment. Continue Reading Building a Sense of Mission, Teamwork, and Camaraderie While Working Remotely
Defending a Victim of ID Theft and Fraud
By Andrew Deeley, Supervising Attorney, Consumer Defense Unit Approximately 11 years ago our client Becky (fictitious name) was a victim domestic violence. Her former boyfriend, Sam (fictitious name), was verbally abusive, [Continue Reading]
From the Family Law Unit Case Files…
The client, Linda Lopez (fictitious name), is a monolingual Spanish speaker who did everything she could to do right by her five minor children. Deciding that she and her children [Continue Reading]
Supporting Survivors of Domestic Violence, four vignettes of successful advocacy
By Roxanne Hernandez, Staff Attorney, Family Law Unit In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month... #1 My client Gustavo (fictitious name) had enough of the physical abuse perpetrated by his [Continue Reading]
Citizenship for Disabled Former Foster Care Youth
By Sarah Yanez, Senior Attorney, Immigration Unit Our client, Roberta (fictitious name), is a disabled former foster care youth. She needed our assistance with her naturalization application. Her case was [Continue Reading]
Against the Odds: Overturning a Disability Denial
By Eric Michael, Supervising Attorney, Public Benefits Unit In terms of public benefits advocacy, the statistically rarest form of victory is when the Social Security Administration’s (“SSA”) Appeals Council overturns [Continue Reading]
Pro Bono Spotlight with Yvonne Burgess, Senior Corporate Counsel, Siemens
Q & A with Yvonne Burgess What prompted Siemens to contact CLA SoCal? Siemens has a record of pro bono service. I had an interest in being involved and [Continue Reading]
CLA So Cal July 2023 Board Meeting Notice
Meeting Agenda - July 24, 2023 12:00 - 1:30 pm on Zoom Call Meeting to Order -- Mei Tsang, Board President Mission Moment -- Joan Chang, Senior Attorney, Health Unit [Continue Reading]
Clearing the Path to Accessing Critical Testing for Child with Rare Genetic Disorder
By Joan Chang, Senior Attorney, Community Legal Aid SoCal Health Unit My client is a nine-year-old child, Jackie (fictitious name), who suffers from Periodic Fever syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. [Continue Reading]
