Community Legal Aid SoCal

Two women on a platform, one on the left is a brunette and represents the Orange County Bar Association and the one on the right is blonde and represents Community Legal Aid SoCal. They are in a conference room holding a big check made payable to Community Legal Aid SoCal.

Grateful to the Orange County Bar Association - CA Charitable Fund for their continued investment in our consumer defense work.

Photo showing three colleagues (two women and one man) gathered around a table in a conference center.

Photo showing two colleagues (women) sitting at a table in a conference center.

Photo showing colleagues from behind sitting at tables in a conference center.

Stronger together! 💪
At last week’s all-staff retreat, we reflected on our work, strengthened the well-being skills that sustain this work, and built shared direction for the year ahead.

Image Text: What happens when I reach out for help?You’ll be greeted by compassionate staff who will take time to understand your situation. Together, you’ll explore your options and what makes the most sense – whether through our services or connecting you to the right support. Your voice and goals matter in this process.

We know reaching out about a personal or legal problem can feel difficult and thinking about next steps can be overwhelming. You can connect with us by calling our hotline 714-571-5200 or by completing our online intake form between 6:00 pm and 9:00 am.

[Image Text: Hotline is Closed Thursday, February 12 Friday, February 13 Monday, February 16]

Our hotline is closed today, tomorrow, and Monday, February 16. We will reopen on Tuesday, February 17 at 9AM.
However, the hotline is open today 9am - 6pm to seniors (60+) residing in Orange County.

Our partner orgs are Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Southern California Elder Law and Disability Rights Center, Public Law Center, and Veterans Legal Institute

A large diverse group of people sitting together, some sitting in chairs, some standing, and three sitting on the ground in front of those in chairs.

History in the making! 💫

Friday's #JustOC retreat brought together staff from all five Orange County, CA partner organizations to meet, connect, and kick off this collaborative system. Together, we're building a stronger legal aid network that can respond to every client's needs.
#legalaid

🎉Congrats on the anniversary!

Image Description: Headline at top states Our Family Law Unit advocates can assist with: Restraining Orders Divorce Child Custody, Visitation, and Support Paternity Guardianship To the right of the list is a gavel and below it at the bottom right is the Community Legal Aid SoCal logo. At the bottom left it states, Call us at 714-571-5200

We have a robust Family Law practice, if you need assistance check the graphic below and call us for an intake and assessment.

Image states Just OC: A Client-Centered Approach to Legal Services in Orange County by Kate Marr at the top. Below is a semicircle featuring the logos (left to right) of Elder Law & Disability Rights Center, Veterans Legal Institute, Community Legal Aid SoCal (the center of the design), Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, and Public Law Center.

Executive Director Kate Marr's article on #JustOC: A Client-Centered Approach to Legal Services in Orange County is featured in this month’s OC Lawyer Magazine! Click link below.

www.virtualonlineeditions.com/publication/...

Image description: Headline stating Public Benefits Assistance and below a subheading that states Our Public Benefits Unit advocates can assist qualify clients with: CA State Disability CalFresh CashAid/CalWORKs* General Relief Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Unemployment Call us at 714-571-5200 or go to our website www.communitylegalsocal.org to apply for assistance. *This project is funded, in whole or in part, by Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health, CalWORKs GAIN/CalWORKs REP/START/GR Domestic Violence Supportive Services Program. On the bottom right there is Community Legal Aid SoCal logo. Next to the list of public benefits is an icon of a government office.

If you need assistance with public benefits, see the graphic below and call us for an intake and assessment, 714-571-5200.

Five members of the staff of Community Legal Aid SoCal posing in a photo. Left to right is a middle-aged brunette woman in blue, middle aged man with black hair wearing a black with a gray sportscoat, a middle-aged woman with long brown hair wearing a black and white sweater and white shawl, a middle-aged with blond hair pulled back in a ponytail woman wearing a Community Legal SoCal t-shirt, and a middle-aged woman with black hair wearing a red sweater. In the foreground is a table with mobile phones. In the background are people talking with each other.

Our team showed up strong at #LSCITC presenting, sharing strategies, and contributing to national conversations on how technology and data can improve legal aid. Just as important, staff learned from other leaders doing innovative work to better serve communities.

Image Description: Headline on top states Assistance with Temporary Restraining Order at our Courthouse Domestic Violence Clinics. Lower right side is an icon of a document with justice scales and the Community Legal SoCal logo. Below the headline is: Whittier Courthouse Domestic Violence Clinic Open on Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday, from 9 AM – 12 PM It is a walk-in clinic, no appointments Compton Courthouse Domestic Violence Clinic Open Monday - Friday, from 9 AM – 12 PM It is a walk-in clinic, no appointments Note: To make appointments for remote assistance with Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, call 714-571-5200.

If you need help with getting a temporary restraining order, check our walk-in clinics at the Whittier and Compton Courthouses. See graphic for details!
#legalaid #legalaidhelps

[Image Description: A group photo of staff and board members standing together in a conference room during a retreat, smiling and posed in front of a meeting table.]

Last week's Board retreat reminded us how lucky we are to have a Board that shows up, asks questions, and invests deeply in our mission. ❤️
Thank you to Julia R. Wilson for facilitating and to Mike Behrens and Hueston Hennigan LLP for hosting.

Two housing icons on the left side of graphic. A centered heading that states Housing Law at the top with the Community Legal Aid SoCal logo next to it. Below that is the list of the areas of Housing Law with which advocates can help: Eviction, Federally or Other Publicly Subsidized Housing, Substandard Housing, Landlord/Tenant Issues, Homeownership Issues, Homeowners Association Issues, Mobile Homes, and Housing Discrimination

We have a robust Housing Law Unit and practice. Call 714-571-5200 for an intake and assessment if you think you might need help with any of the areas listed in the graphic.

#LegalAidHelps #MakingJusticeReal4SoCal #LegalAid

Two smiling women waving and smiling at the camera at a social event. Rounder tables with white tablecloths in the background.

Three people standing together smiling in the camera. Thirty-something man wearing glasses in a plaid flannel shirt on the left, late middle-aged man with a blue sport jacket and blue shirt in the middle, and woman on the right wearing a blue Japanese-style wrap.

Happy hour with partners who truly support justice! ⚖️ Huge shout-out to Everlaw for providing their platform to our team through their Everlaw for Good program.
@everlaw.bsky.social

One of a series of three photos from a formal legal community event, showing attendees smiling and posing together at banquet tables and in front of a stage set for Judges’ Night, with blue and gold lighting, flags, and event signage in the background.]

Photo of a formal legal community event, showing two men in suits and a woman in business attire standing center between them. They are smiling and looking at the camera.

Two women in business attire at a formal legal community event, smiling and posing together at banquet tables and in front of a stage set for Judges’ Night, with blue and gold lighting, flags, and event signage in the background.

Great night at Orange County Bar Association Judges’ Night! 💫
We saw so many friends, supporters, & board members last night. ❤️
Congrats to 2026 OCBA President Shirin Forootan, Franklin G. West Award recipient Mark Robinson Jr., Charitable Fund President Mei Tsang, & all the officers & directors.

A group photo of Community Legal Aid SoCal staff standing together in front of a large mural depicting Lady Justice holding scales, with imagery of a blindfolded figure and an American flag motif

Put this group in a room together and you know something good is coming! #JustOC
Community Legal Aid SoCal with Public Law Center, Elder Law and Disability Rights Center, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, & Veterans Legal Institute

mage Description: A hiring announcement graphic with the headline “We’re Hiring” above a colorful community mural. The image lists open positions: Staff Attorney – Self-Help Tenant Hotline; Case Manager; Supervising Attorney – Eviction Diversion; Supervising Attorney – Seniors; Supervising Attorney – Intake & Assessment; and Supervising Attorney – Public Benefits. At the bottom, it reads: “Apply on our website: www.communitylegalsocal.org/get-involved/careers,” alongside the Community Legal Aid SoCal logo.

We're hiring! Be a part of the team that advocates for justice every day. 👊⚖

Learn more at the link: www.communitylegalsocal.org/get-involved...

Flyer with a picture of Downey's city hall and in the foreground a graphic of the scales of justice. Below the visuals are the details of the workshop including date and time with a QR code to scan. At the foot is the Community Legal Aid SoCal logo.

Folleto con una imagen del ayuntamiento de Downey y, en primer plano, un gráfico de la balanza de la justicia. Debajo de las imágenes se encuentran los detalles del taller, incluyendo la fecha y la hora, junto con un código QR para escanear. Al pie del folleto aparece el logotipo de Community Legal Aid SoCal.

We are hosting a virtual "Know Your Rights" workshop via Zoom on Saturday for community members who have been impacted by recent federal immigration enforcement.
Link to register: clsocal.zoom.us/.../register...

2/2 With this investment, we will fully renovate all three restrooms to improve accessibility, update outdated infrastructure, and create a more comfortable and welcoming space for clients and staff.

A stylized illustration of the CLA SoCal Compton office exterior with the message “Thank you for your support!” prominently displayed. The graphic recognizes the S. Mark Taper Foundation and includes the Community Legal Aid SoCal logo

Exciting news! Thanks to the S. Mark Taper Foundation, we’re making essential upgrades at our Thurgood Marshall Justice Center in Compton. 1/2

Image Description: A collage-style graphic featuring diverse families and community members smiling and spending time together, with a cityscape backdrop and the headline “Stand With Your Community This Year.” The Community Legal Aid SoCal logo appears at the bottom

What are your resolutions for the new year? Building community? Spreading kindness?
You can do it all here with a gift in support of Community Legal Aid SoCal.
www.communitylegalsocal.org/donate/

L to R: Monica Mar, Director of Pro Bono; Akiko Nishino, Director of Legal Services; Stephanie Spilker, Director of Operations; Emily Wing, Director of Fund Development; Victor Monzon, Director of Finance; Kate Marr, Executive Director; Kisha Antonio, Executive Asst.; America Valdez, Director of HR

Group photo of 8 members of the CLA SoCal executive team standing in front of the CLA SoCal logo in a conference room.

This is what leadership looks like. 👏
Our executive team brings thoughtful decision-making, strategic vision, & a deep commitment to justice to their work to support our staff & strengthen the legal services our community deserves.
#LegalAid #MakingJusticeReal4SoCal

#EndHumanTrafficking #HumanTraffickingAwareness #HumanTrafficking #HumanTraffickingPrevention

Take a moment to review the warning signs of human trafficking. 🚩

For victims and those who may have information about a potential trafficking situation, contact the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. If in immediate danger, call 911.

A 30 something man wearing a beige shirt sitting at the table with a calculator and money next to a little girl dressed in a pink stipe turtleneck sweater who is looking up at a woman who is dressed in blue buttoned shirt, holding a toddler girl with pigtails wearing a striped shirt. Woman is looking down at what the man is doing at the table.

An elder man sitting in a wheelchair is being handed a flag by the hand of a woman. The elder man is wearing glasses, a blue sweater, beige pants and a hat indicating he is a veteran.

A 46% cut to Legal Services Corporation funding means fewer survivors protected, fewer veterans helped, fewer families supported, fewer lives made safer.
#LSCMatters #MakingJusticeReal4SoCal
@legalservicescorp.bsky.social

Graphic on beige background states in black letters: Are you an older adult or person with a disability & concerned how the Medi-Cal asset test will impact you? The Health Consumer Alliance can help! Call us at 888-804-3536 or find us online at healthconsumer.org. Blue border on bottom states, Helping Californians Get and Keep Their Healthcare with the Health Consumer Alliance logo.

Sharing for our community! Medi-Cal eligibility is changing in 2026!

👏

More than 2.9 million people would lose access to legal aid and the chance to resolve their problems, protect their families, and move forward if Legal Services Corporation funding is slashed by 46% as proposed by the House of Representatives. #LSCMatters @legalservicescorp.bsky.social