SVCLS.ORG

Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
http://www.lawfoundation.org
For more information, visit their website.

The Law Foundation was founded in 1974 by the Santa Clara County Bar Association to provide legal services to people who are traditionally underrepresented. The Law Foundation’s objective is to provide high quality legal services to disadvantaged individuals and groups who need specialized and intensive assistance. Of the approximately 6,000 clients
represented in 2001, 89% were low income. The agency is an umbrella organization for five legal services programs. AIDS Legal Services (ALS)
provides free representation to persons with HIV and AIDS through direct legal services and its panel of pro bono attorneys. The Fair Housing Law Project (FHLP) responds to the need for increased enforcement
of the fair housing laws in the City of San José through litigation and other legal advocacy for individuals who have been the objective of discrimination. Legal Advocates for Children and Youth (LACY) provides free legal and related social services to minors. It does so through its Education Law, Emancipation, Guardianship, Homeless and Runaway Youth, and Pregnant
and Parenting Teen Projects.

Mental Health Advocacy Project (MHAP) empowers individuals identified as having mental or developmental disabilities to live more independent, secure and satisfying lives through the enforcement of their legal rights and the advancement of their social well-being. Its four practice areas are: Developmental Services Rights, Economic Rights, Housing Rights, and Patients Rights. Public Interest Law Firm (PILF) provides legal representation through class action and impact litigation, in conjunction with a panel of law firms committed to cocounsel with PILF on a pro bono basis. Each program also conducts outreach and educational programs and provides technical assistance. The agency’s FY 2001-2002 budget is $2.15 million. This includes government contracts (40%), IOLTA (6%), United Way (1%), other grants (7%), private gifts (38%) and attorneys’ fee awards (4%). The Law Foundation has 18 attorneys, one advocate, one social worker, and five support and administrative staff positions, and makes extensive use of volunteers.