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Pro Bono Initiative

Our Pro Bono committee provides much needed legal support to the community through various initiatives and partnerships.  Under the leadership of our Pro Bono Chair, we will continue to support the FAME Legal Clinic, Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law, and support the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles’ We Are LA SHLA Pro Bono Homelessness Prevention Program

MAJOR INITIATIVES

  1. FAME Legal Clinic

We encourage our members to support and volunteer at the FAME Legal Clinic. Through this initiative, our volunteers have the chance to engage in pro bono work that directly addresses the legal needs of individuals who may otherwise lack access to essential legal resources. For volunteer dates please visit:  www.famechurchla.org/free-legal-clinic/

  1. Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law

The Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law (The Center) was founded in the early 1980s by Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc., the Los Angeles County Bar and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles. Since its inception, the Center has served as a cornerstone of family law and domestic violence assistance for low-income persons in California. Through this collaboration, our volunteers have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of families in need by offering pro bono legal assistance.  For volunteer opportunities please visit: https://www.hbcfl.org/get-involved/volunteer/

  1. Mayor’s Fund – Pro Bono Homelessness Prevention Program

Our commitment to supporting the Mayor’s Fund, Homelessness Prevention Program reflects our dedication to addressing critical issues within our community. There are four organizations that are providing our members with training and volunteer opportunities:

(1) Bet Tzedek, Contact: Sara Levine at sleving@bettzedek.org

(2) ICLC, Contact: Vidhya Ragunathan at vragunathan@innercitylaw.org

(3) LAFLA, Contact: Phong Wong at pwong@lafla.org

(4) NLS LA, Contact: Skip Koening, skipkoenig@nlsla.org

Participants will have an opportunity to sign up for short term housing clinics aimed at providing low-income tenants with advice and counsel or taking on full-scope eviction cases to help vulnerable tenants stay housed or help them negotiate better and safer living conditions. The pro bono opportunities will be a mix of in-person and remote opportunities throughout the week, and where appropriate, remote opportunities will be open to attorneys outside of Los Angeles.

Get Involved! We are continually seeking dedicated volunteers to join us in our efforts to support these critical initiatives. If you are passionate about making a difference through pro bono legal work and are interested in contributing to any of these initiatives, we invite you to get involved with our Pro Bono Legal Committee. Your participation can help us expand our impact and reach even more individuals in need of legal assistance. Together, we can make a lasting difference in our community.

Committee Chair

Margo Bouchet serves as this year’s committee chair. Please feel free to reach out to her directly for additional questions.