Who We Serve
Esmeralda has dyslexia, a learning disorder that affects reading and language skills. Esmerelda started middle school with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), a tool used by school districts to outline the resources a student requires to progress with their peers, so Karla believed Esmeralda would get the help she needed, but she had to rely on an English-speaking coworker to interpret for her at IEP meetings.
Depending on where you live in San Mateo County, your experience navigating courts, schools, and public systems can feel completely different. For families facing legal challenges, especially those without financial means or familiarity with the system, that difference can be overwhelming. For Dora and her grandson Jeremiah, it nearly stood in the way of keeping their family together.
At Legal Aid SMC, parents like Ana are seen as partners in the fight for justice. Every case is driven by a simple belief: our community is stronger when every child has access to a free and appropriate education. Hugo’s story is proof that when families are supported, systems can be challenged, and lives are changed.
Our 2025 Impact
In just one year, Legal Aid SMC fought social injustice by opening over 1,900 cases to help families access social safety net services.
85+
Evictions Stopped to Keep Families Housed
700+
Households with Children Supported
$2,500,000+
Saved and Recovered for Clients
News and Updates
In 2004, the State of California reduced vehicle license fees that had been distributed to counties and cities to finance critical social services. The State committed to replacing those revenues with an equivalent funding stream which has now become obsolete. As a result, San Mateo County and its cities are being blocked from receiving their fair share. Yet 55 of the state’s 58 counties will continue to receive every dollar they are owed. It will take state action to rectify this imbalance.
On March 19th, 2026, Legal Aid SMC attorneys gathered with local leaders to talk about important issues affecting local families and the life-changing impact that legal services can have on their journey