The 2024 Election season was filled with misinformation targeting our neighbors based on their race, gender, immigration status, and more. At Legal Aid SMC, we continue to push back against these attempts to disempower local families by providing accurate information and legal services to help them access the social safety nets meant to help us all. To learn more about how the outcome of the presidential election may or may not affect you and your loved ones, visit legalaidsmc.org/2024-election
In 2023, Allison Marseille, Deputy Director at Legal Aid SMC, worked with leadership across the organization to complete the proposal process for the 2023 Yield Giving Open Call along with 6,500 other nonprofits. Established by MacKenzie Scott, Yield Giving initially hosted the Open Call to select 250 of these organizations to receive a million dollar grant to support their work serving communities...
Many Legal Aid golf tournament participants have been golfing since high school. Amelia Choi, the youngest player in the 32nd Annual Legal Aid SMC Golf Classic at age 12, hasn’t started high school yet.
On July 10th, players were grouped in a shotgun start in foursomes, threesomes and a last-minute twosome who were visiting the area!
Join the Office of Community Affairs Immigrant Services, Faith in Action, and LIBRE to learn about immigrant rights and local resources. The English presentation will take place at 4:30PM.
Únase a la Oficina de Asuntos Comunitarios Servicios para Inmigrantes, Faith in Action y LIBRE para obtener información sobre los derechos de los inmigrantes y los recursos locales. La presentación en español es a las 5:15PM
Thank you so much to everyone who makes our work possible. With the help of passionate pro bono attorneys, generous donors, and our corporate and law firm sponsors, we opened over 1,700 cases last year to serve local families. Through acts of philanthropy, we were able to ensure that our low-inome community understood their rights so they could advocate for themselves and received legal representation when their problems were to complex to solve alone. Check out our latest annual report to learn more about the impact of our services!
The 2024 Election season was filled with misinformation targeting our neighbors based on their race, gender, immigration status, and more. At Legal Aid SMC, we continue to push back against these attempts to disempower local families by providing accurate information and legal services to help them access the social safety nets meant to help us all. To learn more about how the outcome of the presidential election may or may not affect you and your loved ones, visit legalaidsmc.org/2024-election
My name is Tracy Vu, and I am a first generation law student at the University of San Francisco. I spent this summer working as the Carl L. McConnell Fellow for the housing team at the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County. As I begin my second year in school, I am looking back on my summer experience and what brought me to where I am now.
In 2023, Allison Marseille, Deputy Director at Legal Aid SMC, worked with leadership across the organization to complete the proposal process for the 2023 Yield Giving Open Call along with 6,500 other nonprofits. Established by MacKenzie Scott, Yield Giving initially hosted the Open Call to select 250 of these organizations to receive a million dollar grant to support their work serving communities...
Hope Nakamura, past Legal Director at Legal Aid SMC, co-authored one of the featured articles in the upcoming edition of the MIE Journal, “ the premiere voice of the civil legal aid community for sharing and exchanging information and ideas about the current and emerging issues facing legal aid leadership, management, and advocates working to further justice for people in poverty...
For many seniors, a diagnosis for Alzheimer’s or other diseases causing dementia can make it difficult or impossible for them to make decisions on their own. When this happens, family or other trusted loved ones often must step in to provide care and support. The Advanced Health Care Directive/Power of Attorney clinic can help seniors prepare in case they become unable to make decisions about their own health care and finances. These documents will allow you to make your health care wishes known, and to name a trusted individual as the person to carry out those wishes.
Many Legal Aid golf tournament participants have been golfing since high school. Amelia Choi, the youngest player in the 32nd Annual Legal Aid SMC Golf Classic at age 12, hasn’t started high school yet.
On July 10th, players were grouped in a shotgun start in foursomes, threesomes and a last-minute twosome who were visiting the area!
In this issue of Pro Bono Publico, we honor Deborah Heller, who has gone above and beyond for our clients in handling both domestic violence and guardianship cases. We express our gratitude to Latham & Watkins for their enduring support of our pro bono programs. We are also highlighting volunteers who received the Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for their exceptional pro bono work in 2022. We thank all of them for their dedication to Legal Aid SMC. Read more by clicking the link below!
As I prepare for my second year of law school at Santa Clara University, I am bringing with me a fortified knowledge of immigration law. Although I was always intrigued by immigration law, as being a daughter of Mexican immigrants has shown me first-hand the effects of immigration policies, it wasn’t until I became a Project Coordinator for the LIBRE Team that my passion for immigration law solidified.
Grewal likewise remarked on his current advisory role to Gov. Gavin Newsom helping appoint judges. Reflecting on his years as a federal magistrate, “I’ve been trying to focus on how well this person would relate to people who have no legal representation, when somebody shows up at the courthouse and they’re looking for help. Are the people we are appointing as judges able to sit on that bench and connect with people before them who do not have a lawyer?”
In January, farmworkers in Half Moon Bay were left in shock after an armed gunman killed seven victims and seriously wounded another. While law enforcement began their investigations, the farmworkers and their families were offered shelter at a local hotel. Soon concerns were raised about their onsite housing and working conditions. County officials turned to Legal Aid SMC to assess the legal needs of those affected by the shootings.
During my second year of law school at Santa Clara University, I found myself enrolled in several different social justice courses. Though I knew I wanted to pursue a career in public interest, I was still unsure of what my specific focus would be - I had little experience in public interest legal work as compared to my peers, so I wasn't particularly confident in my abilities.
Legal Aid SMC is now taking applications for the 2023 Carl L McConnell Summer Fellowship! This fellowship, generously funded in Carl’s memory by his friends and colleagues, reflects Carl’s commitment to legal services for those with limited resources, fundamental principles as an attorney—integrity, social justice, and fairness—and dedication to mentoring. The 2023 Carl L. McConnell Summer Fellow will work with Legal Aid SMC attorneys in one of the following areas: LIBRE (Linking Immigrants to Benefits, Resources, and Education) or Elder Rights
