Legal Services of Northern California

Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC) strives to use the most innovative and cutting edge legal strategies and tools to empower low-income individuals, families and communities, as well as people with disabilities and older people, to avoid or rise out of poverty. As the legal aid program designated by the federal Legal Services Corporation to serve 23 Northern California counties, LSNC provides direct legal services, community legal education and advocacy for tens of thousands clients per year who have civil legal problems related to housing, health, disability, employment, education, access to nutrition and a broad variety of other issues. LSNC provides free advice and representation to help individuals and families who could not otherwise afford legal counsel and provides legal education through community-based partner organizations. 

Aside from those one-on-one services, LSNC also works with communities to identify barriers to safe and affordable housing, living-wage jobs, high-quality education and accessible health care. LSNC attorneys provide the legal expertise community members need to pursue their legal rights using a variety of strategies, including policy advocacy and litigation, at the local, state and federal level. ~Gary F. Smith, Executive Director