Our Mission
A core value of our society is equal access to justice. The complex nature of the legal system limits equal access, especially for people in poverty and those faced with language and cultural barriers. Well-trained legal advocates should be available to all people, regardless of economic status. To that end, EBCLC provides:
•desperately-needed legal services to the low-income community in the areas of housing, welfare, HIV & health, homelessness and economic development; and
•hands-on clinical education to law students to make these future lawyers aware of and skilled in addressing the needs of indigent communities.
Since its founding in 1988 by law students at UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, EBCLC has become the largest provider of free legal services in the East Bay and a nationally-recognized poverty law clinic.
EBCLC’s work makes the lives of East Bay community members more healthy, secure, productive, and hopeful.