Legal Aid Of Sonoma County

Programs: Safe - domestic violence prevention servicesthe organization helps adult and elder victims and children of domestic violences and civil harassment by providing legal advice and protective orders which help keep them safe anbd sheltered. Assistance includes legal forms preparation, counsel and advice, court representation, and referrals to other legal and non-legal resources in the community. Safe services are also available through our family justice center attorney who assists clients off-site at the sonoma county family justice center. The organization provided services to 590 clients through this program during the year. Volunteer attorneys donated approximately 280 hours of service, legal case workers and law students donated approximately 492 hours, and social case workers donated approximately 181 hours of service during the year.

home - the organization helps families and individual avoid homelessness by providing legal services to prevent unlawful evictions and negotiate with landlords. A full range of legal services are available including preparation of pleadings, in court representation and settlement negotiation. The organization provided services to 772 clients through this program during the year. Volunteer attorneys donated approximately 1,047 hours of service and paralegals and law students donated approximately 621 hours of service, and legal case workers donated 928 hours of service during the year.

elder - the organization provides legal assistance to older adults, age 55 and over, including mobile legal services for older adults who are isolated and live in rural parts of the county. The elder program was established in 2015 to ensure legal access to these more vulnerable individuals. Services include housing, elder abuse, simple estate planning, bankruptcy and a range of other legal issues. The program has increased access to individuals outside of the santa rosa metropolitan area by 150%. The organization provided services to 326 clients through this program during the year. Volunteer attorneys and paralegals donated approximately 35 hours of service and volunteer law students and case workers donated approximately 357 hours of service to the program during the year.