Working Together for Justice

BayLegal works to address the causes and consequences of poverty through high quality legal assistance and advocacy.

How We Help

Free

Legal Assistance

We provide free civil legal help to low-income people in the Bay Area, including advice, self-help clinics, and representation.
Legal and Community

Resources

Library of Know Your Rights materials, self-help guides, sample forms, and links to legal and community resources.
Systems change through

Advocacy & Litigation

From our daily work with individual clients, we engage in systemic advocacy and impact litigation for broader benefit.

In Focus at BayLegal

May 1, 2025 May 15 @ 6:08 pm

SF Legal Aid Providers Make the Case for Our Impact

This article by Sylvie Sturm in yesterday’s San Francisco Public Press spotlights what the availability of free civil legal aid means for the stability of low-income San Franciscans and as…

Mar 10, 2025 May 15 @ 6:08 pm

BayLegal client and attorney featured in story on SF Tenant Right to Counsel

This story from NBC Bay Area last week (in both print and broadcast versions) highlights the impact of San Francisco’s Tenant Right to Counsel (TRC) program in leveling the legal…

The Latest

Feb 27, 2025 May 15 @ 6:08 pm

California Supreme Court Accepts Case Brought to Protect Constitutional Rights of Low-Income Litigants

For Immediate Release Thao WeldyFamily Violence Appellate Projecttweldy@fvaplaw.org510-858-7358 Oakland, CA (February 20, 2025) – The California Supreme Court has accepted a case brought to protect the rights of low-income litigants…

Jan 31, 2025 May 15 @ 6:08 pm

Trial advocacy training at BayLegal

This January, more than 35 Bay Area Legal Aid staff attorneys and managers built their capacity and honed their skills as advocates in a week-long intensive trial advocacy training. The…

Jan 27, 2025 May 15 @ 6:08 pm

DMV holds for bridge tolls return, along with deep inequities

A story by Noah Baustin in today’s San Francisco Standard examines the post-pandemic return of DMV registration holds for unpaid bridge and FasTrak tolls and fees. Since the fall of…

Dec 11, 2024 May 15 @ 6:08 pm

Court Reporter Shortage – media coverage

Journalism focused on or citing our petition to the CA Supreme Court related to civil litigants’ right to a verbatim record includes:

Dec 4, 2024 May 15 @ 6:08 pm

Legal Aid Organizations Sue Superior Courts of Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, and San Diego to Protect Constitutional Rights of Low-Income Litigants

For Immediate Release Thao WeldyFamily Violence Appellate Projecttweldy@fvaplaw.org510-858-7358 Oakland, CA (December 4, 2024) – Family Violence Appellate Project, represented by Covington & Burling LLP and Community Legal Aid SoCal, and…

Oct 17, 2024 May 15 @ 6:08 pm

“A qualified yes”: new Social Security rules on remote appeal hearings

The AARP website features an in-depth examination of new Social Security Administration (SSA) rules for remote access to appeal hearings. The new rules make permanent some exceptions to requirements for…

Oct 3, 2024 May 15 @ 6:08 pm

Celebrating a Victory for the Custody Rights of Domestic Violence Survivors

In July, BayLegal filed an amicus brief in C.C. v. D.V., a case before the California Court of Appeal. Our brief supported an appeal by a survivor of serious domestic violence (represented…

Sep 6, 2024 May 15 @ 6:08 pm

Bay Area Legal Aid’s Tenant Rights Initiatives in Alameda County, part four

Fighting Back Against Landlord Harassment Sometimes, conflict between landlords and tenants can escalate into harassing or threatening behavior. Some landlords might resort to harassment to force out tenants when a…

Sep 6, 2024 May 15 @ 6:08 pm

Bay Area Legal Aid’s Tenant Rights Initiatives in Alameda County, part three

Preserving Housing for Tenants with Disabilities Access to legal counsel can make a huge difference in outcomes for low-income tenants facing eviction. Representation can be the deciding factor in successfully…

Sep 6, 2024 May 15 @ 6:08 pm

Bay Area Legal Aid’s Tenant Rights Initiatives in Alameda County

Supporting a Tenant’s Sobriety BayLegal frequently advocates for tenants in Alameda County seeking reasonable accommodations from landlords and property managers. Our advocacy helps low-income renters access services and changes to…

Impact in the Bay Area

"My BayLegal attorneys were very kind and helpful individuals. They took my case as their own, and did all the follow up very attentively. I will be forever grateful for their help."

- Freweini Solomon

“I’ve never had anyone fight for me as hard as my BayLegal attorney did.”

- Suzanna Ramirez

"I remember as a kid, my mom received help from your agency. We stayed in our house for months to follow because of the help she received from you guys. I cannot thank you guys enough!”

- Maricela Garza

"They taught me a lot—not just about…SSI and housing, but other things as well. How to find resources on my own and stand stronger. I mean, they made me strong, so now I do most of this stuff on my own, because of the help and the tools the technique they helped me with along the way."

- Richard York

2023
%
of our cases had favorable outcomes
2023
K+
individuals helped by our advocacy and litigation
2023
clients received legal representation
2023
M+
in direct economic benefits for low-income families and communities

Support That Changes Lives

We count on the support of friends like you to help us provide meaningful access to the civil justice system through quality legal assistance regardless of a client’s location, language or disability.