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Recent News & Articles

BayLegal and Our Legal Aid Colleagues Call for Lawmakers to Establish Safe, Equitable, and Consistent Pandemic Response in California’s Courts

| By BayLegal
Categories: Advocacy, Homepage, News
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Bay Area Legal Aid has advocated within county superior court systems in our own direct service area, and on a statewide level in support of clear, equitable, and science-supported safeguards against the spread of  Covid-19 in the courts. On Tuesday, February 23, 2021, BayLegal Executive Director Genevieve Richardson joined our legal …

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Happy Lunar New Year & our Solidarity with AAPI Communities

| By BayLegal
Categories: Homepage, News
Dear friends of Bay Area Legal Aid, Today Bay Area Legal Aid celebrates the Lunar New Year along with many of our AAPI communities for whom this holiday is such a significant occasion. We extend our wishes for a safe, happy, and thriving New Year to our colleagues, partners, and the AAPI communities with whom …

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SB 91 Extends State Eviction Protections

| By BayLegal
Categories: eNewsletter Story, Homepage, News
Gavel And Small Model House On Wooden Table
As of February 1st, the new law SB 91 temporarily extends California’s state-wide eviction protections, including protection eviction for nonpayment of rent and preservation of just-cause rights, to all  covered tenants until July 1, 2021. Tenants must still pay at least 25% of their rent during this extended repayment period through June 30, 2021. A …

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A Special Thank You to Our Supporters in the Private Bar

| By Lia Dun
Categories: eNewsletter Story, Fundraising, Homepage, News, Recognition
a scale in which both sides are equal
During these challenging times, BayLegal’s law firm donors are crucial in allowing us to continue protecting our clients’ fundamental rights to housing, healthcare, safety, and economic stability. We want to especially thank the Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Foundation, whose campaign kick-off donation every January provides indispensable momentum for our law firm fundraising. This year …

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CalMatters Highlights BayLegal’s Work to End Unfair Traffic Court Practices

| By Lia Dun
Categories: Advocacy, Homepage, Litigation, News, Other
Person driving car
CalMatters highlighted BayLegal’s work to end traffic court practices that disproportionately affect low-income individuals and Black and Latinx drivers. The latter groups are more likely to be pulled over due to racial profiling. The article describes the work BayLegal did with Western Center and other partner organizations in Hernandez v. CA DMV. In this case, …

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New Resources for Tenants Available on BayLegal Website

| By Lia Dun
Categories: Announcements, Homepage, News, Other, Resources
Someone's hand holding a pen over a legal form
New resources for tenants facing eviction are available on Bay Area Legal Aid’s website. The new Self-Help Eviction Unlawful Detainer Answer Packet is designed to help tenants represent themselves in unlawful detainer actions and has been updated according to current state law and Judicial Council policy during the pandemic. The answer packet is part of …

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BayLegal Files Suit to Force the US Department of Education to Remove Barriers to Predatory Student Loan Debt Relief

| By BayLegal
Categories: Homepage, Litigation, News
On January 4, 2021, Bay Area Legal Aid, represented by Public Citizen Litigation Group, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).  The lawsuit seeks to force the Department to disclose information related to the misconduct of the now defunct Corinthian Colleges, Inc.  This information is critical …

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Youth Justice Team Receives Unsung Heroes Award

| By Lia Dun
Categories: Attorneys, Homepage, News, Other
Screenshot of Youth Justice Team on Zoom
Bay Area Legal Aid’s Youth Justice Team received Youth Law Center’s (YLC) 2020 Unsung Heroes Award for their work advocating for youth in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. YLC celebrated the tireless work the Youth Justice Team has done to protect vulnerable young adults in the Bay Area, especially during these critical times. …

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BayLegal Reaches Settlement To Protect Housing Rights

| By Lia Dun
Categories: Homepage, News, Other
apartment complex
Bay Area Legal Aid finalized a housing discrimination case in which a client was denied a reasonable accommodation for more time to pay her rent. Without the accommodation, she was regularly at risk of fees for late payment of rent due to her disabilities and at risk of eviction due to late rent payments. The …

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Susan Li Interviews BayLegal Attorney Fawn Jade Korr on Issues Facing Domestic Violence Survivors

| By Lia Dun
Categories: Homepage, News, Other
the word "justice" engraved on the front of a court building
Update: The San Francisco Examiner quoted Fawn Jade Korr’s interview in an article about services for domestic violence survivors during the pandemic. Susan Li interviewed Bay Area Legal Aid Senior Staff Attorney Fawn Jade Korr on the barriers domestic violence survivors face to accessing legal services during the pandemic. Korr talked about the significant delays …

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Marin County Agrees To End Driver’s License Suspension Practice

| By Lia Dun
Categories: Homepage, News, Other
Traffic ticket with moderate vehicle damage checked
Marin County has agreed to stop a traffic court practice that disproportionately affects low-income drivers and exacerbates racial inequalities. The county traffic court had not been releasing driver’s license suspensions for failure to appear in court, even after the driver had appeared. Instead, they lifted suspensions only when a ticket had been paid in full. …

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Contra Costa County Superior Court Announces Limited Closure

| By Lia Dun
Categories: Homepage, News
An uneven scale sits on a wooden table
The Contra Costa County Superior Court announced a limited closure effective Monday December 7 because of the spike in COVID-19 cases. With the exception of criminal preliminary hearing witnesses, attorneys, and defendants, the Court will be closed to the public and jury trials suspended. For hearings that need to be reset, the Court will notify …

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