PRO BONO
The Law Foundation’s Pro Bono Program leverages the talent of attorneys and staff from law firms and corporate legal departments to help more clients than we would with just our in-house attorneys. Pro bono attorney volunteers dedicate their time and expertise to providing high-quality legal services. We also rely on a variety of non-attorney volunteers, who provide a wide variety of services to the Law Foundation in areas like paralegal support, website and graphic design, forensics, and data analysis.
Want to get involved? Email probono.info@lawfoundation.org.
Supporting Economic Stability for Tenants
When Sarah and Michael moved into their Sunnyvale condo, they paid their landlord a $3,200 security deposit. And when they moved out a year later, the couple left the unit spotless for the new tenants.
To their surprise, the landlord made unfair deductions from their security deposit and returned less than $1,000. For our low-income neighbors, being without over $2,000 can be a quick path to lasting economic instability. Sarah and Michael quickly reached out to the Law Foundation for help. They received an experienced pro bono attorney with expertise in renters' rights to represent their case.
Our attorney prepared a demand letter, requesting the landlord return the full security deposit amount. This letter was ignored and the landlord hoped the issue would just go away.
But we are tenacious when giving our clients a voice. So, we helped Sarah and Michael file a lawsuit in Small Claims Court. Since attorneys are not permitted in these hearings, our lawyer helped the couple prepare their arguments.
Sarah and Michael won their case including receiving back their remaining security deposit–plus punitive damages of $795 and reimbursement for filing fees–a total of $3,077! Thanks to their victory in court, they remained economically stable, had expanded options for new housing, and could cover other essential expenses.
The Law Foundation’s Security Deposit Pro Bono project was launched in 2022 in response to client needs and requests. We help low-income tenants recover rightly deserved security deposits from landlords.
A Mom’s Fight in Support of Her Son’s Gender Identity
Avery was a teenager who had been on a journey to discover his true gender identity. With the loving support of his mother Monica, Avery bravely sought to align his legal identity with his true self. They sought the help of the Law Foundation's Pro Bono program, attending our Name and Gender Marker Change clinic. There, they were paired with a pro bono attorney to support them through the legal process.
Their attorney worked with Monica and Avery to file a petition and they awaited a court date to finalize the change. However, the court unexpectedly hit pause on Avery’s case when they realized only one parent was listed on the petition. They insisted that a second parent give their consent. Monica quickly alerted the court to the fact that Avery was donor-conceived so no other parental consent would be necessary, but the court did not relent. Undeterred, Monica and Avery reached out to our Pro Bono program again for help. Together, they submitted additional supporting documentation, and the great news came—Avery's request was granted. He got an official decree legally recognizing his true identity, an incredible win for the family.
ID documents are crucial for daily activities like work, voting, and travel. For the transgender community, having an ID that aligns with gender identity is vital. Yet, updating these legal documents can be complex. To help, the Law Foundation's Pro Bono program, alongside staff from the Health and Children & Youth programs, created the Name & Gender Marker Change project in 2019.
