Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto

We are so excited to announce that Meg Thering of Goodwin has joined CLSEPA's Board of Directors! Meg has taken on many pro bono immigration cases for CLSEPA clients, including asylum, SIJS, TPS, parole, U visa, and more! Her compassionate and tenacious representation has led to successful resolution of their immigration journeys. Meg always goes above and beyond to advocate for her clients, many of whom are young children. We are so excited have Meg on board! Learn more about CLSEPA's board here: https://lnkd.in/g-pnyqud

CLSEPA is deeply saddened by the passing of the beloved Mamadee Uhila. Mamadee championed and advocated fiercely for her neighbors and community and inspired countless others to do the same. She didn't just believe in change, she took action to create the world as it should be. CLSEPA's housing team had the distinct and decades-long honor of working alongside Mamadee to increase the accessibility of legal services to the Pacific Islander community, and to advocate for more just and inclusive housing for all. Mamadee also worked with our immigration team to create more inclusive and accessible immigration services for our Pacific Islander community members. As a past CLSEPA board member, organizational partner, and visionary for what community-based legal services should be, we are forever grateful for Mamadee’s legacy and imprint on CLSEPA. We will miss her dearly.  Mamadee's spirit and lasting impact will endure through her immense love for and dedication to this community. If you would like to support Mamadee's family at this time, please donate to their GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses: https://lnkd.in/gfKej7g9

Exciting news! We're thrilled to announce that Jaqueline Ramirez, who previously served as one of our distinguished Senior Housing Attorneys, has taken on a new role as CLSEPA's first ever Director of Programs on our Administrative team. Throughout her time at CLSEPA she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and deep commitment to our mission. Her experiences and expertise will be a valuable asset as she helps shape and guide our programs moving forward. We're eager to see the positive impact she'll make in this new role! Congratulations Jaqueline! 

We are so excited to have Fatima Hernandez Brambila returning to CLSEPA as an immigration advocate after she interned with us last summer! It is significant that she is working with us because she is an East Palo Alto resident and will be serving the community that raised her. She will have the ability to understand and connect with our clients. She will also bring her unique insight and experience to the work that we do. Part of the main reason we have partnered with Eastside Prep in hosting their alumni as our interns is because we want to provide the East Palo Alto youth with access to attorneys and the legal field so they can potentially become the next generation of advocates helping this community. That is exactly what is happening with Fatima and we could not be more proud.

On May 22nd, we hosted Legacy of Service: Celebrating Pro Bono at CLSEPA to recognize the exceptional pro bono attorneys and firms, who go above and beyond to provide access to justice. We honored two outstanding law firms, Fenwick & West and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, for their unwavering commitment to service. We also honored Nikita Appaswami, an Associate from Cooley LLP, with the Rising Star Award for her inspiring commitment to housing clients at our Mandatory Settlement Conference Clinics. These clinics are essential to preventing homelessness, and we cannot staff them alone.  As a small legal nonprofit facing high community needs, CLSEPA relies heavily on the selfless service of pro bono legal heroes to expand our impact. Pro bono support allows us to provide high-quality legal aid to hundreds more families seeking justice. We are immensely grateful for these champions who epitomize CLSEPA's mission of equal access to justice for all. Check out photos from the event below, and once again, offer warm thanks to our Awardees: Fenwick & West, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and Nikita Appaswami! Learn how you can become a legal hero at https://lnkd.in/gxF79_pW #CLSEPALegacyofService

Celebrating Pro Bono Excellence: We at CLSEPA were excited to honor Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as our 2024 Pro Bono Champion. Thank you for your many years of exceptional pro bono service! Read the full article to learn more about Wilson Sonsini’s remarkable pro bono achievements and the positive change they are driving in our communities: https://lnkd.in/g3rPfk-r

We had a wonderful time celebrating our amazing pro bono volunteers at #CLSEPALegacyofService! Stay tuned for more pictures from the event!

Today is the day! We're excited to honor Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati at #CLSEPALegacyofService this afternoon, 5/22 at the Palo Alto Art Center! WSGR has historically, year over year, taken on the most individual case placements from CLSEPA. In 2023, WSGR attorneys donated an astounding 5,253 pro bono hours in service of CLSEPA’s community. Faced with the realities of a shifting political landscape, and years-long administrative and court delays, WSGR’s support for our community has never wavered. Join us in honoring our 2024 Pro Bono Champion, WSGR! If you haven't RSVP'ed yet, you can still do so here (free): https://lnkd.in/gyq96jHP

The 2024 Community Impact Awardee is Fenwick & West! Learn more about the incredible impact of CLSEPA's pro bono clinics with Fenwick at #CLSEPALegacyofService tomorrow, Wed 5/22 at 4:30 p.m.! RSVP (free) here: https://lnkd.in/gyq96jHP

Join us at #CLSEPALegacyofService on Wednesday to honor our pro bono Rising Star Awardee, Nikita Appaswami! Alongside CLSEPA's housing attorneys, Nikita has devoted countless hours helping families avoid the devastating effects of eviction through her participation in the weekly San Mateo County Mandatory Settlement Conference (MSC). Learn more about Nikita and the life-changing effects of pro bono representation at the MSC, at Legacy of Service: Celebrating Pro Bono at CLSEPA on Wednesday 5/22! Details and (free) RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gyq96jHP