East Bay Community Law Center - Berkeley, CA
East Bay Community Law Center is a pioneering non-profit organization and poverty law clinic affiliated with UC Berkeley School of Law. Established in 1988, it has grown to become the largest provider of free civil legal services in Alameda County, offering holistic support in eviction defense, immigration, debt relief, clean slate expungements, and youth advocacy.
Empowering Communities and Advancing Justice in Alameda County
When facing systemic poverty, housing displacement, or legal barriers, having access to free, high-quality legal support can be life-changing. Founded in 1988 by law students at UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law, the East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) has grown to become the largest provider of free legal services in Alameda County. Functioning as Berkeley Law's primary community-based teaching clinic, EBCLC fulfills a dual mission: providing elite clinical training to future public interest lawyers while delivering holistic, client-centered advocacy to over 4,000 low-income residents annually.
EBCLC operates under a Social Indicators of Justice framework, addressing the root causes of economic and racial inequality. The organization is a recognized national model for poverty law, offering multi-disciplinary legal and social work services. From its main offices on Adeline Street in South Berkeley, EBCLC provides critical, free legal advice and full representation to the region's most vulnerable populations, ensuring that everyone, regardless of income, can find a lawyer and stand up for their rights.
Dedicated Eviction Defense and Tenants' Rights
Secure housing is the foundation of a healthy community. EBCLC's Housing Clinic is at the forefront of the fight against gentrification, displacement, and homelessness in the Bay Area. The clinic's lawyers and clinical students represent low-income tenants facing eviction, advocating for safe living conditions and defending against arbitrary landlord actions.
Their housing representation covers:
- Eviction Defense: Representing tenants in unlawful detainer lawsuits to prevent immediate homelessness.
- Habitability and Repair Issues: Forcing landlords to address severe safety hazards, mold, and utility disruptions.
- Rent Control and Rent Board Disputes: Ensuring compliance with local rent stabilization ordinances in Berkeley and Oakland.
Comprehensive Family Immigration and Asylum Representation
Navigating the complex and shifting landscape of federal immigration law requires seasoned legal expertise. EBCLC's Immigration Unit provides a full range of free services, focusing on highly vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors, LGBTQ+ individuals, human trafficking survivors, and immigrants living with chronic illnesses or HIV/AIDS.
Their immigration services include:
- Asylum Applications: Protecting individuals fleeing persecution, with a dedicated focus on affirmative and defensive claims.
- DACA and Naturalization: Assisting permanent residents in preparing for U.S. citizenship, including securing filing fee assistance for local community college students.
- Special Visas: Preparing petitions for U visas, T visas, and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to protect crime victims.
Clean Slate Reentry and Consumer Economic Justice
Legal issues should not prevent individuals from securing employment or financial stability. EBCLC's Clean Slate and Consumer Justice Clinics are designed to remove barriers to upward mobility. The Clean Slate Clinic specializing in criminal record expungements and juvenile justice defense, helping individuals clear old arrest records, resolve outstanding tickets, and restore their driving privileges. Meanwhile, the Consumer Justice Clinic helps plaintiffs escape untenable consumer debt, defending them against predatory debt buyers and helping them secure public benefits, health access, and social safety nets.
Free Legal Services for Eligible Residents
As a non-profit organization, all civil legal services provided by the East Bay Community Law Center are free of charge to eligible low-income residents of Alameda County. To support the diverse local community, EBCLC utilizes a professional language line and provides bilingual advocacy, particularly in Spanish, Vietnamese, Dari, Portuguese, and Ukrainian. If you are in urgent need of legal assistance or wish to seek a free consultation, contact EBCLC today at (510) 548-4040, or visit their main office in South Berkeley during intake hours to verify your program eligibility.
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Location & Access
Primary Address
Situated in the South Berkeley neighborhood, along the historic Adeline Street corridor and just one block north of the Ashby BART station.
Building Location
A beautifully maintained two-story, 6,300-square-foot commercial office building featuring high ceilings, central air conditioning, and a private back patio.
Parking Details
For clients, there is a private customer surface parking lot with free parking directly adjacent to the building, as well as metered street parking along Adeline St.
Public Transit
Served by Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) Route 7 (Emeryville); nearest stop is at Adeline Street & Ashby Avenue.