Law Foundation of Silicon Valley

Law Foundation of Silicon Valley Our mission is to advance the rights of underrepresented individuals and families through free legal services, strategic advocacy, and educational outreach.

The Law Foundation provides free legal services & engages in impact-driven policy advocacy to advance housing stability, health equity, and the rights of children and youth—particularly for low-income individuals and historically underserved populations. Founded in 1974, the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley secures justice and protects the rights of low-income residents and communities of color in

Santa Clara County. We remove systemic barriers that prevent access to essential legal and economic resources, providing critical services in housing stability, homelessness prevention, mental health access, public benefits, children's rights, and more. Each year, we reach over 14,000 adults and children, working toward social justice and systemic change. Our dedicated team of 80 attorneys, advocates, social workers, and pro bono volunteers are dismantling barriers caused by discrimination and fighting for lasting change that ensures justice is never determined by a person's income. Visit our website to see our most up-to-date walk-in and phone intake hours. www.lawfoundation.org

Today, we honor Juneteenth, a day that marks the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, enslaved Black A...
06/19/2026

Today, we honor Juneteenth, a day that marks the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, enslaved Black Americans in Texas finally learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth celebrates freedom, resilience, and the contributions of Black communities. It also reminds us to reflect on the ongoing work to address inequities and create opportunities for all.

As we recognize this important day, we honor our commitment to equity, inclusion, and justice. Together, we can help build stronger, more welcoming communities.

🚨 New California Department of Justice (DOJ) report reveals conditions inside immigration detention facilities are getti...
06/15/2026

🚨 New California Department of Justice (DOJ) report reveals conditions inside immigration detention facilities are getting worse. Overcrowding. Inadequate medical care. Failures to meet basic safety standards. And a disturbing rise in deaths in custody.

Immigration detention is a human rights issue — and accountability cannot wait.
We demand dignity, transparency, and protections for every person in detention.

Read the report:https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/immigration-detention-2026.pdf

🏳️‍🌈 Happy Pride Month! To our LGBTQ2S+ friends, clients, colleagues, and community: we see you, we're grateful for you,...
06/05/2026

🏳️‍🌈 Happy Pride Month!

To our LGBTQ2S+ friends, clients, colleagues, and community: we see you, we're grateful for you, and we're committed to you.

At the Law Foundation, Pride isn't a moment...it's a commitment we show up for every single day. We've been honored to support the LGBTQ2S+ community through our work, and that doesn't stop when June ends.

This month, we're inviting everyone to be part of something bigger.

Come to an event. Listen to someone's story. Support a queer-owned business. Advocate for someone who needs it. However you show up, it counts.

Because a community that fights for everyone is stronger for everyone.

We're proud to stand with you. Happy Pride. 💖

In celebration of Pride Month, the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley is hosting a FREE Name and Gender Marker Virtual Cli...
05/22/2026

In celebration of Pride Month, the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley is hosting a FREE Name and Gender Marker Virtual Clinic in partnership with Wilson Sonsini.

The clinic will take place on Tuesday, June 16 at 5:00 PM, with appointments available online or by phone. Participants can receive support completing court forms to legally update their name and gender marker, including guidance on fee waivers where applicable.

📲 To schedule an appointment, scan the QR code or call 408-280-2426.

🎉 Honoring Tristia Bauman, Directing Attorney for the Housing Program at the Law Foundation, alongside co-counsel Neel C...
05/12/2026

🎉 Honoring Tristia Bauman, Directing Attorney for the Housing Program at the Law Foundation, alongside co-counsel Neel Chatterjee, Monte Cooper, and Paul Watford (King & Spalding LLP); Andrew Kim, Megan Bettles, Faraz Behnamjou, and Wendell Lin (Goodwin Procter LLP); and Thomas Zito (Disability Rights Advocates), as recipients of the 2026 California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) Award from the Daily Journal. 👏⚖️

Together they had secured a landmark decision ensuring government agencies are held accountable when they improperly withhold materials essential to public accountability.

The case arose from public records requests tied to the City of Gilroy’s sweeps of homeless encampments, which led to the destruction of personal property—making this decision a major win for transparency, accountability, and the protection of marginalized communities.

🔗 Explore more details in our original press release: www.lawfoundation.org/news/2026/1/15/california-supreme-court-clarifies-limits-of-court-enforcement-under-public-records-act

🎉 Congratulations to Tristia Bauman, the Law Foundation's Housing Program Directing Attorney, and her co-counsel on bein...
05/12/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Tristia Bauman, the Law Foundation's Housing Program Directing Attorney, and her co-counsel on being honored with the 2026 California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) by the Daily Journal for their work on the landmark case City of Gilroy v. Superior Court.

Her co-counsel on the case were Neel Chatterjee, Monte Cooper, Paul Watford, King & Spalding LLP; Andrew Kim, Megan Bettles, Faraz Behnamjou, Wendell Lin, Goodwin Procter LLP; and Thomas Zito, Disability Rights Advocates.

Together, they secured a precedent-setting California Supreme Court decision holding state and local agencies accountable when they improperly withhold public records—advancing transparency and strengthening government accountability statewide.

The CLAY Awards recognize attorneys whose work exemplifies excellence, leadership, and impact of statewide or national importance.

Read more about the court decision in our original press release: lawfoundation.org/news/2026/1/15/california-supreme-court-clarifies-limits-of-court-enforcement-under-public-records-act

Artificial intelligence is already embedded in many of the tools organizations use every day—sometimes without even real...
05/08/2026

Artificial intelligence is already embedded in many of the tools organizations use every day—sometimes without even realizing it. Is your organization prepared?

Join the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley and Cooley for a practical, nontechnical webinar where you’ll learn how to:

✅ Identify where AI is being used across your organization
✅ Protect sensitive information
✅ Set clear expectations around data use and human oversight
✅ Address key employment considerations
✅ Develop simple, effective AI policies

🎤 Speakers:
Tracy Rubin, Partner, Cooley
Shannan Higgins, Pro Bono Counsel, Cooley
Melissa V. Hollatz, Senior Counsel, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley

📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM PDT

👉 RSVP now i.cooley.com/l/708103/2026-05-04/2cc4lc?utm_campaign=052126_TechTrans_aiandyourorganization_webinar__&utm_medium=email&utm_source=pardot

🌺 Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! 🌺 May is a time to celebrate and honor the...
05/07/2026

🌺 Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! 🌺

May is a time to celebrate and honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. AANHPI communities have shaped our world in countless ways—through leadership, creativity, advocacy, innovation, and the everyday work of building and strengthening community.

This month is also an opportunity to honor the diversity within AANHPI communities—across cultures, languages, identities, and stories—and to reflect on the ways AANHPI voices continue to lead, inspire, and drive change.

We encourage everyone to take a moment this month to learn, listen, and celebrate in ways that feel meaningful—whether by exploring cultural traditions, uplifting AANHPI voices, or recognizing the contributions that deserve greater visibility.

At the Law Foundation, we celebrate AANHPI heritage and the individuals in our community whose work and lived experiences strengthen our mission every day.

Our Pro Bono team recently attended the OneJustice California Pro Bono Conference in Oakland and had an incredible time ...
04/27/2026

Our Pro Bono team recently attended the OneJustice California Pro Bono Conference in Oakland and had an incredible time learning, collaborating, and connecting with leaders in pro bono work from across the state (and in some case, from across the country!). We also loved seeing our very own Melissa Hollatz present on our Nonprofit Protection Program work alongside Cleary’s Rafi Stern and Sarah Wiesner of The Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco. Thank you, OneJustice! We are already looking forward to next year’s conference!

Earlier this month, our Pro Bono team was invited to table at SJSU Pride’s Trans Day of Visibility community resource fa...
04/24/2026

Earlier this month, our Pro Bono team was invited to table at SJSU Pride’s Trans Day of Visibility community resource fair! We had a wonderful time sharing about our free Name and Gender Marker Change program, giving updates about the protective impact of SB 59, and spending time with our amazing friends who provide incredible support and resources to the LGBTQ+ community in Santa Clara County! Thanks for having us, SJSU Pride!

Learn more about our Name and Gender Marker Change program here: www.lawfoundation.org/name-and-gender-marker-change-project

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95113

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