I came to law school with a passion for tenants’ rights and housing justice generally, and the Housing unit at EBCLC only reinforced that. As a 1L, it is easy to feel directionless, overwhelmed by first-year doctrinal classes and unsure about how to put your passions into actionable steps. But EBCLC provided a space to do just that…
I participated in two EBCLC clinics during my time at Berkeley Law. My supervising attorneys always assigned me meaningful work, with real opportunities to actually practice being a lawyer, and they provided by far the most comprehensive supervision and feedback that I received during my legal education. If I learned anything about how to actually be a lawyer during my time in law school, it mostly happened in Clinic…
As EDJY advocates, we have the privilege of being invited in by our youth and their families to hear their stories, their strengths, and their struggles. Throughout my time with EDJY, I worked with many incredible and kind youth. These youth were tenacious, often standing up to systems that were working against them. Being EDJY advocates, we walk alongside our youth during some of the darkest times of their lives…
The first year of the pandemic was hard in so many ways, but being part of CEJ brought me a lot of hope and joy. Being surrounded by the creative energy of clinic staff and our clients transformed my view of community lawyering. For the first time in law school, I felt like the work I was learning to do was changing the direction our world is headed in. Our clinic assignments connected us with community coalitions and nonprofits engaged in policy and organizing fights around stable jobs, housing affordability, and anti-displacement…
The East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) is honored to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with our clients, staff, and supporters. This month, we asked our EBCLC community members to share about someone who has inspired them to honor their heritage. We hope you take some time to read their thoughtful […]
As the world enters the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) is deeply concerned about the push to “get back to normal.” Government safeguards have failed. Moreover, political leaders have broken promises on police reform, civil rights and public infrastructure. This is jeopardizing decades of progress on urgent issues, from ending criminal fines and fees to the school to prison pipeline.
Today, we celebrate the start of EBCLC’s Second Annual Black Women’s History Week.
On the dawn of Black History Month, the East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) is reflecting on our legacy of providing Black-centered legal services. EBCLC has always aimed for Black liberation. This has been evident since our founding in 1988 when a group of Berkeley law students heard Ronald Reagan’s dog whistle and acted to […]
With immense gratitude, the East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) announces that attorney and homeless rights advocate Osha Neumann is retiring. Neumann has championed the decriminalization of poverty and led the law center’s Homelessness Practice for 18 years. Reflecting on his years of service at EBCLC, Neumann said, “I am proud of the practice that […]
(March 28, 1961 – September 19, 2021) The East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) celebrates the life and legacy of Berkeley Law Professor Lucinda Sikes. For nearly two decades, Lucinda taught, trained, and mentored hundreds of law students to become strong legal writers and thinkers. Many EBCLC students (and EBCLC staff who are Berkeley Law […]
