Law Foundation of Silicon Valley

The Law Foundation, a non-profit agency, provides free legal services to Silicon Valley individuals in need. In 1974, a forward-looking group of Santa Clara County Bar Association members recognized a need in the community for an organization that would help empower low-income individuals towards achievement of their potential, secure justice for them, and help protect their human rights. This vision became a reality with the founding of the Law Foundation in May 1974. The Law Foundation’s purpose is to provide multi-lingual advocacy, education, counseling, and free access to the legal system for those who were traditionally unrepresented. Initially, the Law Foundation’s sole project was Public Interest Law Firm, but as the organization expanded to meet the needs of the community, four projects were added: Mental Health Advocacy Project (1978), AIDS Legal Services (1988; now “Health Legal Services”), Legal Advocates for Children & Youth (1990), and Fair Housing Law Project (1998).