Stanford Community Law Clinic Mills Legal Clinic of Stanford Law School

Office Information

Name: Stanford Community Law Clinic Mills Legal Clinic of Stanford Law School
Address: 2117 University Ave,, East Palo Alto, CA - 94303
Phone: (650) 725-9200
Fax:

Service Information

The Community Law Clinic (CLC) is Stanfords neighborhood legal services office. Located in East Palo Alto, a majority-minority city four miles from campus, CLC is fundamentally a trial practice clinic. Under the supervision of the clinic instructors, students represent clients in three distinct but closely related subject areas: housing, social security disability, and criminal record expungement matters. CLC students are their clients lawyers; students meet with their clients, interview witnesses, review documents, negotiate with opposing counsel, draft pleadings and other legal documents, and represent their clients in court. They have primary responsibility for all the strategic decisions in their cases. Transitioning from being a law student to being a lawyer, CLC students learn that legal analysis is but one part of successful representation. They learn how to set that legal analysis in motion, in real life contexts characterized by indeterminate facts, anxious clients, intransigent opponents, and busy trial judges.

Students are supervised in their cases by Clinic Director and Associate Dean for Clinical Education Juliet Brodie, as well as clinical supervising attorneys Danielle Jones and Lisa Douglass. Bilingual administrative staff facilitate communications with monolingual Spanish-Speaking clients.


Mission Statement: One of the nation's leading institutions for legal scholarship and education, Stanford Law School inspires new ideas, explores innovative solutions that cross disciplines, and cultivates in tomorrow's leaders the skills, values, and vision to influence the future. Our faculty members are redefining legal education, and they advance the profession through scholarship and as significant voices in public and private debate. Our alumni are among the most influential decision makers in law, public, policy and high technology.

Frequently Asked Questions about Legal Aid

  • What is legal aid?

Legal aid is free or low-cost legal assistance for people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Legal aid organizations provide a variety of legal services, including advice, representation, and advocacy, to help low-income people resolve their civil legal problems.

  • Who is eligible for legal aid?

Eligibility for legal aid varies depending on the organization. Generally, legal aid organizations serve people with incomes below a certain level, as determined by the federal poverty guidelines. Some legal aid organizations also have additional eligibility criteria, such as citizenship status or immigration status.

  • What kind of cases does legal aid handle?

Legal aid organizations handle a wide range of civil legal problems, including:

  1. * Housing
  2. * Education
  3. * Employment
  4. * Family law
  5. * Immigration
  6. * Public benefits
  7. * Consumer law
  8. * Health care
  9. * Disability rights
  • How do I get legal aid?

To get legal aid, you can contact your local legal aid organization or a state or national legal aid hotline. Legal aid organizations typically have intake interviews to determine eligibility and assess the need for legal assistance.

  • Is legal aid free?

Legal aid is generally free for eligible clients. However, some legal aid organizations may charge for certain services, such as filing fees or expert witness fees.

  • What if I don’t qualify for legal aid?

If you do not qualify for legal aid, there are other options available to you, such as pro bono lawyers or legal self-help resources. Pro bono lawyers are lawyers who volunteer their time to provide free legal services to low-income people. Legal self-help resources can provide you with information and tools to help you represent yourself in court.

Here are some additional frequently asked questions about legal aid:

  • What is the difference between legal aid and a public defender?

Legal aid organizations provide free or low-cost legal assistance to people with civil legal problems. Public defenders provide free legal assistance to people who are accused of crimes.

  • Can I get legal aid for a criminal case?

No, legal aid organizations do not provide legal assistance for criminal cases. Criminal cases are handled by public defenders.

  • How can I find a legal aid organization near me?

You can find a legal aid organization near you by visiting the website of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the national organization that funds legal aid programs. The LSC website has a directory of legal aid organizations by state and county.