History

LACLJ first opened its doors in 1973.  Originally named Model Cities for Law and Justice, it was founded to provide residents of the Eastside of Los Angeles, particularly Latinos, justice in the legal system.  Our doors have consistently remained open since that date.

Since our founding, we have developed new core competencies and expanded our service area to meet the needs of our clients, from domestic violence, environmental hazards and civil rights, to immigration and fair housing.  During each year of our history, we have matched the needs of the time with passion, conviction, and—above all–good lawyering; we have never ceased to provide Los Angeles residents with the legal services that they need the most, and the values integral to our mission have been constant.

The Early Years

Primarily serving residents of the Eastside of Los Angeles, LACLJ played a historic role in the activism and legal struggles that characterized Los Angeles in the 1970s.  In one case, LACLJ attorneys won a huge victory when a court agreed that persons suing for racial discrimination and police brutality should be able to review the personnel files of law enforcement officers; today, California residents still access this right whenever they file a Pitchess Motion.  In another landmark case, Madrigal v. Quilligan¸ LACLJ fought to end the involuntary sterilization of hundreds of Latinas at LA County-USC Medical Center.  It was also during this period of activism that LACLJ contributed its efforts to tackling school desegregation.

The Turbulent Eighties

The 1980s were monumental years for the Latino community in Los Angeles.  Despite severe cutbacks in its federal funding, LACLJ nevertheless led a community-wide “Know Your Rights” campaign to promote awareness about the looming threat of wrongful deportation.  Through “Know Your Rights,” LACLJ helped immigrants in Los Angeles to understand and exercise their legal rights by holding townhouse meetings, conducting presentations, and staging demonstrations.

New Cases in the Nineties

In the 1990s, LACLJ pursued employment discrimination claims for HIV-positive employees who had been fired or otherwise forced to leave their jobs.  LACLJ also joined with various organizations to support the elimination of groundwater contamination at Los Angeles Unified School District sites.  As the decade closed, LACLJ turned its attention to domestic violence victims by greatly expanding its family law services.

A New Era

In the new millennium, LACLJ now specializes in family and housing aw.  The Center’s staff provides comprehensive services in these practice areas to low-income residents in an expanded service area – LACLJ’s service area now includes East, Southeast, and Northeast Los Angeles.