Defend the Rule of Law
Over the last few months, we’ve assured rural Californians that despite the fear and uncertainty we are all experiencing, many laws remain in place to protect their civil rights, including language rights, privacy rights, and workplace rights.
Under the rule of law, even the employer, landlord, insurance company, or government agency that seems to have such power over their lives must obey those laws.
Recent federal actions targeting law firms and judges move access to justice further away for many more people at all income levels.
Our civil legal system is where the laws we enact are interpreted and applied. Our civil legal system shapes our future.
CRLA clients use the legal system to prioritize human wellbeing. They come to us with a wide range of legal goals, including:
- to stay housed
- to get paid wages earned
- to stop medical debt from destroying lives
- to keep air safe to breathe and water safe to drink
They aren’t seeking profit and, as a non-profit law firm, neither are we.
CRLA will continue to advance justice and honor dignity by fighting for fairness, empowerment, and meaningful systemic change alongside our clients, colleagues, and community members. We will continue to creatively and courageously challenge the status quo to transform things once viewed as radical into the expectation.
The historically rural areas we serve are home to 11 million people from all walks of life. They are on the frontlines of major challenges that will shape our collective future, from climate change to affordable housing. They have goals shared by millions of people nationwide and insights that can benefit our wider world.
Your support for our work is vital. Specific actions you can take and encourage others to take now:
- Volunteer pro bono legal assistance
- Nominate CRLA for cy pres awards
- Donate as an individual or with your workplace
Fighting for rural Californians’ legal goals isn’t an act of charity—it’s an act of solidarity. We fight for our shared goals as human beings with hope for the future. Thank you for standing with us.
In community,
Jessica Manríquez Jewell
President & CEO