Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino

What Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino does

The Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino (LASSB) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1958 that provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals and vulnerable populations across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in California. Its service portfolio spans ten core practice areas: Care Court, Domestic/Family Violence, Eviction Defense, Expungement, Foreclosure Defense, Housing & Homelessness, Medical-Legal Partnerships, Probate, Student Loan Assistance, and Veterans Support. In 2024, the organization reported impacting over 20,000 people with legal support and closing more than 8,000 cases. Service delivery is structured around a formal intake and eligibility screening process based on income and case type, supplemented by community clinics (including Rialto Resource Center, Labor Law, Family Law, and Illegal Retention clinics) and a network of nine strategically located sites across San Bernardino County plus extended coverage into Riverside County.

LASSB's underlying technology stack is modest and operational rather than differentiated. It uses the LegalServer platform for online client intake, deploys state-of-the-art self-help kiosks in court facilities to assist self-represented litigants, and provides fillable PDF forms through its website. There is no indication of proprietary AI, machine learning, or advanced data infrastructure; the technology functions as a service-access bridge to extend reach into underserved rural communities. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Pablo Ramirez, with a stated headcount of approximately 40 staff and a broader volunteer/fellowship ecosystem supporting pro bono attorneys and law student externs.

LASSB's business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than revenue-generating. It receives no fees from clients and operates exclusively on charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations, federal/state/local government grants, cy pres awards from class action settlements, planned giving/estate donations, and event-based fundraising through its annual Access to Justice Gala. Notable grant inflows include participation in California's Student Loan Empowerment Network (DFPI awarded $7.25 million across 14 organizations in June 2024). Because LASSB is a mission-driven nonprofit, its "go-to-market" is community-led outreach through court partnerships, self-help resources, word-of-mouth referrals, and digital presence across website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Name

Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino

Legal name

Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino

Website

https://legalaidofsb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino (LASSB) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1958 that provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals and vulnerable populations across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties through direct representation, self-help kiosks, and community clinics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Legal Services (5411), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAM

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Civil legal aid
• Free legal services
• Pro bono representation
• Housing legal support
• Family law advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

San Bernardino

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: LASSB relies on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund operations and legal services
2. Government Grants and Funding: Federal, state, and local government grants support legal aid services for low-income populations
3. Cy Pres Awards: Cy pres awards from class action settlements provide funding to support legal services for underserved communities
4. Planned Giving and Estate Donations: Legacy donations and planned giving programs where supporters include LASSB in their estate plans
5. Student Loan Empowerment Network Grant: DFPI awarded $7.25 million in grants to 14 organizations including LASSB to offer legal aid support for student loan borrowers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino (LASSB) provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals and vulnerable populations across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Services include direct legal representation, advice, referrals, and self-help resources across practice areas such as housing, domestic violence, eviction defense, expungement, probate, student loan issues, veterans support, and Care Court matters. The organization delivers these services through in-person clinics, an online intake portal, and self-help kiosks deployed in courts.

Product overview

Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino (LASSB) operates as a nonprofit legal aid organization offering a comprehensive suite of free civil legal services to low-income individuals in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The organization provides direct legal representation and self-help resources across ten core practice areas: Care Court services, Domestic/Family Violence support, Eviction Defense, Expungement, Foreclosure Defense, Housing & Homelessness services, Medical-Legal Partnerships, Probate, Student Loan Assistance, and Veterans Support. LASSB delivers services through multiple channels including in-person clinics (Rialto Resource Center, Labor Law, Family Law, Illegal Retention), an online intake portal, and state-of-the-art self-help kiosks deployed in courts. The organization supplements its direct services with volunteer and pro bono programs, law student fellowships, and self-help legal guides with fillable forms. Services are accessible through nine strategically located sites across the service area, with technology used as a bridge to extend reach to underserved rural communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Care Court Services Legal representation and support for individuals involved in California's Care Court system, which addresses cases involving serious mental illness and substance use disorders.
• Domestic/Family Violence Services Legal assistance for survivors of domestic violence including restraining orders, family law matters, and safety planning.
• Eviction Defense Legal representation and advocacy for tenants facing eviction to prevent homelessness and ensure housing stability.
• Expungement Services Assistance with clearing criminal records through the expungement process to help individuals regain access to employment, housing, and opportunities.
• Foreclosure Defense Legal support for homeowners facing foreclosure to help them understand their options and protect their homes.
• Housing & Homelessness Services Comprehensive legal assistance addressing housing instability, including eviction defense, housing conditions, and connections to supportive services.
• Medical-Legal Partnerships Collaborative program partnering healthcare providers with legal services to address health-harming legal needs of vulnerable patients.
• Probate Services Legal assistance with estate matters including wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships.
• Student Loan Assistance Legal guidance and support for individuals struggling with student loan debt, helping navigate repayment options, forgiveness programs, and borrower rights.
• Veterans Support Services Specialized legal assistance for veterans addressing unique challenges including benefits, discharge upgrades, and civil legal matters.
• Community Clinics In-person legal clinics providing one-on-one assistance, including Rialto Resource Center clinic, Labor Law clinic, Family Law clinic, and Illegal Retention clinic held at community centers, courthouses, and LASSB offices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ people impacted with legal support in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2024LASSB is one of 14 organizations in California's Student Loan Empowerment Network, providing free legal aid to help California borrowers understand and manage student loan debt. DFPI awarded $7.25 million in grants to participating organizations to support this initiative serving over 4 million California borrowers with $148 billion in student loan debt.
• Student Loan Empowerment Network OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2024Collaborative network including BALANCE, National Consumer Law Center, MyPath, East Bay Community Law Center, IRC Sacramento, The Cambodian Family, Koreatown Youth & Community Center, Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, HERA, Bay Area Legal Aid, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Legal Aid Society of San Diego, and Public Counsel working together to assist student loan borrowers.
• Price Law Firm, APCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSam Price, Managing Attorney at Price Law Firm, APC, recognized with Access to Justice Award at LASSB's 2026 Gala. Firm supports access to justice initiatives and probate education in the community.
• Shernoff LawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion-level sponsor of the 2026 Access to Justice Gala, supporting LASSB's mission to provide equal access to justice.
• Joyce Holcomb LawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion-level sponsor of the 2026 Access to Justice Gala, supporting LASSB's mission to provide equal access to justice.
• Myers Law GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFlorentino Garza Fellowship sponsor for the 2026 Access to Justice Gala, supporting law student fellowships in public interest law.
• San Bernardino County Superior CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLASSB operates self-help kiosks within court facilities and collaborates with the judiciary on community needs assessments and various projects addressing critical community needs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Inland Counties Legal Services: ICLS provides free civil legal aid to low-income residents of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, the same two-county service area as LASSB. They are the most directly comparable peer, competing for the same clients, grants, and court-based delivery channels in the Inland Empire.

Broad incumbents

• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles: LAFLA is one of the largest nonprofit legal aid organizations in California, providing free civil legal services across Los Angeles County. It is a recognized network partner alongside LASSB in the Student Loan Empowerment Network and offers a comparable 10+ practice area model at much greater scale.
• Public Counsel: Public Counsel is the largest pro bono law firm in the United States, providing free civil legal services across Los Angeles. It is a Student Loan Empowerment Network partner and operates a similarly broad civil legal aid portfolio, serving as a broader incumbent in the California legal aid space.
• Bet Tzedek Legal Services: Bet Tzedek is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing free legal aid across multiple practice areas including housing, public benefits, and consumer issues. It is a longer-established incumbent with a comparable civil legal aid mission and similar self-help and direct service delivery model.
• California Rural Legal Assistance: CRLA provides free civil legal services to low-income rural Californians across multiple offices statewide. Comparable in mission and operating model to LASSB, though focused on rural populations across a broader geographic footprint.

Regional players

• Legal Aid Society of San Diego: Legal Aid Society of San Diego is a peer in California's legal aid ecosystem serving a different Southern California region. It is a named network partner alongside LASSB in the DFPI Student Loan Empowerment Network, indicating similar operating model and target population.
• Bay Area Legal Aid: BayLegal provides free civil legal aid to low-income residents across the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a named partner with LASSB in the Student Loan Empowerment Network, with a comparable practice-area structure (housing, family, public benefits) but a different geography.
• Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County: NLSLA provides free civil legal services to low-income residents of LA County neighborhoods. Comparable in operating model and target population to LASSB but operating in a different (and larger) California geography.
• East Bay Community Law Center: EBCLC is a nonprofit community law clinic serving the East Bay Area, a named Student Loan Empowerment Network partner alongside LASSB. It combines direct representation with clinics and student practice, mirroring LASSB's fellowship and clinic model.

Others

• National Consumer Law Center: NCLC is a national consumer advocacy and legal support organization that supports state-level legal aid programs on student loans, debt, and consumer issues. It is a Student Loan Empowerment Network partner and an enabling/thematic peer rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHa71A2QObhcqUuXmOEuRbA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Legal-Aid-Society-of-San-Bernardino-101773168130909
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/legal-aid-society-of-san-bernardino
• Instagraminstagram.com/legalaidsocietyofsanbernardino
• Xx.com/LASSB909

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino