Legal Aid at Work

What Legal Aid at Work does

Legal Aid at Work is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal services organization founded in 1916 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. It provides free legal services to low-income workers across California through nine specialized program areas — Workers' Rights Clinic (operating at 13 statewide sites), Wage Protection, Unemployment Insurance, Disability and Health Justice, Gender Equity and LGBTQ Rights, National Origin and Immigrants' Rights, Project SURVIVE, Racial Economic Justice, and Work & Family. The organization serves approximately 1,500 low-income clients annually through its clinic network and mentors roughly 100 law students per year, with multilingual service delivery in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and indigenous languages.

Its core "products" are legal services delivered through clinic-based advice, helplines, impact and class-action litigation, policy advocacy, and a self-help library of 180+ fact sheets, guides, sample letters, and videos. There is no proprietary technology stack — the underlying infrastructure is a community-based legal service delivery model supported by partnerships with worker centers, labor unions (SEIU/FFWU), federal agencies (EEOC, DOJ-IER), and state agencies (California Civil Rights Department, EDD, CUIAB).

The business model is a nonprofit funding model. All client services are provided at no cost, with revenue sourced from individual donations, law firm and corporate contributions, foundation grants, cy pres awards under California Code of Civil Procedure § 384, and an annual fundraising event featuring the Mathew O. Tobriner Public Service Award. The organization employs approximately 55+ staff including 40+ attorneys, paralegals, and advocates, and underwent a leadership transition in early 2026 when Kevin Clune succeeded Joan Messing Graff (President, 1981–2026) as President. It is independent, not backed by venture capital, and does not receive Legal Services Corporation funding.

Name

Legal Aid at Work

Legal name

Legal Aid at Work

Website

https://legalaidatwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Legal Aid at Work is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1916 that provides free legal services, impact litigation, and policy advocacy to low-income California workers across nine program areas and 13 statewide clinic sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Other Legal Services (54119), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Labor Law (BPAHAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Public Defense & Legal Aid Services (BPAIAFAC)

Keywords

• Employment law services
• Legal aid nonprofit
• Workers rights advocacy
• Pro bono legal services
• Workplace discrimination law

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Annual Fund: Primary funding source through calendar-year annual fund; accepts donations from individuals, law firms, corporations, and foundations; tax-deductible contributions under Section 501(c)(3) with EIN 94-2783401
2. Cy Pres Awards: Receives cy pres funds from class action settlements as designated nonprofit under California Code of Civil Procedure § 384; eligible for both California state and federal Ninth Circuit cases with nexus to employment claims
3. Event Sponsorship: Annual signature fundraising event held in reception and dinner format with sponsors receiving benefits; presents Mathew O. Tobriner Public Service Award

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Legal Aid at Work is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal services organization that provides free legal assistance to low-income California workers on employment-related matters. The organization operates specialized programs covering wage protection, unemployment insurance, disability rights, gender equity, LGBTQ rights, immigrant worker rights, racial economic justice, and HIV/AIDS-related workplace discrimination. It also runs the Workers' Rights Clinic and Community Legal Services Program offering direct representation and self-help resources.

Product overview

Legal Aid at Work is a nonprofit legal services organization providing free legal services for workers in California through nine distinct program areas and multiple service channels. The core programs include Workers' Rights Clinic (operating at 13 sites statewide), Disability and Health Justice Program, Gender Equity and LGBTQ Rights Program, National Origin and Immigrants' Rights Program, Project SURVIVE, Racial Economic Justice Program, Unemployment Insurance Program, Wage Protection Program, and Work & Family Program. Service delivery is supported by Guided Help (interactive help tool), Self-Help Library (180+ online resources), and six specialized helplines. The organization has been assisting working families with low incomes for over 100 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workers' Rights Clinic
• Community Legal Services Program
• Wage Protection Program
• Unemployment Insurance Program
• Disability and Health Justice Program
• Gender Equity and LGBTQ Rights Program
• National Origin and Immigrants' Rights Program
• Project SURVIVE (HIV/AIDS Program)
• Racial Economic Justice Program
• Work & Family Program
• Self-Help Library
• Guided Help

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves approximately 1,500 low-income Californians annually through Workers' Rights Clinic
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• East Bay Community Law CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing legal services to low-wage workers in the East Bay area; referral and collaboration relationship
• Warehouse Worker Resource CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting warehouse workers' rights; collaborative advocacy and referral relationship
• Community Legal Aid SoCalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthern California legal aid partner for workers' rights services
• LA Black Worker CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner focused on Black workers' employment rights and economic justice
• Legal Aid Society of San BernardinocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInland Empire legal aid partner for workers' rights services
• Central California Legal ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Valley legal services partner supporting agricultural and low-wage workers
• Watsonville Law CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner serving farmworkers and rural workers in the Central Coast region
• Grace Bible Fellowship of AntiochminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based community partner in Antioch supporting local workers
• Disability Rights AdvocatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability rights advocacy organization; collaboration on disability discrimination cases
• California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partner serving rural and agricultural workers in California
• Líderes CampesinascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous farmworker women's organization; partnership for farmworker rights advocacy
• Mixteco Indígena Center (MIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization serving Mixtec and other indigenous immigrant communities
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partnership for employment discrimination cases
• US Department of Justice - Immigrant and Employee Rights SectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partnership for immigrant worker rights enforcement
• California Civil Rights DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnership for civil rights enforcement in employment
• National Immigration Law Center (NILC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational advocacy organization for immigrant rights; co-publishing educational resources
• Cooperative Restraining Order CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing restraining order services for domestic violence survivors
• California Partnership to End Domestic ViolencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition working to end domestic violence
• Family Violence Appellate ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for domestic violence appeals and legal representation
• Bay Area Women Against RapecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSexual assault advocacy organization serving the Bay Area
• Employment Development Department (EDD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnership for unemployment insurance advocacy
• California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board (CUIAB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministrative board partnership for unemployment benefits appeals
• Safety Net for All CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition advocating for comprehensive safety net including unemployment insurance for all workers
• Workers United / Trabajadores UnidoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor union partner for wage theft advocacy
• Chinese Progressive AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner serving Chinese immigrant workers
• All of Us or NonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil rights organization for formerly incarcerated individuals
• Legal Services for Prisoners with ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting children and families of incarcerated individuals
• Inland Empire Fair Chance CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition working to improve Fair Chance hiring practices
• California Work & Family CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition advocating for work-family policies in California
• Family Caregiver AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting family caregivers
• The Source LGBT+ CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ+ center serving the Inland Empire
• AAUW of CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia chapter of American Association of University Women; gender equity advocacy
• Fenwick & West LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw firm sponsor for annual event and fellowship programs; hosts Equal Justice Works Fellows
• Foundation for Advocacy, Inclusion, and Resources (FAIR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting FAIR Fellowship program for diversity in legal profession
• California Fast Food Workers Union (FFWU) / SEIUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor union partnership for fast food workers' rights; strategic partnerships on cases and workplace actions
• AblrminorOthersAccessibility company employing blind and visually impaired people to provide website accessibility audits and consulting

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• East Bay Community Law Center: Berkeley-based nonprofit community law clinic affiliated with UC Berkeley Law, providing free employment and immigration legal services to low-income East Bay workers. Explicit strategic partner of Legal Aid at Work.
• Public Counsel: Largest pro bono law firm in the United States, based in Los Angeles, providing free legal services including employment rights. Comparable in direct-service-plus-impact-litigation model and California operating geography.
• Bay Area Legal Aid: Major California nonprofit legal aid provider serving low-income clients across the Bay Area. Comparable in service model, employment-law practice, and donor-supported funding structure.
• Disability Rights Advocates: National nonprofit disability rights legal center pursuing impact litigation. Core partner of Legal Aid at Work; directly comparable in disability rights litigation practice area.
• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles: Large LA-based nonprofit legal aid organization providing free civil legal services including employment law. Comparable scale, mission, and California-specific operating geography.
• California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA): Nonprofit legal aid organization serving rural and agricultural workers across California. CRLA is a longstanding partner of Legal Aid at Work and directly comparable in mission, funding model, and target client base (low-wage workers, farmworkers, immigrants).

Regional players

• Central California Legal Services: Nonprofit legal aid organization serving California's Central Valley. Listed as a core partner of Legal Aid at Work; directly comparable in employment-law focus and California operating geography, with rural/agricultural worker specialization.

Broad incumbents

• ACLU of Northern California: Regional ACLU affiliate with broad civil rights and employment law portfolio. Comparable on civil rights litigation and immigrant worker advocacy, but operates across many issue areas rather than specializing in employment.

Emerging players

• National Immigration Law Center (NILC): National advocacy organization dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of low-income immigrants. Listed as a core partner of Legal Aid at Work, with significant overlap in immigrant worker rights mission.
• National Employment Law Project (NELP): National nonprofit focused on policy advocacy and impact litigation for low-wage workers. Comparable in employment-rights mission but operates at federal/state policy level rather than direct service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/14771036
• Xx.com/LegalAidatWork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 at Work