LSC

What LSC does

Legal Services for Children (LSC) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal services organization founded in 1975 in San Francisco, California, providing free, trauma-informed legal representation and clinical social work services to children and youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. The organization serves approximately 25 staff across four program areas: Safety and Stability at Home (guardianship and foster care/dependency representation), Freedom from Deportation (immigration legal services including SIJS, DACA, T Visa, U Visa, and asylum), Access to Education (school discipline defense against expulsion and suspension), and Social Work Services (psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, case management, and counseling). Its service model combines interdisciplinary attorney and social worker teams delivering trauma-informed, age-appropriate counsel, with intake through a bilingual Warmline, office-based representation in San Francisco and Oakland, community-based know-your-rights training, and a Pro Bono Panel of major law firm attorneys providing roughly 2,000 hours of free legal assistance annually. LSC supplements direct services with the Detained Immigrant Children's Project, a DACA Project, the Todos Juntos youth empowerment initiative, the Photovoice participatory evaluation project, and a Certificate in Child Advocacy law school program in partnership with UC College of Law San Francisco.

The organization is funded through donations, foundation grants, government grants (notably from the City and County of San Francisco), cy pres awards from class action litigation settlements, and major philanthropic awards including a $2 million MacKenzie Scott Yield Giving Open Call award in March 2024. It is governed by an independent Board of Directors under Executive Director Cathy Sakimura (appointed June 2022), with senior leadership including Legal Director Nedra Shawler, Clinical Director Ron Gutierrez, Pro Bono Director Cynthia Henning, Development Director Joyce Lupack, and Operations Director Moisés Cruz. LSC's core go-to-market is direct-to-consumer (children and youth access services by phone or referral), augmented by a community-led pro bono attorney panel and an event-driven annual Champions for Children fundraiser. The organization maintains an extensive partnership ecosystem across major Bay Area law firms, the SF Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative, the SF Youth Justice Initiative, the SF Street Outreach Convening, and university law schools.

Technology is not a component of the delivery model; LSC operates no software platform, mobile app, or proprietary technology. Marketing and intake rely on a WordPress website, organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), email newsletter, and an active Resource Library of practice manuals and training materials for attorneys and youth-serving professionals. The organization holds a Platinum Transparency Seal from Candid/GuideStar (2026) and Best in America designation (2025), reflecting strong governance and operational credibility for a half-century-old institution entering its second 50 years.

Name

LSC

Legal name

Legal Services for Children

Website

https://lsc-sf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Legal Services for Children (LSC) is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1975, providing free, trauma-informed legal and clinical social work services to Bay Area children and youth in foster care, immigration, guardianship, and school discipline matters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Offices of Lawyers (54111), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGABAG

Child Protection & Child Rights

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYEDAJAIAD

Safeguarding, Child Protection & Reporting Services

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Student Health, Safety & Wellbeing Services (Counseling, Mental Health, SEL, Safeguarding)

SECONDARYBPADAGAG

Child Rights & Protection

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Human Rights, Democracy & Governance

Keywords

• Youth legal services
• Immigration legal aid
• Foster care advocacy
• Guardianship legal representation
• School discipline defense

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: LSC relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. They hold an annual Champions for Children event and accept direct donations through their website.
2. Government Grants: LSC receives funding from the City and County of San Francisco. Organizations receiving $1M from the City and County of San Francisco during fiscal year 2025-26 are required to report publicly.
3. Major Awards: LSC received a $2 million award from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving Open Call in 2024, double the originally announced amount.
4. Cy Pres Awards: LSC receives cy pres awards from class action litigation settlements in California state courts and federal courts, particularly the Northern District of California.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Legal Services for Children (LSC) is a nonprofit legal and social services organization that provides free, trauma-informed holistic representation to children and youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its core practice areas are immigration legal services (SIJS, DACA, T/U Visa, asylum), foster care and guardianship representation, and school discipline defense, delivered through interdisciplinary teams of attorneys and clinical social workers.

Product overview

Legal Services for Children (LSC) is a nonprofit legal services organization providing free, trauma-informed holistic legal and social work services to San Francisco Bay Area children and youth. The organization operates a core service model centered on four main program areas: Safety & Stability at Home (guardianship and foster care representation), Freedom From Deportation (immigration legal services including SIJS, DACA, T Visa, U Visa, and asylum), Access to Education (school discipline defense), and Social Work Services (clinical case management alongside legal representation). Supporting these core services are the Warmline intake hotline, Pro Bono Panel volunteer attorney program, Resource Library for professionals, and education programs including the Certificate in Child Advocacy and law school practicums. Specialized initiatives include the DACA Project, Photovoice Project, and Todos Juntos Project for youth empowerment. LSC has served children exclusively for over 50 years since its founding in 1975.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Safety & Stability at Home Free legal representation for children in the San Francisco foster care (dependency) system and for youth ages 12 and older seeking legal guardianship or emancipation in San Francisco and Oakland, securing safe and stable homes for young people who cannot live with their parents.
• Freedom From Deportation Free immigration legal services helping undocumented children and youth obtain legal status through Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), DACA, T Visa, U Visa, and asylum, and providing representation in deportation proceedings including for unaccompanied minors in immigration detention.
• Access to Education Free legal representation defending K-12 students facing suspension or expulsion, protecting their right to remain in school and avoid the school-to-prison pipeline.
• Social Work Services Free clinical social work services including psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, case management, and counseling provided alongside legal representation to support children's healing from trauma and adverse experiences.
• Warmline Intake Hotline Free telephone-based legal intake, screening, and referral service available to children, youth, and families in the Bay Area, with English (415-780-6366) and Spanish (415-780-6367) lines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helps hundreds of children and youth annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Safe & SoundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2023Collaboration on Street Outreach Convening to address needs of foster youth at high risk of exploitation. Joint report published in June 2025 with recommendations for policy and practice improvements.
• San Francisco Court Appointed Special Advocates (SFCASA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2023Partner in Street Outreach Convening working group to improve coordination of services to homeless foster youth who have been commercially sexually exploited.
• San Francisco Department on the Status of WomencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2023Partner in developing Street Outreach Convening: Re-Engaging Youth in Services to improve care for systems-involved youth absent from placement.
• San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-organization collaboration representing San Francisco residents in deportation proceedings.
• Childhood on the MoveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational working group working to create systemic change to better support migrant children and youth.
• San Francisco Youth Justice InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-organization initiative focused on reducing the number of young people involved in the justice system in San Francisco by reducing suspensions and chronic absenteeism among SF middle school students.
• DLA PipermajorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Excellence in Pro Bono Honoree at Champions for Children event. Collaborates with LSC social worker and young client to secure legal guardianship, educational rights, or immigration relief.
• The Norton Law FirmmajorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Excellence in Pro Bono Honoree at Champions for Children event.
• Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLPmajorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Excellence in Pro Bono Honoree at Champions for Children event.
• Duane Morris LLPmajorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Excellence in Pro Bono Honoree at Champions for Children event.
• Keker, Van Nest & PetersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPacesetter sponsor of 2026 Champions for Children event.
• The Morrison Foerster FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPacesetter sponsor of 2026 Champions for Children event.
• Kaiser PermanentemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPacesetter sponsor of 2026 Champions for Children event.
• Baker McKenziemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBenefactor sponsor of 2026 Champions for Children event.
• OrrickmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvocate sponsor of 2026 Champions for Children event.
• Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLPmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGuardian sponsor of 2026 Champions for Children event.
• IFPTE Engineers & Scientists UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnion partner providing support, logo displayed on website footer.
• University of California College of the Law, San FranciscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSC attorneys teach two practicums at UC Law SF each year: Lawyering for Children and Child Welfare. Also co-teaches child lawyering courses.
• Berkeley School of Law Youth and Education Law SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational partner for Certificate in Child Advocacy program for law students.
• National Center for Youth LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational partner for Certificate in Child Advocacy program. LSC is co-counsel in Flores v. Garland with Children's Rights.
• Youth Law CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational partner for Certificate in Child Advocacy program.
• Disability Rights CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational partner for Certificate in Child Advocacy program.
• Juvenile Public Defender's OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational partner for Certificate in Child Advocacy program for law students.
• The Pacific Juvenile Defender CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational partner for Certificate in Child Advocacy program.
• USF Criminal Juvenile Defense Clinic and Child Advocacy ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational partner for Certificate in Child Advocacy program.
• Youth and Education Law Project, Stanford Legal ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational partner for Certificate in Child Advocacy program.
• Practising Law InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in providing SIJS training to over 200 youth-serving professionals. LSC Associate Legal Director presented on panel.
• Neyers VineyardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine donor for 2026 Champions for Children event.
• Hanson Bridgett LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlly sponsor of 2026 Champions for Children event.
• Kazan, McClain, Satterley & GreenwoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlly sponsor of 2026 Champions for Children event.
• Photovoice ParticipantsminorOthersFormer and current clients participated in Photovoice evaluation project in 2017, 2018, and 2020, creating photographs and narratives documenting their experiences.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Center for Youth Law: NCYL is a national nonprofit using legal advocacy to improve systems for children in foster care, juvenile justice, and immigration. It is a listed LSC partner in the Certificate in Child Advocacy program and a co-counsel in Flores v. Garland, making it directly comparable in mission and practice areas.
• Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC): CLINIC is one of the largest national immigration legal services networks, providing training and capacity-building to affiliated nonprofit immigration programs. It is broadly comparable to LSC's immigration practice and DOJ-accredited representative work, particularly through DOJ accreditation structures.
• Kids In Need of Defense (KIND): KIND is a national nonprofit providing legal representation to unaccompanied immigrant children, including through social worker-led interdisciplinary teams. It is highly comparable to LSC's Detained Immigrant Children's Project and broader immigration practice, though KIND operates nationally rather than being limited to the Bay Area.

Direct peers

• Bay Area Legal Aid: Bay Area Legal Aid is a regional legal aid nonprofit serving low-income residents across multiple Bay Area counties. Development Director Joyce Lupack previously worked at BayLegal, indicating direct overlap with LSC in the Bay Area legal aid ecosystem and target population.
• Pangea Legal Services: Pangea Legal Services provides direct representation to immigrants in the Bay Area, including asylum and detained individuals. LSC staff attorney Carly Shortell interned at Pangea, indicating direct overlap in immigration legal services for vulnerable Bay Area populations.
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC): ILRC is a national nonprofit providing training, education, and technical assistance on immigrant rights and legal services. Multiple LSC staff interned with ILRC, and it offers overlapping immigration legal training and resource materials to youth-serving practitioners.
• East Bay Community Law Center: EBCLC is a Berkeley-based clinic providing legal services to low-income East Bay residents, including immigration and youth-related matters. It is comparable to LSC in combining direct legal services with training clinics, and is a listed partner in LSC's Certificate in Child Advocacy program.
• Youth Law Center: Youth Law Center is a San Francisco-based nonprofit advocating for children and youth in foster care, juvenile justice, and immigration systems. It is a listed LSC partner in the Certificate in Child Advocacy program and operates in nearly identical practice areas.
• San Francisco Court Appointed Special Advocates (SFCASA): SFCASA trains and supports volunteer advocates for foster youth in San Francisco dependency court. Development Director Joyce Lupack previously worked at SFCASA, and LSC partners with SFCASA on the Street Outreach Convening to serve commercially exploited foster youth.

Regional players

• Open Door Legal: Open Door Legal is a San Francisco-based nonprofit providing free legal services to low-income residents. LSC staff attorney Kimberly Mata previously worked at Open Door Legal, indicating direct overlap in providing free legal services to low-income Bay Area residents.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LegalServicesforChildren
• Facebookfacebook.com/legalservicesforchildren
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/legal-services-for-children
• Instagraminstagram.com/lsc.sf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about LSC