Central California Legal Services

What Central California Legal Services does

Central California Legal Services (CCLS) is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit public interest law firm founded in 1965 and headquartered in Fresno, California. The organization provides free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals, families, organizations, and communities across Fresno, Madera, Kings, Merced, and Tulare counties in California's Central Valley, with service delivery through five physical offices (Fresno, Merced, Visalia as primary; Mendota and Los Banos as satellites), a toll-free Legal Advice Line handling approximately 4,000 calls per month, an online client application portal, and a dedicated Health Consumer Center hotline. Eligibility is generally income-based at 125% or 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, with select programs (seniors, health) extending access regardless of income.

CCLS's service portfolio spans Housing (including the vast majority of eviction defense cases in Fresno County), Health, Family Violence, Immigration, Veterans' Legal Services, Benefits, Guardianship, Seniors, Criminal Record Expungement, Workers' Rights, Emergency Preparedness, and Small Business legal services. Specialized programs include Project First Step, a pro bono attorney program for domestic violence restraining orders, and the Veterans' Legal Services Project. Underlying operational technology is limited to standard nonprofit tools: LegalServer for client intake and case management, Network for Good for donation processing, and integrations with the California Pro Bono Portal and LawHelpCA.Org for referrals and volunteer coordination. There is no evidence of proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or differentiated technical infrastructure.

The business model is that of a federally funded legal aid non-profit. CCLS is funded primarily through grants from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), described as the single largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States, with additional revenue from state and foundation grants, cy pres awards, individual donations, corporate support (including Apple), and major law firm pro bono contributions (Cooley, Latham & Watkins, Mayer Brown, Alston & Bird, Wanger Jones Helsley). Services are provided at no cost to eligible clients. Marketing and client acquisition occur through community outreach, partnerships with local agencies, faith organizations, and neighborhood groups, plus presence on social media platforms. The organization is led by Executive Director Michelle Kezirian and governed by a Board of Directors.

Name

Central California Legal Services

Legal name

Central California Legal Services

Website

https://centralcallegal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Central California Legal Services is a 60-year-old 501(c)(3) legal aid non-profit based in Fresno that provides free civil legal assistance across five Central Valley California counties. It serves low-income individuals, seniors, and vulnerable populations through a network of five offices, a Legal Advice Line handling ~4,000 calls monthly, and specialized programs in housing, health, family violence, veterans, and immigration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fresno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: CCLS is a non-profit corporation funded primarily through the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and other grants. The organization also receives funding from donations and cy pres awards.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CCLS is a non-profit public interest law firm that provides free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals, families, and communities across California's Central Valley. Core service lines cover housing (including eviction defense), health care access, family violence and restraining orders, veterans' legal issues, immigration, public benefits, guardianship, seniors' legal issues, criminal record expungement, workers' rights, emergency preparedness, and small business matters. Services are accessed through a toll-free Legal Advice Line, an online client application, and in-person consultations at five regional offices.

Product overview

Central California Legal Services is a nonprofit public interest law firm providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in California's Central Valley. The organization operates primarily through its Legal Advice Line (receiving approximately 4,000 calls monthly) which serves as the entry point for services. The portfolio includes specialized service lines covering Housing, Health (via the Health Consumer Center), Family Violence (including Project First Step for domestic violence restraining orders), Veterans' Legal Services, Immigration, Benefits, Guardianship, Seniors, Expungement, Workers' Rights, Emergency Preparedness, and Small Business. Key programs include the Criminal Record Expungement Clinic, Veterans' Legal Services Project, and Project First Step which coordinates pro bono attorneys for domestic violence survivors. Services are delivered through multiple offices (Fresno, Merced, Visalia) and satellite locations (Mendota, Los Banos), with the Legal Advice Line available in all languages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Advice Line Telephone-based legal advice and referral service providing eligibility screening, limited legal advice, case transfers, and referrals to eligible Central Valley residents. Handles approximately 4,000 calls per month. Available in multiple languages.
• Housing Legal Services Civil legal assistance for housing-related issues including eviction defense, tenant rights, and housing conditions. CCLS handles the vast majority of eviction defense cases in Fresno County.
• Health Consumer Center Specialized helpline (800-464-3111) providing legal assistance for problems related to health care access and coverage, available regardless of income level for health-related matters.
• Family Violence Legal Services Legal assistance for survivors of domestic violence including restraining orders, safety planning, and related family law matters.
• Project First Step Pro bono attorney program representing domestic violence survivors in court to obtain permanent domestic violence restraining orders. Operates in partnership with multiple community organizations and trained volunteer attorneys.
• Veterans' Legal Services Project Legal assistance specifically designed for veterans facing civil legal issues related to their service, including VA benefits access and other veterans-related legal matters.
• Criminal Record Expungement Clinic Pro bono clinic helping individuals clear or seal their criminal records, with major law firm partners including Cooley LLP providing pro bono services.
• Immigration Legal Services Civil legal assistance for immigration-related matters for low-income individuals in Central California.
• Benefits Assistance Legal help with public benefits including Social Security, disability, and government assistance programs for low-income individuals.
• Guardianship Services Legal assistance for establishing guardianships, often used by grandparents raising grandchildren and other kinship care arrangements.
• Seniors Legal Services Legal assistance for seniors age 60 and over in Fresno, Madera, Kings, Merced, or Tulare County, available regardless of income for certain senior-specific legal matters.
• Workers' Rights Clinic Monthly virtual clinic providing legal assistance for employment-related issues and worker rights for low-income workers.
• Emergency Preparedness Services Legal assistance related to emergency preparedness and disaster-related legal issues affecting low-income residents of the Central Valley.
• Small Business Legal Services Legal assistance for small business owners with civil legal matters in the Central Valley.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000 calls per month handled through Legal Advice Line
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

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

• Centro La Familia Advocacy ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Project First Step's 20th Anniversary Celebration, providing support for domestic violence survivor services and community advocacy in the Central Valley.
• CHAN (Community Housing and Neighborhood)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Project First Step domestic violence restraining order program, supporting housing-related assistance for survivors.
• FCC (Family Crisis Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Project First Step initiative providing crisis services and support for domestic violence survivors.
• Family Services of Tulare CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting families affected by domestic violence in Tulare County.
• Fresno County Bar AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional bar association partner supporting legal professional development and pro bono referrals.
• Fresno County Women's LiberationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's advocacy organization partnering on domestic violence and women's legal rights initiatives.
• Kings County Action OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity action organization serving Kings County residents, partner in domestic violence support services.
• Marjaree Mason CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary domestic violence resource center in Tulare County, partnered on Project First Step restraining order program.
• Tulare County Bar AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional bar association partner providing support for legal services and pro bono attorney referrals in Tulare County.
• Cooley LLPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor law firm providing pro bono legal services through CCLS expungement clinic and other volunteer programs.
• Latham and WatkinsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarge international law firm contributing pro bono services to CCLS clients through various legal clinics.
• Mayer BrownmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal law firm providing pro bono legal support for CCLS clients in the Central Valley.
• Wanger Jones Helsley PCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFresno-based law firm recognized as Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year, providing ongoing pro bono legal representation.
• Alston and BirdmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational law firm contributing pro bono legal services to CCLS client matters.
• AppleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter providing pro bono or charitable contributions to CCLS mission.
• LawHelpCA.OrgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline resource portal helping California residents find legal information and legal aid providers, providing referral pathway for potential clients.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Legal Aid at Work: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing free legal services to low-income workers. Comparable civil legal aid nonprofit in California with overlapping employment and benefits practice areas.
• Public Counsel: Largest pro bono public interest law firm in the U.S., based in Los Angeles. Comparable in pro bono-driven service model, civil legal aid scope, and strong partnerships with major U.S. law firms.
• Bet Tzedek: Los Angeles-based legal aid nonprofit with strong focus on seniors, immigration, housing, and Holocaust reparations. Comparable as a California civil legal aid provider with a similarly diverse program stack and pro bono network.
• California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA): California's largest statewide legal aid program for low-income rural communities. Directly comparable as an LSC-funded civil legal aid organization serving similar client demographics across California, with overlapping practice areas in housing, immigration, and farmworker issues.
• Inner City Law Center: Los Angeles-based legal and social services nonprofit focused on homelessness prevention and housing. Comparable in housing-anchored civil legal aid work and low-income client base.
• Bay Area Legal Aid: LSC-funded legal aid nonprofit serving low-income Bay Area residents across housing, health, family, and consumer law. Closely comparable in mission, funding structure (LSC grants), and civil legal aid practice areas to CCLS.
• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA): Large LSC-funded legal aid organization serving Los Angeles County low-income residents. Directly comparable in legal services model, LSC funding, eviction defense dominance, and pro bono program structure.
• Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA): LSC-funded legal aid provider serving LA County's low-income residents. Directly comparable in funding structure, civil legal aid scope (housing, family, immigration, benefits), and pro bono integration.

Others

• National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA): National membership and advocacy organization for civil legal aid and public defender programs. Comparable as the umbrella peer in the same funding/federal-policy ecosystem, particularly relevant for LSC advocacy and funding-trend visibility.
• OneJustice: California statewide infrastructure and advocacy organization supporting legal aid nonprofits, including pro bono program development. Comparable as a peer support and capacity-building entity within the California legal aid ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubem.youtube.com/@centralcalifornialegalserv5051
• Facebookfacebook.com/CentralCalLegal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centralcallegal
• Instagraminstagram.com/centralcallegalservices

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Central California Legal Services