Sur Legal Collaborative

What Sur Legal Collaborative does

Sur Legal Collaborative (also operating as Colectivo Sur Legal) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal organization founded in October 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia, by attorneys Shelly Anand and Lynn Damiano Pearson. It provides free legal services, Know Your Rights trainings, advocacy, and capacity-building support at the intersection of labor rights, immigrant rights, and mass decarceration. The organization was one of the first in the nation to utilize Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement (DALE) and is credited with securing the release of three women from the Irwin County Detention Center, causing the facility to lose its ICE contract in 2021.

The organization's core offerings span four program areas: Legal Services (direct representation, U/T Visa certification requests, labor complaints filed with OSHA/WHD/NLRB/EEOC, and immigration relief); Organizing & Community Education (Know Your Rights trainings, the Worker Advisory Committee, and content in English, Spanish, Dari, Pashto, and API languages); Advocacy & Campaigns (amicus briefs, federal agency engagement, and media work); and Capacity-Building & Technical Assistance (train-the-trainer sessions, legal technical assistance, and resource sharing for community-based organizations). Underlying technology assets include a codified popular-education methodology (pattern recognition starting with worker experience, adding information, and building collective action), a multilingual content library (Manuals, Labor Guides, Sample Warrants), and an Artivism program monetizing donated artwork.

The business model is a free-service nonprofit funded by individual donations (via GiveButter), foundation grants, and federal capacity-building grants such as the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The customer base consists of two primary segments: a long tail of individual immigrant workers in high-hazard, low-wage industries across Georgia and the Deep South, and a secondary segment of community-based partner organizations (worker centers, immigrant rights groups, and coalitions such as GAIN, CDM, EJC, DIA, MESE, and national partners including National COSH, NELP, NILC, and UFW Foundation). Headcount grew from 2 staff at founding to 10 staff by 2025.

Name

Sur Legal Collaborative

Legal name

Sur Legal Collaborative

Website

https://surlegal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sur Legal Collaborative is an Atlanta-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free legal services, Know Your Rights trainings, advocacy, and capacity-building for immigrant workers in Georgia and the Deep South at the intersection of labor and immigration rights.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

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)

SECONDARYBPADAHAE

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Refugee, Migration & Displacement Services

SECONDARYEDAAADAB

Immigration Law Literacy & Rights Education

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Citizenship & Immigrant Integration Education

SECONDARYTHACAKAF

Immigration Legal Services & Representation (Law Firms)

Travel & Hospitality/Business Travel & Corporate Travel Management/Visa, Immigration & Work Permit Services

Keywords

• Immigrant worker advocacy
• Labor rights legal services
• Community legal education
• Immigration legal representation
• Worker organizing support

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations accepted through GiveButter platform. Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with EIN 85-3545961.
2. Grants and Foundation Funding: Grants from organizations such as National Association of Asian American Professionals ($5,000 Chopsticks for Charity award in 2023), federal grants including Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, and other foundation support.
3. Artivism Sales: Proceeds from donated artwork sales where artists donate their work to support the organization, including prints and books like 'Microbiology In Verse'.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sur Legal Collaborative provides free legal representation, Know Your Rights trainings, advocacy, and capacity-building support to immigrant workers and partner organizations at the intersection of labor rights, immigration rights, and mass decarceration. Core services include U and T Visa certification requests, deferred action applications, labor complaint filing support (OSHA, WHD, NLRB, EEOC), multilingual community education, and train-the-trainer support for community-based organizations.

Product overview

Sur Legal Collaborative is a legal nonprofit organization providing a suite of integrated services at the intersection of labor rights, immigrant rights, and mass decarceration. The core offerings include Legal Services (direct representation and U/T Visa certifications), Organizing & Community Education (Know-Your-Rights trainings and Worker Advisory Committee), Advocacy & Campaigns, and Capacity-Building & Technical Assistance. Supporting resources include bilingual Labor Guides, Manuals & Presentations, Sample Warrants educational materials, and the Artivism program selling donated artwork. The organization also links to external resources including the ICE Detention Facilities Locator, ICE Activity Tracker, and Appleseed's Deportation Preparation Manual.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Secured deferred action and work permits for over 20 survivors of workplace incidents
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Partnership on heat justice advocacy and education. Created 'How-to' guide for workers on submitting heat stress complaints including template complaints.
• National Employment Law Project (NELP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Partnership on heat stress complaint trainings and advocacy. Co-created guide on OSHA proposed heat standard rulemaking process.
• UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program (UCLA LOSH)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Partnership for OSHA complaint trainings for occupational heat exposure hazards.
• Farmworker JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Co-filed amicus brief in support of DOL's H-2A regulation providing protections for farm workers.
• FarmSTANDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Legal representation for group of organizations filing amicus brief in support of DOL's H-2A regulation. Also represented worker organizations in OSHA walk-around rule amicus brief.
• United Farm Workers / UFW FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Co-filed amicus brief in support of DOL's H-2A regulation providing protections for farm workers.
• WorksafesecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Co-filed amicus brief in support of OSHA's walk-around rule for third-party inspection representatives.
• National Black Worker CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Co-filed amicus brief in support of OSHA's walk-around rule for third-party inspection representatives.
• Migrant Equity Southeast (MESE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Immigrant rights organization in Savannah, Georgia. Partnered for OSHA training for poultry workers and organizers. MESE organizer noted training was 'imperative for the work that we do at MESE.'
• Georgia Coalition for the Peoples' AgendasecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Community organization partner for OSHA training series for poultry workers and organizers.
• Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of AthensminorOthers · 1 May 2024Shared meeting space for OSHA training for poultry workers.
• WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2024Organization convening former appointees to support effective executive action. Co-Founder Shelly Anand awarded fellowship. Partnership on Department of Labor Strategic Partnership (DSEP) supporting worker centers across the country.
• WeCount!coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2024Partnered with WeCount! for 'How to OSHA' training providing advocates from worker centers across the country with tools and tips on utilizing OSHA complaint process.
• Economic Justice Coalition (EJC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Worker center and immigrant rights organization in Athens, Georgia. Delivered training on recognizing and responding to labor violations and filing complaints with proper agencies.
• Dignidad Inmigrante en Athens (DIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Immigrant rights organization in Athens, Georgia. Delivered workshop addressing immigrant community's lack of awareness about worker rights.
• Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network (GAIN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2024Co-hosted Georgia's first labor-based deferred action clinic with GAIN and Centro de los Derechos del Migrante. GAIN provided survivors with information regarding civil legal services including housing legal assistance.
• Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (CDM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2024Co-hosted Georgia's first labor-based deferred action clinic. CDM provides support for workers' access to deferred action and stands with workers in their fight for justice.
• Emory University School of MedicinesecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2023Partnership with Dr. Amy Zeidan's public health class on immigration as social determinant of health. Executive Director Shelly Anand spoke to class about occupational safety realities for immigrant workers.
• Emory Art and Social Justice FellowshipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2023Screenprinting for Public Health project resulting in artwork design for Sur Legal Collaborative showcased along Atlanta BeltLine.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta (AAAJ-Atlanta)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Partnership on raising concerns about labor violations and safety failures at Hyundai megasite. Co-coordinating rapid response to ICE raids.
• Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (CDM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Coordinating rapid response for workers affected by Hyundai ICE raids in partnership with CDM.
• Demo Lab SouthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Partner in network coordinating rapid response and aid for workers impacted by Hyundai ICE raids.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta (AAAJ-Atlanta)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Partnership on API immigrant community outreach and advocacy.
• Eritrean American Community Association of GeorgiasecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Partner in Know Your Rights training on labor rights for local Eritrean community members.
• Refugee Women's NetworksecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Partner in Know Your Rights training for Afghan refugee women with interpretation in Dari and Pashto.
• Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Partner in Know Your Rights training for Afghan refugee women.
• Florida Hispanic Bar AssociationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Partner in online training on Deferred Action for Immigrant Workers Involved in Labor Violations.
• Practicing Law InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Co-presented on labor-based deferred action with Arise Chicago and NILC for over 170 attendees.
• Arise ChicagosecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Co-presented on labor-based deferred action with NILC for Practicing Law Institute.
• SoCalCOSHsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Partner in OSHA complaint training presentation at COSHCON 2023.
• Asylum Seeker Advocacy ProjectsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Pro bono partner providing legal support to survivors of Foundation Food Group nitrogen leak.
• UGA School of Law Community HeLP ClinicsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in collective effort securing deferred action and work permits for survivors.
• National Immigration Law Center (NILC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in collective effort. Co-founder Lynn Damiano Pearson now Senior Attorney at NILC advancing worker rights and enforcement work including Deferred Action for Workers Campaign.
• Susan Harwood Capacity Building Pilot Grant ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Federal grant program funding Worker Advisory Committee (WAC) formation and OSHA training curriculum development.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (CDM): CDM is a transnational migrant worker organization that supports temporary workers in labor enforcement and access to deferred action. It co-hosted Georgia's first labor-based deferred action clinic with Sur Legal and partners on rapid response to ICE raids, making it the closest direct peer in mission, methodology, and target population.
• Farmworker Justice: Farmworker Justice is a national advocacy organization focused on farmworker rights, including H-2A protections and OSHA enforcement. Sur Legal partnered with Farmworker Justice on amicus briefs supporting DOL H-2A regulation and the OSHA walk-around rule, making it a direct peer in labor-and-immigration advocacy.
• Arise Chicago: Arise Chicago is a worker center organizing low-wage and immigrant workers in the Chicago area with legal, organizing, and policy programs. Sur Legal co-presented with Arise Chicago and NILC at the Practicing Law Institute on labor-based deferred action, making it a direct peer in worker center methodology and immigrant worker legal services.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta (AAAJ-Atlanta): AAAJ-Atlanta is a regional affiliate of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice network focused on API immigrant rights, civic engagement, and legal services. Sur Legal partners with AAAJ-Atlanta on API immigrant community outreach and rapid response to ICE raids, sharing overlapping mission and target population in the Southeast.
• National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH): National COSH is a federation of worker centers and coalitions advancing occupational safety and health, particularly for vulnerable workers. Sur Legal partnered with National COSH on heat stress trainings reaching 400+ people and presented together at COSHCON 2023, sharing overlapping methodology (popular education, worker-led training) and population.

Emerging players

• Tahirih Justice Center: Tahirih Justice Center is a national nonprofit providing legal services and policy advocacy for immigrant women and girls fleeing gender-based violence. Sur Legal's founder and Legal Director are Tahirih alumni, and the organizations share client populations (immigrant survivors) and methodology (pro bono direct services plus advocacy).
• Innovation Law Lab: Innovation Law Lab is a nonprofit that leverages law and technology to advance immigrant and refugee rights, with focus on legal services innovation. Sur Legal board member Aliya Naim leads its Limited Legal Services Program, and the organizations share overlap on legal service delivery models for immigrant populations.
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): KIND provides legal representation and advocacy for unaccompanied immigrant children, with a major Atlanta office led by Sur Legal board member Christina Iturralde Thomas. KIND overlaps with Sur Legal on Southeast-based immigrant legal services and shares movement partnerships, though focused specifically on minors.

Broad incumbents

• National Immigration Law Center (NILC): NILC is a leading national advocacy organization advancing immigrant rights through litigation, policy, and communications. Sur Legal co-founder Lynn Damiano Pearson is now a Senior Attorney at NILC advancing the Deferred Action for Workers Campaign, making NILC a broad incumbent that absorbs Sur Legal's playbook at national scale.
• Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC): SPLC is a major civil rights organization with strong Southeast operations, including immigrant rights and worker justice programs. Sur Legal's board includes former SPLC staff attorneys, and the organizations share overlap on immigrant rights advocacy and amicus work, though SPLC operates across a much broader civil rights portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/surlegalatl

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 Sur Legal Collaborative