2025-09-23T17:50:28-05:00 2024-12-31 954557617 Harrington Group CPAs LLP 2698 Mataro Street Pasadena CA 91107 990 2024-01-01 951684067 Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles LEGA 3238017916 1550 West 8th Street Los Angeles CA 90017 Vincent Rodriguez CFO 3238017916 2025-09-23 1 1 Oswaldo D Torres CPA P02465082 6264036801 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Silvia Argueta 1550 West 8th Street Los Angeles CA 90017 58861639 0 X WWW.LAFLA.ORG X 1929 CA Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) seeks to achieve equal justice for low-income people. 36 36 312 1180 0 0 54705482 57031001 494010 205143 408534 470642 1846832 907313 57454858 58614099 23416062 26947430 0 0 23515668 26125834 0 0 106369 5868047 5781472 52799777 58854736 4655081 -240637 57986384 61718333 14123639 17765046 43862745 43953287 X See Schedule O 0 0 43753523 26480552 205143 Santa Monica Community Office: Funded through grants from the City of Santa Monica, this office provides legal services to residents of Santa Monica only. They staff a domestic violence clinic at the court and offer regular housing clinics. Attorneys work with local agencies and city services to provide family law, housing, government benefit and immigration services. This office closed 789 cases in 2024.Restoring Communities: Addresses the core legal needs of communities impacted by the criminal justice system by providing direct legal services to remove barriers to reentry to society, including employment barriers, by providing community education, working with community partners to offer holistic services, and engaging in systemic change to support the restoration of impacted communities. Holistic legal services provided by the Restoring Communities Work Group include record clearing, occupational license denial challenges and assistance with family law, housing, government benefits, fair chance ordinance violations and other legal needs. In 2024, LAFLA closed 2,281 cases in these areas of law.Veterans Justice Center: Provides holistic, trauma-informed legal support to low-income, homeless, and at-risk veterans, regardless of discharge status or length of service. Its experienced, culturally competent staff-supported by hundreds of pro bono volunteers-help veterans secure life-sustaining income, health, and housing benefits; prevent homelessness by fighting wrongful evictions; remove employment barriers; clear criminal records; and advocate for discharge upgrades.Through deep partnerships with Veterans Affairs, veteran service organizations, and community agencies, VJC combines outreach, needs assessment, education, and direct legal services to close the justice gap for veterans. In 2024, VJC closed 450 cases, and in 2024, it assisted 867 veterans with a wide range of legal issues, including housing, benefits, family law, and more. By leveraging a multidisciplinary team and robust data systems, VJC delivers high-impact, sustainable results, helping veterans achieve lasting stability, dignity, and opportunity. Asian & Pacific Islander Community Outreach Project: Provides legal help in all areas of practice including family law, immigration, housing, and government benefits in a wide range of API languages, including Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Khmer, Vietnamese, Tagalog/Filipino, and Thai. LAFLA's API Work Group advocates for language rights in civil courts, administrative proceedings, and other government agencies for clients with limited-English proficiency. This program closed 904 cases in 2024.Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP): This LAFLA special project embeds legal clinics within medical facilities to allow healthcare and legal professionals to identify and help patients reach their optimal health. The MLP team strives to provide high-quality, holistic legal assistance and representation across 6 health sites including TCC Family Health, Martin Luther King Jr. Outpatient Center, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Long Beach Comprehensive Health Center, Community Medical Wellness Centers USA, and PPLA Inglewood Community Center's Black Health Initiative. Through this project, anyone from the above-mentioned medical care teams can refer patients to our attorneys as part of a comprehensive approach to improve health outcomes by addressing social determinants of health such as poor housing conditions, long-term health planning, loss of denial of public benefits, issues with immigration, problems at work, or violence within the household. In 2024, MLP closed 839 cases. Unhoused People's Justice Project: This project engages in impact litigation and policy work to combat the criminalization of homelessness, and to ensure the civil rights of unhoused people are protected. This program closed 11 cases in 2024. Self-Help Centers: For over 20 years, LAFLA has partnered with the Los Angeles Superior Court to provide high-quality assistance for self-represented litigants. In 2024, LAFLA's Self-Help Center Workgroup helped over 31,400 litigants access the justice system across its four courthouse-based Self-Help Centers and remote self-help hotline. In-person and hybrid services included free legal information, assistance with court forms in multiple legal areas, and innovative remote tools, all of which empowered litigants through complex court systems.Legal VictoriesLAFLA achieved the following legal victories in 2024:Civil Rights for Unhoused People 1: The litigation centers on the civil rights of unhoused individuals who are living in tents and makeshift encampments in the City of Los Angeles. The litigation challenges the seizure and destruction of unhoused individuals' belongings. The case challenges the constitutionality of an ordinance in Los Angeles that allows the City to seize and destroy unhoused residents' belongings. Plaintiffs allege that the ordinance violates the Fourth and Fourteenth amendment. They seek declarative relief that the ordinance is unconstitutional, and injunctive relief to prevent the seizure and destruction of property. In 2024, LAFLA and co-counsel Obtained a ruling from the Federal Court that the City of Los Angeles spoliated documents and fabricated evidence related to Plaintiffs' claims and granting leave to Plaintiffs to file a motion for sanctions, following the completion of the forensic examination. Civil Rights for Unhoused People 2: LAFLA represents community organizations that work with unhoused people in Skid Row in an intervention in a lawsuit by property owners against the City of Los Angeles for alleged nuisance conditions that impact all unsheltered individuals in the City. In 2024, Intervenors successfully objected to a proposed revision of the settlement that would have resulted in a significant decrease in the City's obligation to create new shelter and housing units and expedited the City's ability to criminalize homelessness. Following Intervenors' objections, the City withdrew the proposed bed plan. Intervenors also successfully argued for a city-wide audit of City-funded homeless services to include the Los Angeles Police Department, in addition to third parties.Economic Stability Work Group (ESWG): LAFLA helped a 62-year-old client with a lifelong intellectual disability to successfully appeal the termination of his federal SSI benefits. We successfully represented this client before a Social Security judge and obtaining a reversal of the termination, establishing that this client was still disabled. This victory included a retroactive award that amounted to nearly $50K in benefits that had been wrongfully withheld from the client over the course of several years. Despite the judge's decision, the local SSA office tasked with implementing the decision then incorrectly sought to deny payment of the retroactive award, claiming without proper notice he was not eligible for a back payment because of a County housing subsidy he had received, and claimed that he had no appeal rights to challenge this determination. LAFLA engaged in informal advocacy to escalate the issue to a regional office within the Social Security Administration, which reversed this mistake, securing this substantial, life-changing back payment to this client. 4368125 Housing and Communities and Eviction Defense Workgroup: The Housing & Communities workgroup takes a community lawyering approach to litigation and policy advocacy by supporting tenants and tenant organizations to enforce and enact housing laws. They defend residents of public housing and Section 8 voucher holders against losing their housing or housing subsidy. They also provide legal support to community-based organizations seeking to build healthy, economically vibrant communities. The Eviction Defense Workgroup provides direct representation to low-income individuals and families facing eviction; negotiates with landlords to ensure families can stay in their homes; helps clients living in uninhabitable conditions to get reductions in rent; and empowers tenants to advocate for their tenants' rights, all while working towards a tenants' right to counsel. LAFLA closed 1,612 housing related cases in this area of law in 2024. 2347504 Survivor and Family Justice: Helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault get restraining orders, divorces, child custody, visitation and support; and secures the return of concealed and abducted children. We deliver on-site family law legal services to survivors at two L.A. Superior Court locations, and we provide virtual appointments for clients staying at domestic violence shelters or receiving services from other community partners. The Workgroup also offers virtual family law clinics for survivors seeking assistance with motion and brief drafting. In 2024, the Workgroup closed domestic violence cases. Immigration Access: Helps survivors of torture and other harms seeking asylum in the United States by representing them before USCIS and EOIR; Represents survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault and other serious crimes to obtain protection and permanent residency; protects vulnerable unaccompanied children throughout the immigration process. In 2024, IAWG opened and assisted approximately 949 clients with their legal matters. These cases included naturalization, asylum, U Visa, VAWA, human trafficking, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and refugee legal issues. In 2024, IAWG closed 1,043 total cases that addressed these legal issues. 1798920 466878 Economic Stability: Assists vulnerable populations in obtaining and maintaining critical safety net benefits that helps them get food, housing, and medical care or services; Fights wage theft, wrongful terminations and discriminatory employment practices; Provides legal representation to disabled Angelenos in the Social Security Disability appeals process through the CBEST program, which assists individuals are homeless or at risk of homelessness in securing vital federal disability benefits; Discharges student loans based on disability or school fraud. In fact, LAFLA is the only legal services organization in the country that, for over 30 years, has consistently sought justice for low-income student loan borrowers and worked to change a higher education system that increasingly ignores the needs and experiences of low-income borrowers. In 2024, ESWG closed 1,112 closed cases in these areas of law. 1798920 466878 52268072 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 55 0 1 312 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 36 36 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 CA X X Vincent Rodriguez Chief Financial Officer 3238017916 1550 West 8th Street Los Angeles CA 90017 Amy Lerner-Hill President/Board Member (trans July) 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Kahn A Scolnick Vice President/President(trans July) 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Brianne Wiese Secretary/Board Member (trans July) 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Joseph B Farrell Board Member/Sec (trans July) 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Lynette M Jones Treasurer/Vice President(trans July) 1.00 X X 0 0 0 C Cleo Ray Community Chair 1.00 X 0 0 0 Eric J Bakewell Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Wendy R Cabil Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Kyle Casazza Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Sean A Commons Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Carissa Coze Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Marc Feinstein Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Debra L Fischer Esq Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Gary E Gans Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Felix Garcia Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Fanny Gomez Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Naomi Haywood Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 James E Hornstein Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Kimberly Klinsport Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Bethany Kristovich Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Clementina Lopez Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Michael Maddigan Board Member 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 John Maldonado Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Matthew Marmolejo Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Louise Mbella Board Member (end July) 1.00 X 0 0 0 Virginia F Milstead Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Kevin J Minnick Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Fanny Ortiz Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Chris Rivas Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 David Lewis Sagal Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Kareen Sandoval Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Marc M Seltzer Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jeff A Taylor Board Member (end December) 1.00 X 0 0 0 Douglas Thompson Board Member (start July) 1.00 X 0 0 0 Nicolas A Trutanich Board Member (start July) 1.00 X 0 0 0 Ronald B Turovsky Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Pamela Westhoff Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jacqueline Vasquez Board Member (start July) 1.00 X 0 0 0 Silvia Argueta Executive Director 35.00 X 262258 0 45480 Vincent A Rodriguez Chief Financial Officer 35.00 X 191136 0 10741 Barbara Schultz Director of Housing Justice 35.00 X 222295 0 60111 Lesli Latt Director of Human Resources 35.00 X 164754 0 22937 Yolanda Arias Managing Attorney 35.00 X 190343 0 21873 Phong Wong Pro Bono Director 35.00 X 176760 0 62740 Michael Polanichka Director of IT 35.00 X 172619 0 28480 Linda Quintana Director of Fiscal Management 35.00 X 172592 0 36079 1552757 0 288441 46 0 1 0 0 576798 430075 54104329 1919799 20217 57031001 Fellowship 541100 194037 194037 Attorney fees 541100 11106 11106 205143 470642 470642 247540 576798 247540 0 CY Pres 541100 638449 638449 Miscellaneous income 900099 268864 268864 907313 58614099 205143 0 1377955 26561802 26561802 385628 385628 792021 248987 481486 61548 19902739 17029842 2862945 9952 816585 733720 82615 250 3045359 2669248 370814 5297 1569130 1369431 193785 5914 9346 2950 6210 186 70900 70900 566477 178810 376400 11267 69853 30691 38553 609 761424 484162 276261 1001 354217 268835 85194 188 1408090 1182162 225371 557 42106 32198 9908 504973 504973 346544 235936 110439 169 Miscellaneous 557654 28817 520615 8222 Litigation 358884 312397 46487 Training 237210 194739 41340 1131 Library 211793 210638 1155 282001 107079 174844 78 58854736 52268072 6480295 106369 5385972 4188489 2925108 95008 13603876 14795656 74541 75975 1138725 1150433 25153787 2917260 19779676 22236527 13806639 17459326 1271847 1716919 57986384 61718333 9934231 12023350 2850773 4024799 282 84772 1338353 1632125 14123639 17765046 X 41136695 42600148 2726050 1353139 43862745 43953287 57986384 61718333 -240637 331179 0 X 0 1 X 1 1 1 X 19813839 32627974 34911949 54705482 57031001 199090245 19813839 32627974 34911949 54705482 57031001 199090245 199090245 197083 367639 441204 408534 470642 1885102 14993136 359740 1671419 1846832 707313 19578440 220553787 1430158 0.90270 0.88570 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 1 X 8657 8657 8657 8657 8657 8657 8657 8657 8657 8657 1.00000 0 0 5331759 5331759 15639134 2119679 13519455 8175 8175 0 586489 470690 115799 3588230 318716 3269514 22236527 Lease liabilities - operating leases 1128116 Lease liabilities - finance leases 504009 1632125 X 71989219 331179 13043941 13375120 58614099 0 58614099 71898677 13043941 13043941 58854736 0 58854736 Part IV, Line 2b: LAFLA holds funds in trust for its clients relating to settlements awarded by the courts and deposits held for filing and other fees. Part V, Line 4: Endowment funds are appropriated by the Board for use in current operations. Part X, Line 2: LAFLA is exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 23701d. Generally accepted accounting principles provide accounting and disclosure guidance about positions taken by an organization in its tax returns that might be uncertain. Management has considered its tax positions and believes that all positions taken by LAFLA in its federal and state exempt organization tax returns are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. LAFLA's returns are subject to examination by federal and state taxing authorities, generally for three and four years, respectively, after they filed. Annual Fund Dinner 824338 576798 247540 157033 5134 3800 81573 824338 576798 247540 157033 5134 3800 81573 247540 0 1 Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California 1145 Wilshire Blvd 2nd Floor Los Angeles CA 90017 953854152 501(c)(3) 98577 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Basta Universal 1545 Wilshire Blvd 600 Los Angeles CA 90017 421688855 501(c)(3) 3046286 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Bet Tzedek 3250 Wilshire Blvd 13th Floor Los Angeles CA 90010 237304205 501(c)(3) 1324739 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Community Legal Aid SoCal 2101 N Tustin Ave Santa Ana CA 92705 951994337 501(c)(3) 1194392 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Eviction Defense Network 316 W 2nd Street 8th Floor Los Angeles CA 90012 562380231 501(c)(3) 2786269 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Housing Rights Center 3255 Wilshire Blvd Suite 1150 Los Angeles CA 90010 952572642 501(c)(3) 5684447 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Inner City Law Center 1309 E 7th St Los Angeles CA 90021 953697572 501(c)(3) 4435587 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Liberty Hill Foundation 1001 Wilshire Blvd PMB 2170 Los Angeles CA 90017 510181191 501(c)(3) 4188507 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Los Angeles Community Action Network 849 E 6th St Los Angeles CA 90021 020661629 501(c)(3) 32500 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Mental Health Advocacy Services 3255 Wilshire Blvd Unit 902 Los Angeles CA 90010 953371166 501(c)(3) 271129 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Neighborhood Legal Services 13327 Van Nuys Blvd Pacoima CA 91331 952408642 501(c)(3) 2883612 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Public Counsel 610 S Ardmore Ave Los Angeles CA 90005 237105149 501(c)(3) 483735 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Strategic Actions for a Just Economy 152 W 32nd St Los Angeles CA 90007 931226092 501(c)(3) 32500 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants California Center for Movement Legal Services 3655 S Grand Ave Ste 250 Los Angeles CA 90007 923242519 501(c)(3) 99223 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants 14 0 Stipends 53 385628 Part I, Line 2: Student will first submit an application to participate. Criteria considered include: demonstrated commitment to racial equity and inclusivity, financial need, demonstrated leadership ability, community service, personal and academic achievements. After a pool of candidates is selected from applications reviewed, they proceed to an interview process. Interviews are conducted by LAFLA's Director of Racial Justice and Equity and LAFLA's Pro Bono Manager. Additional information can be found here: https://lafla.org/get-involved/law-students/ X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Silvia Argueta Executive Director 262258 0 0 0 0 0 29548 0 15932 0 307738 0 0 0 Barbara Schultz Director of Housing Justice 222295 0 0 0 0 0 24886 0 35225 0 282406 0 0 0 Phong Wong Pro Bono Director 176760 0 0 0 0 0 18132 0 44608 0 239500 0 0 0 Yolanda Arias Managing Attorney 190343 0 0 0 0 0 20949 0 924 0 212216 0 0 0 Linda Quintana Director of Fiscal Management 172592 0 0 0 0 0 19139 0 16940 0 208671 0 0 0 Vincent A Rodriguez Chief Financial Officer 191136 0 0 0 0 0 8935 0 1806 0 201877 0 0 0 Michael Polanichka Director of IT 172619 0 0 0 0 0 7747 0 20733 0 201099 0 0 0 Lesli Latt Director of Human Resources 164754 0 0 0 0 0 6361 0 16576 0 187691 0 0 0 Form 990, Part III, Line 1, Description of Organization Mission: LAFLA is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved - leveling the playing field and ensuring that everyone can have access to the justice system. Form 990, Part III, Line 4a Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP): LAFLA's 67-year-old client received notice of a $12,500 SSI overpayment in September 2021. Client came to LAFLA in September 2023, still owing thousands of dollars of overpayment. At the time, the Social Security Administration (SSA) had been withholding over $100 from her monthly SSI benefits, which was causing significant hardship for the client. Additionally, the overpayment deduction kept fluctuating, resulting in unpredictable SSI payments each month and thus instability for the client. After a seemingly endless back-and-forth with SSA, the client came to the MLP seeking a lower and stable withholding rate. SSA's own policy states that the SSA Field Office should grant a withholding rate request that is at a minimum $10 if the SSI recipient receives 100% Medicare Part D low-income subsidy, which was the case for client. LAFLA submitted a case complaint to SSA highlighting this policy and requesting a $10 monthly withholding rate for client. In reviewing client's Medicare Part D for client's SSI overpayment matter, LAFLA staff also identified that client received a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program referral from SSA, which qualified her for conditional Medicare Part A. However, DPSS requested proof of the client's Medicare expenses, which were not required as she was conditionally applying for Medicare Part A. LAFLA submitted a case complaint to DPSS requesting that client's QMB application be processed without further proof of Medicare costs. On April 11, 2024, SSA sent a letter to client confirming that they were lowering her SSI withholding amount to $10 starting May 2024. Client now has more financial security and stability, as she receives a larger SSI monthly payment due to a lower overpayment withholding amount and does not have to stress about fluctuating benefits every month. Furthermore, Client now receives Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care should she need it. Asian Pacific Islander Community Outreach Project: LAFLA's API Community Outreach Project assisted a 59-year-old monolingual Cantonese speaking Client with his denial of his application for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. He had worked part-time for approximately eight months, ending in June 2023, and subsequently filed for UI benefits in September 2023. However, the Employment Development Department (EDD) issued a Notice of Determination stating that Client was ineligible for benefits because he had voluntarily quit his most recent job without good cause. Our client contacted our Cantonese hotline for assistance regarding his UI determination. After thoroughly reviewing his documents and gathering relevant information, we helped him file an appeal within 30 days of the determination date and requested a Cantonese interpreter for the hearing. After several months of waiting, the Client finally received his Notice of Hearing, which was scheduled for March 2024. Before the hearing date, we met Client at our office to provide hearing prep. We explained the hearing process and reviewed key arguments Client could make before the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). We also conducted a mock hearing session. We advised the Client on how he should explain why he did not voluntarily quit his most recent job and why he should be eligible for UI benefits. Ultimately, the ALJ reversed EDD's decision. The ALJ concluded that Client did not voluntarily leave his job and was also not discharged for misconduct. Instead, the ALJ determined that the Client was laid off due to lack of work, thus making him eligible for UI benefits. After the ALJ issued a favorable decision for Client, EDD began disbursing Client's UI benefits. We continued to assist Client by calling EDD to check his unpaid balance and confirm that he will receive his previously denied UI benefits, totaling nearly $3,000. These benefits were crucial for Client as they helped him cover his daily expenses while he searched for a new job. Immigration Access Work Group: IAWG represented a client who was severely injured due to his Armenian ethnicity. The client fled his hometown due to being targeted because of his nationality, among other things. He was severely beaten and tortured as well was his 4-year-old daughter. He had filed a bare-bones asylum application over a decade prior to LAFLA's intervention but it was languishing. An IAWG attorney represented him at his asylum hearing as well as responded to Requests for Evidence. Client's asylum application was approved. His daughter also received asylum. This family is now able to begin the healing process knowing that their immigration status is more secure. Restoring Communities: Client is from the Mar Vista Garden Housing projects and was exposed to gang life, including drugs and violence, at a young age. One month after he turned 16 years old, Client was involved in a gang-related shooting and was convicted of attempted-murder as a result. This was his first time being arrested and his only criminal conviction. He received a 19-year sentence and spent the next 15 years in prison. While inside, he attended all the self-help groups that he could and ultimately started facilitating them. After 15 years of incarceration, Client had the opportunity to show his rehabilitation efforts to a panel of parole commissioners who approved his release in 2019. Within five years of being released, Client obtained his AA, BS, and MSW. After completing his MSW, Client got a job at Los Angeles City College as an Academic Advisor, focusing his attention on supporting students that had themselves been system-impacted. During this time, Client applied with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to register as an Associate Clinical Social Worker, which is required for him to continue working towards becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. The BBS denied Client's request based on his conviction as a minor, his only conviction. The first time Client came to LAFLA, in 2023, we assisted him in preparing and filing an expungement petition showcasing all the work he had done since his release. LAFLA advocate represented him at his hearing arguing for the dismissal, but the judge denied his petition. In 2024, LAFLA assisted Client to prepare and file another expungement petition. This petition was filed while Client worked at LACC and included several letters from students that he had worked with expressing their gratitude for his mentorship and guidance as they navigated higher education after being impacted by the criminal penal system. LAFLA advocate represented him at his hearing, in front of the same judge, where Client gave a moving statement highlighting his rehabilitation and the petition was granted. LAFLA advocate prepared a written request to appeal to BBS based on his expungement. The BBS rescinded the denial and approved Client's registration as an ACSW, clearing the path for him to log required internship hours towards his Licensing application. Survivor and Family Justice: Client is married and has two children. The spouse physically abused client, had excessive drug and alcohol use, financially controlled client, and filed four DVROs (DV restraining orders) against her as part of his pattern of abuse. The client finally filed for a DVRO to protect herself and their children. The abuser in response filed for dissolution. UCLA extern law students took on representation of client, supervised by LAFLA attorney, Clara Mora, and UCLA Extern Director, Anne Sidwell. Our team successfully negotiated a stipulation for a 1-year Restraining Order after Hearing (ROAH), which included having the abusive spouse pay the mortgage and other bills for the house while our client and children remained there. Unfortunately, the abusive spouse immediately violated the court's orders and started withdrawing excessive amounts from the parties' joint account. Then he filed another DVRO as well as a Request for Hearing (RFO) asking to change the entire ROAH and requesting mutual restraining orders, plus a separate RFO requesting primary custody of the minor children. LAFLA's attorney drafted the client's Dissolution Response, two Responsive Declaration to the opposing party's RFOs, an ex parte RFO request, a reply to the spouse's DVRO plus a supplemental declaration explaining it all. LAFLA prepared the client for all the hearings. Form 990, Part III, Line 4a The court granted an ex parte (emergency) order in our client's favor - allowing client to collect the rent from their tenant's property as compensation for funds taken, ordering the opposing party to pay the electricity bill including back payments owed in full, and to cease withdrawing money from the parties' joint account. The court held a hearing on the opposing party's request for DVRO, denying his request. Our client still has protection from abuse and now has better orders in place preventing her abusive spouse from his continuing financial abuse as she proceeds with her dissolution case. Veterans Justice Center: A dedicated U.S. Navy veteran spent years serving his country with distinction, deploying across the globe to places like Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, Bahrain, and Indonesia. In 2004, he was among the first responders to the devastating tsunami in Indonesia-a mission that left deep, lasting scars. While he endured chronic knee pain and hearing loss, it was the invisible burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that proved overwhelming. Haunted by traumatic memories and sleepless nights, he found daily life nearly unbearable. Seeking financial support, the veteran applied for VA disability benefits on his own but was awarded only a 20% rating - far too little to support his family. Unable to work due to the severity of his PTSD, he struggled to make ends meet, and his situation grew increasingly desperate. Turning to LAFLA's Veterans Justice Center (VJC) for help, he found a team of advocates who listened, understood, and acted. The VJC staff combed through his service and medical records, uncovering clear evidence that his severe mental health symptoms had begun during his military service. With a compelling case built on thorough documentation and expert advocacy, the VJC presented his claim to the VA. Their efforts paid off. After a comprehensive review, the VA acknowledged the full impact of his PTSD, increasing his disability rating to 50% and raising his total rating to 60%. This resulted in his monthly compensation jumping from $328 to $1,361.88 - a life-changing increase that provided the stability he needed to care for himself and his children. This legal victory not only secured critical financial support but also restored a sense of dignity and hope. Thanks to the expertise and dedication of the Veterans Justice Center, this veteran was empowered to rebuild his life and look forward to a brighter future. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 7a Pursuant to Legal Services Corporation regulations, most directors are appointed by bar associations or community organizations. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b The Form 990 is prepared by an outside accounting firm based on information provided by the Chief Financial Officer; it is then reviewed by the Executive Director, the CFO and the Audit Committee. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c At least annually, the Board of Directors, Officers and staff of LAFLA are required to review LAFLA's Conflict of Interest Policy and complete an annual statement affirming that they have a) received a copy of the Conflict of Interest Policy, b) read and understood the policy, and c) agree to comply with such policy. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 The Executive Committee of the Board reviews the compensation of the Executive Director annually. A compensation survey is also conducted of similar organizations. Other organization officers or key employees' compensation is determined by comparability data and a compensation study as well as review by the Board of Directors. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The organization makes the Form 990 available on Guidestar.org and also makes governing documents, conflicts of interest policies and financial statements available to the public upon request. Los Angeles Legal Aid Justice Center Inc 1550 West 8th Street Los Angeles CA 90017 475286319 Support the activities of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. CA 501(c)(3) Line 12c, III-FI Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Los Angeles Legal Aid Justice Center Inc C 430075 Actual amount Los Angeles Legal Aid Justice Center Inc K Actual amount Los Angeles Legal Aid Justice Center Inc S FMV