Workers’ Rights Clinics
The Legal Aid Society–Employment Law Center operates Workers’ Rights Clinics throughout the Bay Area that provide free and confidential information to workers about their legal rights. Each year, the Clinics assist approximately 2,000 individuals with a wide variety of work-related problems, including denial of wages, discrimination, work and safety issues, unemployment benefits, harassment, and wrongful termination.
To be eligible for Clinic services, individuals must meet our income guidelines (below).
The Clinics provide services in Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese, and often can accommodate other languages as well.
The Clinics operate in three locations throughout the Bay Area and also offer counseling by telephone for people who are unable to attend Clinics in-person.
Trained law student and paralegal counselors, who are supervised by attorneys specializing in employment law, staff the Clinics. The Clinics generally do not accept cases or represent clients.
To learn more about Clinic services, read our Clinics FAQ.
Clinics Schedule
The Clinics are closed during certain periods of the year, so please call our Information Line for the current schedule. For English or Spanish, call (415) 864-8208 (local) or (866) 864-8208 (toll-free). For Cantonese or Mandarin, call (415) 593-0066.
If you need help while the Clinics are closed, there are additional resources.
Mondays – San Francisco Clinic 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM See current schedule
Hastings Law School, 200 McAllister Street, San Francisco map
By appointment only: call (415) 864-8848
Tuesdays – South Bay Clinic 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM See current schedule
Alexander Community Law Center, 1030 The Alameda, San Jose map
By appointment only: call (408) 288-7030
Tuesdays – Workers’ Rights Disability Law Clinic appointments at 6:30pm and 7:30pm See current schedule
The Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street, Berkeley map
By appointment only: call (415) 864-8848
Wednesdays – Phone-In Clinic 5:45 PM – 7:30 PM See current schedule
English / Spanish: call (415) 864-8208
Mandarin / Cantonese: call (415) 593-0066
Thursdays – East Bay Clinic 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM See current schedule
Neighborhood Justice Clinic, 3130 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley map
To set up an appointment: call (415) 864-8848
Income Guidelines
The Workers’ Rights Clinic is a free service for individuals whose gross income does not exceed the amounts shown below. Don’t meet these guidelines?
| Dependents | Annual Income | Monthly Income | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $26,200 | $2,200 | $13.75 |
| 1 | $33,500 | $2,800 | $17.50 |
| 2 | $38,300 | $3,200 | $20.00 |
| 3 | $43,100 | $3,600 | $22.50 |
| 4 | $47,875 | $4,000 | $25.00 |
| 5 | $51,725 | $4,300 | $27.00 |
| 6 | $55,550 | $4,600 | $28.75 |
| 7 | $59,375 | $5,000 | $31.25 |
For individuals who are currently unemployed, eligibility is determined by a sliding scale based on previous salary and amount of time unemployed. To determine eligibility, please call (415) 864-8208.
Other Resources
Do you:
- earn more than the income guidelines (above)?
- need help when the Clinics are closed (usually May, August and December)?
- have legal questions that are not related to employment?
If so, additional help may be available:
- through your local bar association’s lawyer referral service (small fee may be required)
- Ask a Lawyer Online through JustAnswer (small fee may be required if helpful information is provided)
JustAnswer is an independent company that provides access to online, low-cost legal information, and is not related to or connected with the Workers’ Rights Clinics. The Workers’ Rights Clinics provide information about JustAnswer because it believes JustAnswer is a valuable community resource for people who do not receive services through the Workers’ Rights Clinics. The Workers’ Rights Clinics do not provide answers through JustAnswer, is not responsible for the accuracy of information provided through JustAnswer, and is not compensated for referring workers to JustAnswer.