On June 12, the Workers’ Rights Disability Law Clinic will host a free Workers’ Compensation clinic. Volunteer Workers’ Comp attorneys from Worksafe will provide counseling on Workers’ Comp issues. Spanish-speaking attorneys will be available.
Workers’ Compensation clinic
Tuesday, June 12; appointments beginning at 6:30 pm
Ed Roberts Campus adjacent to the Ashby BART Station
3075 Adeline St., Berkeley, CA 94703
The clinic is by appointment only; please call 415-864-8848.
Legal Aid Honored by UC Hastings for Student Training
The Civil Justice Clinic at UC Hastings College of Law has recognized Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center with its Community Partner Award for “Outstanding Commitment to Workers’ Rights and the Practical Training of Law Students.”
Legal Aid has had a longstanding relationship with Hastings and the law school is a key partner in Legal Aid’s Workers’ Rights Clinic and Unemployment and Wage Claims Project. At the Clinic and Claims Project, Hastings students are trained to provide legal information to low-wage workers with work-related legal issues and represent clients at hearings before the Labor Commissioner and the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board.
“Having Hastings as a partner has been critical to the success of the Clinic and Claims Project,” said Carole Vigne, Director of the Claims Project at Legal Aid. “The students’ talent and commitment allow us to serve as many individuals as we do. Without the students and the support of Hastings’ leadership and the Civil Justice Clinic, we would not be able to advise hundreds of workers and represent scores of clients each year.”
The award was presented to Carole Vigne on May 11, 2012.
On April 18, the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center (Legal Aid) added Fresno to the list of its Workers’ Rights Clinic sites. The Fresno Workers’ Rights Clinic is a collaboration of Legal Aid, Central California Legal Services (CCLS), the Mexican Consulate, and the Fresno-based law firm of Lang, Richert & Patch. It was recently featured in a Fresno Bee article.
The Fresno Clinic is housed at CCLS and is staffed by attorneys from Legal Aid, CCLS and members of the local bar, as well as paralegals and law students. Initially operating once per month, the Clinic will provide free legal services to low-wage workers, including farm workers, in the Central Valley who face a range of workplace problems including unpaid wages and overtime, health and safety violations and discrimination.
The inaugural Clinic brought together 20 volunteer attorneys and counselors, most of whom spoke both English and Spanish. Together they provided information and referrals to 28 workers.
Credit for conceiving and launching the Fresno Workers’ Rights Clinic goes in large part to the efforts of Ana de Alba, a Berkeley Law graduate and former counselor at the East Bay Workers’ Rights Clinic. Born and raised in Fresno where she now lives, Ana practices employment law at Lang, Richert & Patch and is on the board of directors at CCLS.
