Our History

Now operating under the name Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice (LACLJ), attorneys won a huge victory in a racial discrimination and police brutality case. In Pitchess v. Superior Court, attorney Miguel García successfully argued that plaintiffs should be able to review the personnel files of law enforcement officers. Today, California residents still access this right whenever they file a Pitchess Motion.

In Cadena v. People, LACLJ successfully fought to ensure defendants in a criminal prosecution could discover all relevant information in the possession of the prosecution that may help their defense. Similarly to the Pitchess Motion, this case emphasized that access to information is crucial for a fair trial.

The 1980s were a pivotal time in Los Angeles for the Latino community. LACLJ focused their efforts on addressing immigration policy changes and the threat of wrongful deportation. They launched community-wide ‘Know Your Rights’ campaigns, something we carry on to this day.

After the passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, LACLJ assisted undocumented migrants and farmworkers, providing many immigrants with amnesty.

With the passage of the American with Disabilities Act, as well as changes to California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, it became illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or harass workers based on HIV status. LACLJ supported a number of employment discrimination claims for HIV-positive employees.

Throughout the 1990s, LACLJ continued advocating for vulnerable groups. Along with continuing its immigration services, they worked to eliminate groundwater contamination at Los Angeles Unified School District sites.

With the turn of the millennium, LACLJ focused on expanding its reach and impact for survivors of domestic violence. Programming expanded with new housing and medical programs, while also beginning to offer its services to those in the San Gabriel Valley.

LACLJ launched the Teen Legal Advocacy Project, which served youth ages 12-24 with domestic violence, immigration, and family law issues. This program was the only one of its kind in Los Angeles County.

The Eastside Housing Rights Clinic was created to provide legal advice and representation to low-income tenants needing housing legal assistance.

Project Adelante! was created. It provided case management services through an MSW intern from UCLA.

In the 2010s, LACLJ continued to expand its programs, while supporting impactful legislation. This period saw LACLJ focus heavily on family law and immigration relief, both of which would become the core of Survivor Justice Center’s mission.

LACLJ was chosen by the Administrative Office of the Courts to lead a court-based project through the landmark Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act. One of only seven projects statewide, LACLJ led the largest family law project, addressing key barriers in high-conflict custody disputes.

LACLJ began co-facilitating the LA VAWA network, a coalition of over a dozen nonprofits in LA County that meet regularly to determine best practices and advocate on behalf of immigrant survivors. This same year, LACLJ co-organized and co-moderated the first Annual U Certifier Roundtable Event.

SB 674 passed, in part due to LACLJ’s advocacy and support. This bill mandated that all U Visa certifiers across California review and sign requests for certifications on behalf of eligible immigrant survivors; it made it illegal for certifiers to arbitrarily refuse ensuring all immigrant survivors have access to relief.

In a groundbreaking appeal in Rodriguez v. Menjivar, LACLJ helped establish that controlling and coercive behavior qualify as abuse under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act. Furthermore, the California Court of Appeals made clear that the length of time since the last act of abuse occurred has never been a basis to deny a restraining order.

LACLJ assisted with an appeal in the case of Jaime G. v. H.L. Although H.L. had secured a two-year restraining order against her abuser, Jaime G., the court ruled that he was found to be the “more suitable parent” and was awarded joint custody. LACLJ argued that the court did not look at all seven rebuttal factors in California Family Code section 3044 and instead placed most of the weight on the first rebuttal factor, the best interest of the child. This case established that a trial court cannot award any type of custody to a domestic abuser without first making findings in writing or on the record about each of the seven factors.

After obtaining funding to hire a full-time attorney position dedicated to serving human trafficking survivors, LACLJ began screening every client for human trafficking at intake. They were one of the first legal aid agencies in LA County not solely serving human trafficking survivors to incorporate this screening.

With pro bono partner Sidley Austin, LACLJ assisted with an appeal in the case of Lugo v. Corona. Our client had previously been denied a Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) against her husband, because she had already been granted a 3-year Criminal Protective Order (CPO). On appeal, the ruling was reversed, establishing that DVROs and CPOs can exist concurrently.

In 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic led to increasing needs for services in the community. LACLJ responded, launching homelessness prevention programs, while strengthening their immigration services. We fought diligently to increase access to justice by advocating for remote hearings, broader fee waivers, and greater language support for multilingual litigants.

LACLJ supported AB 2169, leading a coalition of nonprofits to amend the CA vacatur statutes to fully protect noncitizens, ensuring that arrests and/or convictions obtained as a result of human trafficking, interpersonal, or sexual violence cannot be used in immigration petitions or removal proceedings. The bill passed and went into effect the following year.

To increase capacity through pro bono partnerships and serve more immigrant survivor U visa holders, LACLJ launched Adjustment of Status+ Clinics. These clinics provide representation to survivors in their applications for Lawful Permanent Residency.

LACLJ co-sponsored AB 2791, along with other partner organizations. This bill increased access for survivors, by allowing electronic signatures on forms, including the form to request service from the sheriff’s department. Additionally, it required sheriff’s departments to accept delivery of requests and documents for service via electronic means. It addressed many key barriers that survivors face when seeking assistance from the sheriff’s department to serve their restraining orders.

LACLJ co-sponsored SB 727, which authorized survivors of human trafficking to obtain a finding from a judge that debt is coerced or a result of trafficking. This bill, which passed and went into effect the following year, gave survivors an additional tool when seeking economic stability.

LACLJ co-sponsored and was a principal drafter of AB 1261, amending California’s U and T Visa Certification law to reduce barriers, enhancing access for immigrant survivors. Once passed, LACLJ was invited to co-author a related Practice Advisory.

LACLJ changes its name to Survivor Justice Center, to better reflect the focus on serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.