Workers’ Rights Clinics
Because low-income workers have few places to turn for accurate information about their employment rights, the Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center established Workers’ Rights Clinics throughout the Bay Area to 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. For Cantonese or Mandarin, call (415) 593-0066.
Mondays – San Francisco 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Hastings Law School, 198 McAllister Street, San Francisco map
By appointment only: call (415) 864-8848
Tuesdays – South Bay Clinic 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Alexander Community Law Center, 1030 The Alameda, San Jose map
By appointment only: call (408) 288-7030
Wednesdays – Phone-In Clinic 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
English / Spanish: call (415) 864-8208
Mandarin / Cantonese: call (415) 593-0066
Thursdays – East Bay Clinic 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
East Bay Community Law Center, 3130 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley map
No appointment necessary
Income Guidelines
The Workers’ Rights Clinic is a free service for individuals whose gross income does not exceed the amounts shown below.
| 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.
If you do not meet these income guidelines, contact your local Bar Association Attorney Referral Service for an affordable 30-minute consultation.