California Rural Legal Assistance

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) is an anti-poverty nonprofit law firm founded in 1966. It provides free civil legal services to low-income residents of rural areas and small cities in California - people who are priced out of private legal representation. Over more than 50 years it has represented millions of low-income Californians and now operates 18 offices throughout the state.

Its work spans direct civil legal representation in employment and labor, housing, education, rural health and leadership development; place-based advocacy aimed at expanding equity in civic institutions; and specialized litigation to advance civil rights in housing, employment, health and public education. Alongside these, CRLA runs 17 Rural Justice Centers - community access points that deliver a broad range of legal tools through a community lawyering approach.

The organisation describes itself as mission-driven, focused on justice and individual rights for the most exploited communities. Its community lawyering model is intended to build shared power, with communities driving legal strategy rather than simply receiving services. Leadership development is emphasised alongside legal representation.