Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee

Request for Applications to Operate Projects Under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, Fiscal Years 2026-2029 has closed.

The Judicial Council of California, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, is charged with the implementation of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (Assem. Bill 590 (Feuer); Stats. 2009, ch. 457) by funding projects. The purpose of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act is to improve timely and effective access to justice in civil cases by funding one or more projects that provide legal representation and improved court services to low-income parties on critical legal issues affecting basic human needs. Since 2011, the program has completed five grant cycles. In early 2012, the Judicial Council selected 10 pilot projects; 9 projects were selected in 2014; and 10 were selected in 2017. For the 2020-2023 grant cycle, 12 projects were selected in 2020, with one additional project selected in 2021. For the 2023-2026 cycle, 14 projects were selected. Under the terms of the legislation, projects are authorized for three-year periods, subject to renewal for a period to be determined by the Judicial Council, in consultation with each participating project, considering the project’s capacity and success. The sixth three-year grant period will commence on October 1, 2026 with 15 projects selected. 

Questions may be submitted to the committee staff at ShriverCommittee@jud.ca.gov.

The advisory committee is comprised of active and retired jurists, subject matter experts, and representatives from legal aid organizations, academia, and the State Bar.

Download the Committee Roster

Members

• Hon. Gary Slossberg, Cochair, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado
• Hon. Pahoua C. Lor, Cochair, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Fresno
• Mr. Kevin G. Baker, Attorney
• Ms. Salena Copeland, Executive Director, Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC)
• Ms. Donna Hershkowitz, Chief of Programs, The State Bar of California
• Mr. Jack Londen, Executive Director, California Access to Justice Commission

Judicial Council Lead Committee Staff

• Ms. Melanie Snider, Supervising Attorney, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
• Ms. Youn Kim, Senior Analyst, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California

June 2025

• Report to the Legislature on the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act

June 2020

• Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act Evaluation

Fact Sheets

• Overall Impacts
• Housing Outcomes
• Custody Outcomes
• Guardianship and Conservatorship Outcomes

August 2017

• Evaluation of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (AB590)
• Executive Summary of Key Findings and Recommendations

Report Chapters (contained in the full report)

• Chapter on Housing Projects
• Chapter on Child Custody Projects
• Chapter on Probate Guardianship and Conservatorship Project

January 2016

• Report to the Legislature on the Sargent Shiver Civil Counsel Act

About

Pursuant to the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (Assem. Bill 590 [Feuer]; Stats. 2009 ch. 457), the committee makes recommendations on the selection and funding of projects that provide legal representation to low-income parties in civil matters involving critical issues affecting basic human needs. The projects are operated by qualified legal services projects, as defined by Bus. & Prof. Code section 6213(a), in partnership with their local superior courts. The committee also provides input into evaluation of the projects, which is reported to the Legislature every five years.

Projects

On July 17, 2026, the Judicial Council approved 15 three-year grants to qualified legal services providers and court partners for the administration of projects for the 2026-2029 grant cycle consistent with the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (as amended by Assem. Bill 2193; Stats. 2022, ch. 486). The Judicial Council report on the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act grant awards is available at https://jcc.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15658160&GUID=B09E999C-F778-4E42-B73B-90481DA341D7.

Current Legal Services Providers

1. California Rural Legal Assistance
Court Partner: Superior Court of San Joaquin County
Case Type: Housing Project
Website: https://crla.org/

2. Central California Legal Services
Court Partner: Superior Court of Fresno County
Case Type: Housing Project
Website: https://centralcallegal.org/

3. Central California Legal Services
Court Partner: Superior Court of Tulare County
Case Type: Housing Project

Website: https://centralcallegal.org/

4. Centro Legal de la Raza
Court Partner: Superior Court of Alameda County
Court Type: Housing Project
Website: https://www.centrolegal.org/

5. Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance
Court Partner: Superior Court of Kern County
Case Type: Housing Project
Website: https://www.gbla.org/

6. Justice and Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco
Court Partner: Superior Court of San Francisco County
Case Type: Child Custody Pilot Project
Website: https://www.sfbar.org/jdc/

7. Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County
Superior Court of Santa Barbara County
Case Type: Housing, Guardianship, Probate Conservatorship Projects
Website: https://lafsbc.org/

8. Legal Aid Society of San Diego
Superior Court of San Diego County
Case Type: Housing Project
Website: https://www.lassd.org/

9. Legal Aid Foundation of San Bernardino

Superior Court of San Bernardino County
Case Types: Housing, Domestic Violence, and Child Custody Projects

Website: https://legalaidofsb.org/

10. Legal Services of Northern California
Superior Court of Yolo County
Case Type: Housing Project
Website: https://lsnc.net/self-help/housing

11. Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice dba Survivor Justice Center
Superior Court of Los Angeles County
Case Type: Child Custody Project
Website: https://www.survivorjusticecenter.org/

12. Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
Superior Court of Los Angeles County
Case Type: Housing Project
Website: https://nlsla.org/

13. San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program
Superior Court of San Diego County
Case Types: Child Custody and Domestic Violence Projects
Website: https://sdvlp.org/

14. San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation
Superior Court of San Luis Obispo County
Case Types: Housing, Elder Abuse, Guardianship, Probate Conservatorship Projects
Website: https://slolaf.org/

15. Senior Advocacy 
Superior Court of Stanislaus County
Case Types: Housing, Elder Abuse, Guardianship, Probate Projects

Website: https://senioradvocacynetwork.org/