The legal services provided by WLC are generally folded within larger projects. These projects enable WLC to take a more holistic approach, deepen service impact, and collaborate with other community organizations more fully.
ECONOMIC JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP (EJP)
EJP works to help strengthen low-income families and improve their economic prospects over time. Initiated in 2004, EJP’s goal is to help participants resolve pending legal problems that contribute to financial instability. such as wage claims, medical debt, consumer fraud, unlawful debt collection. This project provides support and education to help participants avoid falling victim to abusive business practices in the future.
EJP partners: La Manzana Community Resources, Santa Cruz Community Credit Union, Surepath, Inc., COPA, Senior Legal Services, Legal Services for Seniors in Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties.
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS’ ACCESS TO HEALTH PROJECT (AWAHP)
AWAHP helps agricultural and other low-wage workers who have experienced a work injury or illness. WLC and its project partners help individuals access medical treatment and other important benefits under workers’ compensation. AWAHP also leads The Workers’ Compensation Enforcement Committee, a statewide collaborative of government and non-profit agencies committed to improving workers’ access to workers’ compensation benefits through reporting and enforcement and the development of more effective statewide policies.
AWAHP partners: California Rural Legal Assistance and Salud para la Gente
BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT PROJECT (BTE)
BTE provides legal assistance for issues such as obtaining employment-related licenses and certifications, drivers’ license reinstatement, custody and visitation, credit and debt problems, and clearing criminal records.
CONSUMER PROTECTION PROJECT
The Consumer Protection Project provides advice, education, and some full-scale representation to victims of consumer fraud. Areas of focus include auto-related fraud, immigration consultant and other professional services fraud, telephone fraud, consumer credit contracts, unlawful debt collection and credit reporting practices, identity theft, and other consumer scams.
LANGUAGE ACCESS TO THE COURT PROJECT (LAC)
The Language Access to Court Project (LAC) is a joint project between the Watsonville Law Center and the Santa Cruz County Superior Court, provided through the Court’s Self Help Center. LAC provides Spanish-speaking self-litigants language access to the court through the provision on in-language legal information and assistance with court forms and pleadings at the Court’s Self-Help Center. LAC does NOT provide legal representation, and may assist multiple parties in obtaining access to forms and information.