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About PIC Despite its wealth, the Golden State has the third highest poverty rate in the country -- 16 percent of Californians, 6 million people, live below the poverty line. Low-income people frequently have problems -- child custody issues, abuse of an elder, consumer fraud, wrongful eviction, denial of healthcare benefits -- that can be devastating without access to legal counsel. While there are legal aid and pro bono programs that help thousands of individuals and indigent families through advocacy, advice, and representation, the demand for legal aid far outstrips all available resources. The “justice gap” is so broad that three out of four Californians cannot access the legal help they need. The Public Interest Clearinghouse (PIC) exists to bridge this "justice gap" and improve the administration of justice for our state’s most vulnerable people. As the hub of statewide coordination to increase access to justice, PIC cultivates partnerships between legal aid organizations, law schools and students, private attorneys, the State Bar, the Courts and others, to proactively devise strategies to address gaps in the delivery of legal aid. PIC’s main areas of focus are: training, advocacy and other support to legal aid advocates; state planning and coordination within the broader legal community; encouraging and facilitating law student pro bono; and, harnessing technology developments to leverage resources and eliminate barriers to justice. |
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