ABOUT US

Senior Citizens' Legal Services (SCLS) opened its first office in 1972 because the elderly were unable to obtain legal aid services that addressed their unique problems.

CLIENT ELIGIBILITY

Residents of either Santa Cruz or San Benito Counties may receive SCLS services.

WHAT CASES WE SEE

​Cases are accepted on the basis of the issues raised or the client’s interests. ​

Our Vision
All elders feel respected and secure – regardless of economic status, race, gender, or ability – and have equal access to legal services.

Our Mission
Senior Citizens’ Legal Services (SCLS) provides free legal services to defend the rights of the elderly to quality housing, government benefits, and protection from exploitation and discrimination.

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​Our Values

Respect
We have a deep respect for the elders of our community and, as an organization, we believe in treating clients, donors, volunteers, staff, and community partners with respect and care. We believe in supporting our elders and advocating for systems that support them.

Compassion
We believe every person should be treated with compassion. We believe in presenting information to our clients with honesty and authenticity. Our staff and volunteers will practice patience and empathy so that clients feel heard, connected, and helped.

Equity
We believe in fair and equal access to support services regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, region, economic status, health, or ability status. We are committed to equitable treatment of community members and elimination of discrimination in all its forms.

Professional Integrity
We strive for excellence and integrity in all that we do. We intend to communicate and advocate with professionalism within the organization, with our clients, and within the community at large. We believe in honesty and transparency. We select knowledgeable staff and volunteers who embody our commitment to continued education.

We are Grateful to our funders and community partners.

Thanks to (some of) our Funders:

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Thanks to (some of) our Community Partners: