The Center for Health Care Rights (CHCR) is a California-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to assuring consumer access to quality health care through information, education, counseling, advocacy and research programs. The Center informs its efforts to represent consumers in public and private policy forums by the direct service it provides to individual consumers. Founded in 1984 as the Medicare Advocacy Project, the Center currently provides individual and systemic advocacy for elderly and disabled Medicare beneficiaries - serving over one million Medicare beneficiaries in Los Angeles County. The Center also has a long history of promoting protections for all consumers, particularly those enrolled in health maintenance organizations and other managed care plans.

The Family Law Information Center (FLIC) provides family law information, referral, and assistance to the public. In conjunction with other family law service providers at the court, FLIC provides legal forms and procedural guidance in the following areas: marital dissolution (divorce), legal separation, annulments, summary dissolutions, paternity and domestic violence prevention cases. Within these cases, assistance can be sought in many areas including child custody and visitation, child and spousal support and limited property issues.

The Cancer Legal Resource Center provides free and confidential information and resources on cancer-related legal issues to people with cancer, their families, friends, employers, health care professionals, and others coping with cancer. The Center, a joint program of Loyola Law School and the Disability Rights Legal Center (formerly Western Law Center for Disability Rights), has a national toll free Telephone Assistance Line (866-THE-CLRC) where callers can receive information about relevant laws and resources for their particular situation. The Center provides trainings for support groups, survivors, caregivers, health care professionals, hospitals, cancer organizations, and other community groups.

The Immigration Legal Assistance Project provides, for a nominal fee, legal assistance and counseling to all categories of low income persons. The Project also provides immigration 'services' for the private immigration bar.

A primary goal of Santa Monicans for Renters? Rights is to support, defend and enhance rent control and tenant protections even in the face of state intervention. Santa Monicans for Renters? Rights strongly supports programs that seek to preserve and expand the supply of affordable housing and maintain the historic ethnic and economic diversity of our city. Santa Monicans for Renters? Rights supports Santa Monica as a model Lifelong Learning Community ? a community committed to strengthening educational planning for all ages and stages of life with opportunities that enhance the personal, social and professional goals of all residents. SMRR supports breadth, diversity and equity in educational programming to achieve social and economic justice for all students.

2005 marks Inner City Law Center's 25th year as a leading provider of innovative legal services to the underprivileged on Skid Row and throughout County. From its beginnings as a mere idea of Nancy Mintie--”the founder of ICLC--to its growth into a model organization in its field, Inner City Law Center has remained dedicated to its mission as a housing rights and legal services organization.

The Barristers AIDS Legal Services Project has directed its resources to assisting low-income people living with HIV disease almost from the very beginning of the HIV epidemic. Since it was founded in 1986, the Project has provided direct one-on-one pro bono legal representation to thousands of people living with HIV and AIDS who have an HIV related legal problem. The scope of services includes immigration, guardianships, discrimination, public and private benefits, debtor relief and bankruptcy, simple estate planning, and housing.

The Pepperdine Legal Aid Clinic serves the homeless population of downtown Los Angeles. The Clinic is housed in the Union Rescue Mission (URM), one of the largest homeless shelters in Los Angeles. While participating in the Clinic, student law clerks receive training and provide legal assistance to the many homeless and formerly homeless men and women in the "skid row" area. Clients, referred by URM and other area missions, shelters and rehabilitation programs, receive assistance with tickets and warrants, expungements, applications for homeless court; credit, housing, taxes and benefits. In addition, the Clinic staff trains case workers with the Department of Public Social Services, Sheriff's Department, and with various social service organizations, making the Pepperdine name known and appreciated in an unlikely setting.