PIC RECIEVES CALIFORNIA BAR FOUNDATION GRANT

SAN FRANCISCO (February 4, 2008) – The Public Interest Clearinghouse (PIC), a statewide nonprofit working with all segments of the legal community to meet the legal needs of low-income Californians, has received a prestigious grant from the California Bar Foundation to support its work to meet the legal needs of rural Californians.

The California Bar Foundation grant supports PIC’s Rural Education and Access to the Law (REAL) Project, which connects law students from around the state with underserved rural clients in order to provide essential legal services. PIC collaborates with attorneys at rural legal services organizations and court-based programs to design legal clinics that meet the specific, relevant and immediate needs of the community. The REAL Project matches students' desire to apply the skills they learn in law school to in meeting the incredible need for legal services in rural California. These service learning trips establish lasting ties between rural legal courts and organizations, as well as law students and practicing attorneys and can support rural communities by providing infrastructure and fostering a commitment to pro bono.

Julia Wilson, Executive Director of PIC, says, "We are honored by the California Bar Foundation’s recognition of this important project, and we thank our partners, including rural legal services programs and the Courts, for collaborating with us in this way. These trips allow law students to volunteer in the areas of our state that arguably are most in need of additional resources and support, and we commend the Foundation for its focus on the legal needs of rural Californians.” More information about PIC’s past REAL service learning trips is available here.

 About the California Bar Foundation
The California Bar Foundation is committed to building a better justice system for all Californians. They champion full and equal access to the justice system, invest in the next generation of public interest lawyers, educate Californians about their rights and responsibilities under the law, and promote philanthropy throughout the legal community. A nonprofit founded in 1990 and affiliated with the State Bar of California, the Foundation annually awards grants to California organizations conducting innovative law-related projects and scholarships to outstanding California law school students. For more information, please visit www.calbarfoundation.org.

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