State Bar & Bar Associations,
Civil Rights
Aug. 19, 2025
Most Californians can't get legal help and the consequences are deadly
The California State Bar's 2024 Justice Gap Study reveals a worsening crisis in civil legal access, with 70% of households facing problems but receiving help for only 15%, highlighting the urgent need to expand legal aid, pro bono work, and innovative non-attorney support to protect vulnerable Californians from life-altering harm.
David A. Lash
Managing Counsel for Pro Bono and Public Services
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
The opinions expressed here are his own.
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