Latest News & Updates from the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.

The Breakfast of Champions

On behalf of all of us here at the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, Inc., we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the participants and viewers who joined us in this year's Breakfast of Champions Fundraiser. Your kind donations and sponsorships enabled us to raise approximately $182,000.00. As you may already know, the Legal Aid Society heavily relies on the generous contributions of its supporters. Your attendance and donations allow us to continue providing quality legal services to low-income families, abused and neglected children, veterans, seniors, and other vulnerable groups in our community. Thank you once again for your unwavering support, and we look forward to seeing you again next year! In case you missed it, click the link below to watch the entire event.

Thank You BOC 2023 Sponsors!

We also want to extend a special thanks to all of our sponsors who made this year's Breakfast of Champions possible. We are grateful for your contributions and the support you have shown us.

Stay tuned for the 17th Annual Breakfast of Champions Fundraiser on November 14, 2024! If you're interested in sponsoring this event and need more information, please contact Donna Haynes at dhaynes@legalaidocba.org. We look forward to presenting yet another triumphant event and look forward to seeing you there.

Venezuela Temporary Protected Status

Recently, the United States has extended Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans. This includes temporary work permits and temporary relief from deportation. Ana Roberts, an immigration staff attorney at Legal Aid, has provided a detailed explanation of this TPS, along with important deadlines and instructions to follow below. If you need legal assistance regarding immigration, don't hesitate to contact us at 407-841-8310 or visit our website at www.legalaidocba.org.

Check This Out!

GAL Adoption Day Celebration

Our GAL Director of Legal Services, Ronnie Syme, and her team gifted presents and stuffed animals to 20 of our children who were being adopted as part of the National Adoption Day celebrations. The gifts were a huge hit at the courthouse! Our attorneys and staff work tirelessly to create memorable experiences for the children we serve. It's a solid reminder of why we do what we do. If you're interested in volunteering as a child advocate or supporting the Legal Aid Society through a donation, please call 407-841-8310 or visit our website at www.legalaidocba.org for more information.

GAL Bike Give-Away

Join us on Saturday, December 2nd at Audubon Park K-8 School from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. We are providing FREE bikes to youth with an open judicial dependency case in Orange County. To register, please email bike@legalaidocba.org. When registering, please be sure to specify the child’s name, dependency case number, the county in which the case is open, the child’s age, height, preferences for bike color, as well as the name of the person who will pick up the bike for the child, and their relationship to the child.

Welcome to the LAS Family!

Please join us in welcoming the newest members to the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, Inc.! We are excited to have them on board and look forward to their incredible work.

Luc Louis-Jacques

Pro Bono Outreach Coordinator

Annelle De Jesus Abikarram

Pro Bono Outreach Manager

Frances Bethel

Family Law Staff Attorney

Staci Sciandra

Family Law Staff Attorney

Community Outreach

Here's where you can find us!

Throughout the year, the Legal Aid Society attends multiple events in the community to encourage and educate people about the services we provide to people in need. Make sure to visit our website at www.legalaidocba.org to find out more about our community outreach events.

Upcoming Event(s):

Legal Aid Society Lunchtime Trainings

The Legal Aid Society will be hosting a series of trainings providing in-depth insight to various legal issues. These Lunchtime trainings are reserved for Lawyers, Paralegals, & Law Students. These trainings are virtual requiring registration via Zoom.

To register, please contact Janis Mason (jmason@legalaidocba.org) or Michelle Erazmus (merazmus@legalaidocba.org). All trainings will be uploaded on the Legal Aid Society website here.

Upcoming Trainings:

VIRTUAL ONLY - December 5, 2023 "Policy and Legislative Updates Impacting Immigrants" presented by Ana Bernal Roberts, Immigration Staff Attorney. Explore how recent federal policy changes and legislation affects immigrants. 

VIRTUAL ONLY - December 12, 2023 "Education Advocacy for Dependent Children" presented by Hannah Farber, GAL Education Staff Attorney. Learn the fundamentals of educational advocacy, including special education services and disciplinary actions.

If attending in person, please make sure to register with Jmason@legalaidocba.org OR Merazmus@legalaidocba.org.

FREE LUNCH AND SPACE ARE LIMITED FOR IN PERSON TRAININGS

We have sponsorship opportunities for these informative trainings. Want exposure for your business within the legal community? Please contact Donna Haynes at dhaynes@legalaidocba.org for more information. Thank You!