Community Lawyers, Inc. was incorporated in California as a nonprofit corporation in May 2005 by R. Vanessa Alvarado and Luz E. Herrera. Community Lawyers, Inc. was formed to formalize mentoring opportunities for first generation pre-law and college students in order to expose them to opportunities and challenges of the legal profession and the needs of low and moderate income clients.

The precursor to Community Lawyers was an informal internship program facilitated by Luz E. Herrera in her law office for young lawyers, law students and college students interested in going to law school. Between May 2002 to May 2005, approximately a dozen new and future attorneys sought Ms. Herrera's assistance for work and practical experience.

Although the organization is still in its infacy, the organization seeks to create a pipeline for quality, ethical and affordable attorneys who are responsibe to the needs of the communities they serve.  

Board of Directors

Luz E. Herrera is the founder, president, and board member of Community Lawyers, Inc. She graduated from Stanford University in 1995 and Harvard Law School in 1999.  She organized voter campaigns with the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project and co-founded the Harvard Latino Law and Public Policy Conference. She has clerked with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office. In 2002, Ms. Herrera opened a solo law practice in Compton and completed a clinical fellowship at the Legal Services Center at Harvard Law School in 2007.  Ms Herrera is currently a visiting assistant professor at Chapman University School of Law.  Ms. Herrera grew up in Whittier, California.

Contact: lherrera {at} community-lawyers {dot} org*

R. Vanessa Alvarado is co-founder, treasurer, and board member of Community Lawyers, Inc.  Ms. Alvarado graduated from Stanford University in 1996 and UCLA School of Law in 2001. She has worked at Philadelphia Legal Assistance, Watsonville Law Center and the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice. She is currently an Equal Justice Works Fellow working on special education issues at the Learning Rights Law Center in Los Angeles. Ms. Alvarado grew up in Escondido, California.

Contact: ralvarado {at} community-lawyers {dot} org*

Jessica Galindo is the secretary and a board member of Community Lawyers, Inc. Ms. Galindo graduated from the ICDC College paralegal program in 2004 and thereafter worked at the Law Office of Luz E. Herrera. Ms. Galindo is currently raising her daughters. She grew up in downtown Los Angeles, California.

Araceli M. Lerma is a board member of Community Lawyers, Inc. She graduated from Occidental College in 1995 and Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley in 1999. Between college and law school Ms. Lerma returned to her alma mater, Garfield High School, to teach. She has worked at the private law firms of Barbosa Garcia LLP and Herzog, Fisher, Grayson & Wolfe. Ms. Lerma is currently in solo practice in Paramount, California. She grew up in East Los Angeles, California.

Contact:  alerma {at} community-lawyers {dot} org*

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