At OneJustice’s 2025 Pro Bono Conference, ICLS Executive Director Tessie Solorzano joined Survivor Justice Center Executive Director Carmen McDonald, Bet Tzedek Legal Services CEO Diego Cartagena, and OneJustice CEO and session moderator Phil Hwang for an inspiring discussion on the power of collaboration and the strength in community that drives legal aid.
With pro bono partners, legal aid organizations are able to expand their reach, serve more clients, and work to ensure that justice isn’t based on a person’s ability to pay. The panel, Strength in Community: A Conversation with Legal Aid Leaders highlighted the importance of engaging volunteers and the bright future of pro bono in our region.
ICLS assists people with limited incomes, seniors, and people with disabilities, and in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, nearly 700,000 residents qualify for our services. Unfortunately, many of those residents go without legal help when they need it most.
With the help of our volunteers, we are able to expand both our impact and legal services offerings. Through ICLS’s Pro Bono Program, we offer legal clinics for expungement, small business assistance, disaster assistance, LGBTQ+ services, and guardianship, partnering with law firms and attorneys to assist eligible clients.
Because of the power of pro bono, our organization was able to listen to the needs of the community and innovate our program to better meet those needs. We see a bright future for pro bono at ICLS and are inspired by the difference our volunteers make in the lives of our clients.
A sincere thank you to OneJustice for hosting this crucial conversation and to our fellow legal aid leaders for their dedication to justice for all.