Our Story

 

For the past 40 years, Bet Tzedek has provided free, comprehensive legal services for low-income individuals and families in Los Angeles, proving that access to justice makes a difference in people’s lives. It is the difference between having a home and living on the streets, between getting paid or having to go hungry, between access to medical care and supportive services or suffering.

From humble beginnings as a small group of volunteer attorneys helping Holocaust survivors facing gentrification in the Fairfax District, Bet Tzedek has grown into a public interest law firm with a footprint across Los Angeles County and beyond, with practice area expertise in Elder/Caregiver Law, Employment Rights, Guardianships, Human Trafficking, Health, Holocaust Reparations, Housing, Public Benefits and more.

Our staff seeks innovative solutions to persistent poverty. Whether harnessing the power of technology to overcome barriers or mobilizing communities through collaborative partnerships, we seek to empower the more than 20,000 people we serve every year with the help of hundreds of pro bono attorneys and volunteers.

 

 

 

 

Our Mission

 

Bet Tzedek was founded in 1974 by a small group of lawyers, rabbis, and community activists who sought to act upon a central tenet of Jewish law and tradition: “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof – Justice, justice you shall pursue.” This doctrine establishes an obligation to advocate the just causes of the poor and helpless. Consistent with this mandate, Bet Tzedek provides assistance to all eligible needy residents throughout Los Angeles County, regardless of their racial, religious, or ethnic background.