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About Us

GBLA is a non-profit corporation whose mission is "to promote social change and

justice by providing high-quality legal services to the low-income community."

GBLA is not organized for the private gain of any person. It is organized under the

Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes.

GBLA provides free, civil, legal services to low-income and elderly persons residing

in Kern County California.

Established in 1968, GBLA’s founding philosophies are deeply rooted with

antipoverty programs. We represent those who are unable or too afraid to speak for

themselves, either because of racial, economic, social, or legal barriers and

consequently have become mere statistics in social and economic research data.

SERVICES

JIM YORO

CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF

Homeless Court

Locally, GBLA acts as the Kern County Homeless Court Coordinator. Homeless courts assist
participants resolve outstanding criminal matters, such as infractions, misdemeanors, and low-
level felonies. To qualify for the program, a participant must be homeless. This may include:

• living in an emergency shelter,
• being evicted within 14 days from a private dwelling and no subsequent home is identified,
• being discharged within a week from an institution, (e.g. a mental health or substance abuse
  treatment facility or jail/prison, in which the person has been a resident for up to 90
  consecutive days) and no subsequent home is identified,
• fleeing a domestic violence housing situation and no subsequent home is identified,
• living in transitional housing for homeless persons, permanent housing for formerly homeless
  persons, a psychiatric facility, substance abuse treatment facility, hospital, hotel or motel paid
  without an emergency voucher, foster care or group home, safe haven, or
• living in a vehicle or on the street.

If you are a referring agency, and need more information, please call 661. 321. 3994.

Stay Connected

Volunteering at GBLA [is] one of
the most gratifying experiences,
both personally and professionally.
It is an opportunity to serve
members of our community who are
on the verge of homelessness or
losing [income] that they desperately
rely on.

Volunteer Attorney Testimonials

At the outset, I did not know
how I would feel about
providing services, but I
assumed that there would be
some sense of satisfaction that
comes from helping others;
which I found to be correct.
However, my hands-on work at
GBLA has provided me with a
significantly expanded sense of
what I am accomplishing.

Jim Modig, Esq.

The people I have met through
[volunteering] have humbled me
beyond anything I might have
imagined. They are so grateful
for the help they receive. It has
made me realize that we are
here to serve not only when we
are paid for the job, but to serve
because we were given all these
opportunities in our lives in the
first place.

Krystyna Jamieson, Esq.

Pam Singh, Esq.

VOLUNTEER
ATTORNEY PROGRAM

This program’s goal is to advance GBLA’s mission with private attorney involvement.

GBLA may achieve this goal by:

(1) recruiting California-licensed attorneys in good standing to volunteer for any GBLA service,
and

(2) utilizing the State Bar of California’s Practical Training of Law Students Program.

Volunteering at GBLA is more than just an opportunity: it’s a calling to be part of something
Greater than yourself. To learn more about volunteering opportunities and how you can get
involved, contact GBLA’s main line at 661.325.5943.

We hope you join us in this noble cause.

I have been honored to assist,
even in a small way, with
GBLA’s mission to fill our
community’s gap in legal
representation. The experts at
GBLA make giving back very
easy to integrate into your
every-day practice with top
notch support and guidance. I
encourage all lawyers in our
community to consider paying
forward the privileges we’ve
been granted as members of the
Bar.

Tyler Anthony, Esq.

The staff at GBLA has made the process of assisting
with the guardianship cases so streamlined and easy.
They have particular expertise that they willingly share
with the client and with the volunteer attorney. The
client intake and court filings are done by their staff
and while open to questions and changes, are usually
provided ready to go. It is a pleasure every time I have
worked with them. I want to say a “guilty pleasure”
because I feel that GBLA does all the heavy lifting and
yet I still get credit when the guardianship petition is
granted by the judge. Of course, this testimonial
wouldn’t be complete with a shout out to Kendra
Salinas and George San Miguel who are most
instrumental in making this a well-oiled machine.

Karen R. Holt, Esq.

Belden Blaise Raytis

Available Positions

Employee Benefits

2024 ANNUAL
REPORT

615 California Ave.

Bakersfield, CA 93304

Phone: 661. 325. 5943

Fax: 661. 325. 4482

Contact

Open Monday through Friday

8:30am to 12:00pm & 1:00pm to 5:00pm

Closed 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Closed on Kern County’s judicial holidays

Office Hours