GBLA
greater bakersfield legal assistance
MISSION
to promote social change and justice by providing high quality legal services to the low-income community
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CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF
Rosary & Viewing
Friday, September 27, 2024 | 4:00 - 8:00 pm
Greenlawn Southwest Cemetary
2739 Panama Ln, Bakersfield CA 93313
Funeral Mass
Saturday, September 28, 2024 | 9:00 - 10:00 am
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
124 Columbus St, Bakersfield CA 93305
Burial Service
Saturday, September 28, 2024 | 10:30 - 11:00 am
Greenlawn Southwest Cemetary
2739 Panama Ln, Bakersfield CA 93313
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.
Rural Legal Assistance Program
This program increases access to GBLA’s full range of legal services related to health, housing, income maintenance, consumer issues and/or domestic abuse to low-income individuals living in the traditionally underserved (and isolated) communities of Kern County.
Kern Health Consumer Center
Partnered with the Health Consumer Alliance (HCA), this project addresses the health-related barriers of Kern County residents by overcoming access problems to healthcare coverage, including Medi-Cal, Medicare, Covered California, and private insurance.
Health-related barriers may include:
- Filing a grievance or complaint against a health plan
- Understanding health care plan options
- Challenging a service denial
- Billing or affordability issues
- untimely access, geographical access, disability access, or language access issues
- In-Home Supportive Services denials
- Medi-Cal denials
Public Benefits
GBLA assists low income individuals and families overcome barriers to public benefit programs (e.g. CalWORKs, CalFresh, and General Assistance) to ensure they have sufficient resources to meet the basic necessities of life. Barriers may include:
- Denials
- Reductions
- Terminations
- Overpayments
- Consumer education regarding program eligibility
Guardianship
GBLA assists caregivers obtain guardianship over children to prevent further exposure to domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect.
GBLA assists persons at nearly every stage of a guardianship matter, from petition drafting to post-letter situations.
Domestic Violence Reduction Project
This project protects persons from further exposure to domestic violence, child abuse and/or neglect by obtaining legal protective orders (commonly known as a Restraining Order), child custody and visitation orders (where applicable), representing clients in court, and making referrals to other services when necessary.
Sargent Shriver Housing Project
This project prevents homelessness by defending low-income tenants in the unlawful detainer (eviction) process when the landlord is represented by an attorney and the eviction’s venue is within Metro Bakersfield. Defense may include representation at various stages of litigation such as hearings, discovery, trial, and settlement.
Homeless Prevention Project
This project prevents homelessness by defending low-income tenants in the unlawful detainer (eviction) process throughout Kern County regardless of whether the landlord is represented by an attorney. Defense may include representation at various stages of litigation such as hearings, discovery, trial, and settlement. This project also assists tenants who have received certain pre-eviction termination notices.
Seniors Law Center
This program provides direct civil legal assistance to Kern County’s socially and economically needy residents who are 60 years of age or older. Services may include resolving issues related to health, housing, consumer law, and elder abuse.
Social Security
GBLA assists eligible individuals through the entire disability benefit application process. Some eligible individuals are referred to social services and medical agencies while GBLA builds support for the disability application.
GBLA’s services may include the drafting and filing of applications, appeals, reconsiderations, reinstatements, and recertifications. GBLA may coordinate with government offices for pending applications, appeals, reconsiderations, reinstatements, recertifications. GBLA may also represent individuals throughout the disability application process, appeals submission, and related hearings.
Fair Housing Law Project
This project provides fair housing education, outreach, investigation, and enforcement services for Kern County residents who have been victims of illegal housing discrimination, regardless of income. When fair housing investigations yield evidence of illegal discrimination, this project may represent victims in administrative agency complaints and litigation.
Eviction Prevention Program
This program enhances housing security through legal representation, education, and resource referrals. Legal representation is available to eligible, low-income tenants (< 120% of the federal poverty level) within Bakersfield city limits. General information about California housing law is offered to the public through community presentations.
Homeless Court
Locally, GBLA acts as the Kern County Homeless Court Coordinator and is a proud partner of the Superior Court of California, County of Kern, the Kern County Public Defender’s Office, and the Kern County District Attorney's Office. As the Kern County Homeless Court Coordinator, GBLA facilitates referrals for this vital program.
Homeless Court
Homeless courts assist participants resolve outstanding criminal matters, such as infractions, misdemeanors, and low-level felonies. Homeless individuals may avoid attending superior court due to fear, even though unresolved criminal records significantly hinder reintegration into society, accessing social services, obtaining a driver’s license, and securing stable employment and housing. By addressing legal issues, homeless courts reduce superior court backlogs and decrease vagrancy.
Homeless Court
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.
Tenants’ Rights Clinic
GBLA collaborates with Monterey College of Law to teach a remote legal clinic addressing tenants' rights. GBLA attorneys train Monterey College of Law students to provide general information about landlord-tenant law to Kern County tenants who call the clinic. Under the supervision of GBLA attorneys, law students have one-on-one phone appointments with tenants seeking general information about rent-increase notices, termination notices, repair requests, and other housing concerns. The clinic is open to all tenants residing in Kern County, regardless of income, but space is limited. Appointments are available on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and must be scheduled in advance.
Be a Hero for Justice!
Imagine battling a legal crisis without help. Your donation to GBLA transforms lives! By giving, you empower the vulnerable with essential legal support. Defend rights, combat injustice, and build a fairer world. Step up and make a powerful impact—donate to GBLA today!
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 project, and
(2) utilizing the State Bar of California’s Practical Training of Law Students Program.
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you passionate about justice and equality? Do you believe in everyone’s right to fair representation in the legal system? Are you an attorney authorized to practice law in California or a law student that is eligible for the State Bar of California’s PTLS Program? If so, we invite you to be a part of something greater than yourself by volunteering for GBLA. Our mission is to promote social change by providing high-quality legal services to the low-income community. However, we cannot achieve our mission alone: we need dedicated volunteer law students and attorneys to succeed.
Make an Impact
By volunteering for GBLA, you will make a substantial and positive difference in the lives of people facing serious legal challenges. Your efforts could mean the world to someone in crisis.
Expand your Skills
Whether you’re a law student or an attorney, volunteering for GBLA offers valuable opportunities to sharpen skills and gain practical experience.
why volunteer for GBLA?
Fulfillment and Satisfaction
There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped someone navigate through a difficult legal situation. Volunteering with GBLA is not just about giving your time: it’s about enriching your life through meaningful service.
Join a Community of Changemakers When you volunteer for GBLA, you become a part of a passionate community dedicated to making a difference. You’ll work alongside like-minded individuals who share your commitment to justice and equality.
why volunteer for GBLA?
are you ready to make an impact?
Volunteering at Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance 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 or email me at vnarvaez@gbla.org.
I hope you join us in this noble cause.
Sincerely,
Valentin Narvaez, Esq.
Executive Director
Volunteer Attorney Testimonials
An honest look into how GBLA works
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.
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.
Pam Singh, Esq.
Cy Près
Cy près (pronounced “see pray”) means “as near as.”
Cy près solves the problem of what to do with residual funds that can’t be distributed to class members.
Residual funds may be awarded to a nonprofit organization by a court. The court may use cy près to distribute class-action-settlement funds to a nonprofit organization whose work indirectly benefits the class members and advances the public’s interest.
Are you a litigator for large impact cases?
By designating GBLA as a recipient of cy près, you can help support and advocate for Kern County’s most vulnerable populations and promote GBLA’s mission “to promote social change and justice by providing high-quality legal services to the low-income community.” Your support is crucial to GBLA’s mission! GBLA is a non-profit, legal aid agency that provides free, civil, legal services to indigent Kern County residents. By designating your cy près award to GBLA, you can support GBLA’s mission and facilitate access to justice for Kern County’s indigent residents. Join us in making a difference today!
open positions
GBLA
Domestic Violence Reduction Project Attorney - page 1 of 4
Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. (GBLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is “to promote social change and justice by providing high-quality legal services to the low-income community.” GBLA’s service area is Kern County, California.
GBLA seeks an attorney to serve clients within GBLA’s Domestic Violence Reduction Project. This project protects persons from further exposure to domestic violence, child abuse, and/or neglect by obtaining legal protective orders (commonly known as a Restraining Order), child custody and visitation orders (where applicable), representing clients in court, and making referrals to other services when necessary.
Domestic Violence Reduction Project Attorney - page 2 of 4
The candidate must be an active State Bar of California member or eligible for California’s Multijurisdictional Practice Program. As stated on the State Bar of California’s website, “[i]f you work for an eligible Legal Aid Organization in California, you may seek permission to practice law in California as a Registered Legal Aid Attorney (RLAA). If you are approved as an RLAA, you may practice law in California while working at an eligible Legal Aid Organization on behalf of its clients and may engage, under supervision, in all forms of legal practice that are permissible for a licensee of the State Bar of California.” Eligibility requires licensure and good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction and employment with an eligible Legal Aid Organization in California as defined by California Rules of Court, rule 9.45.
Domestic Violence Reduction Project Attorney - page 3 of 4
The ideal candidate exhibits leadership capabilities by providing guidance and direction to colleagues as needed. The ideal candidate for this position possesses knowledge of California’s Domestic Violence Protection Act (Family Code § 6300 et seq.). The candidate must possess knowledge of the Civil Code of the State of California, the Code of Civil Procedure of California, the California Rules of Court, and Kern County’s Local Rules of Court. The candidate must also possess exceptional communication, analytical, organizational, and writing skills. A firm commitment to public interest advocacy is essential.
Domestic Violence Reduction Project Attorney - page 4 of 4
The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $90,109 - $104,439 per year. Any final offer depends on experience and qualifications. This position offers the opportunity to work remotely within Kern County.
To Apply: email a cover letter, writing sample, resume, and three professional references to: hr@gbla.org California Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93304.
Housing Attorney - page 1 of 4
Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. (GBLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is “to promote social change and justice by providing high-quality legal services to the low-income community.” GBLA’s service area is Kern County, California.
GBLA seeks an attorney to serve clients within GBLA’s housing team. With legal representation, tenants gain protection, advocacy, and access to resources to navigate complex, fast-paced eviction proceedings. The attorney ensures tenants’ rights are upheld, provides guidance on legal options, and attempts settlement to prevent homelessness. The attorney protects individuals and families from housing instability by offering stability, peace of mind, and a chance to stay housed.
Housing Attorney - page 2 of 4
The candidate must be an active State Bar of California member or eligible for California’s Multijurisdictional Practice Program. As stated on the State Bar of California’s website, “[i]f you work for an eligible Legal Aid Organization in California, you may seek permission to practice law in California as a Registered Legal Aid Attorney (RLAA). If you are approved as an RLAA, you may practice law in California while working at an eligible Legal Aid Organization on behalf of its clients and may engage, under supervision, in all forms of legal practice that are permissible for a licensee of the State Bar of California.” Eligibility requires licensure and good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction, and employment with an eligible Legal Aid Organization in California as defined by California Rules of Court, rule 9.45.
Housing Attorney - page 3 of 4
The ideal candidate exhibits leadership capabilities by providing guidance and direction to colleagues as needed. The ideal candidate possesses knowledge of the CARES Act and the Tenant Protection Act of 2019. The candidate must be familiar with the Civil Code of the State of California, the Code of Civil Procedure of California (particularly Code of Civil Procedure §§ 1159 through 1179a), the California Rules of Court, and Kern County’s Local Rules of Court. The candidate must also possess exceptional communication, analytical, organizational, and writing skills. A firm commitment to public interest advocacy is essential.
Housing Attorney - page 4 of 4
The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $90,109 - $104,439 per year. Any final offer depends on experience and qualifications. This position offers the opportunity to work remotely within Kern County.
To apply: email a cover letter, writing sample, resume, and three professional references to hr@gbla.org or mail those documents to GBLA, 615 California Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93304.
medical insurance
Employer-paid premium for all full-time employees.
HMO plan with Kaiser Permanente.
Optional spouse/domestic partner/dependent coverage (employee paid).
Coverage becomes effective on the 1st day of the month after 30 days of employment.
Section 125 Plan allows pre-tax payment for optional coverage.
vision insurance
Employer-paid premium for GBLA’s full-time employee,
employee’s spouse, and employee’s dependents.
VSP Plan.
Coverage is effective on the 1st day of the month
after 30 days of employment.
dental insurance
Employer-paid premium for GBLA’s full-time employee,
employee’s spouse, and employee’s dependents.
Delta Dental 1500 Plan.
Coverage is effective on the 1st day of the month after 30 days of employment.
life insurance
Employer-paid premium for GBLA’s full-time employee.
Employee coverage (3x annual salary, max $500k).
Spouse coverage ($10,000).
Dependent coverage ($5,000).
Coverage is effective on the 1st day of the month after 30 days of employment.
401k plan
Administered by the ABA Retirement Funds Program.
Annually, GBLA matches 100% of an employee’s contribution up to 5% of the employee’s compensation. Automatic enrollment and elective contribution of 2% of employee’s compensation, unless employee chooses otherwise. Automatic contribution increases annually by 1% up to 5%, after 1st plan year.