About

In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions and the resulting legal threats against racial equity efforts, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF) launched Protecting Racial Equity (PRE) alongside key civil rights partners. Designed to combat uncertainty and fear amongst nonprofits and small businesses, PRE provides essential legal tools, training and education, and support to sustain race-conscious work in an evolving landscape.

LCCRSF developed a limited-scope legal clinic model, trainings for pro bono attorneys and practical resources, including a 400+ page attorney Reference Guide inclusive of law, policy, and news, a comprehensive legal compendium, and a pro bono assessment tool. These materials, along with legal webinars, workshops, and brief consultations, empower organizations to navigate legal and litigation risks while upholding their missions to advance racial justice.

Impact

Since launching PRE, LCCRSF has:

• Trained 220+ community organizations and 45+ foundations
• Reached 500+ individuals through public education events
• Created an award-winning limited-scope legal clinic in partnership with pro bono law firms to provide SF Bay Area organizations with in-depth legal analyses
• Efficiently provided shorter consults to clients with discrete questions and requests for resources
• Partnered with pro bono attorneys and law students on research projects to continuously grow and keep our resources up to date

LCCRSF’s resource database has become a critical tool, helping organizations and attorneys ground their decisions in legal precedent and in consideration of up to date policies and news. As new legal challenges arise, PRE serves as a lifeline for racial equity efforts, with its clinic model and resources now being adopted by partners across California and beyond.

By equipping organizations with knowledge and legal strategies, PRE ensures that the fight for racial justice continues boldly.

Intake

If you are interested in applying for our free services on behalf of a California-based organization, please fill out our LCCRSF PRE intake form (which takes approximately 5 minutes) and we will be in touch. You are welcome to submit an intake at any time, but please note that our next clinic is in March 2027. We will begin responding to intakes starting in late 2026. If your matter is more time-sensitive, we urge you to review our links to “Other Pro Bono Support and Related Information” below.

Other Pro Bono Support and Related Information

Public Counsel – Nonprofit Services & Capacity Building

Law Foundation – Nonprofit Protection Program

Public Equity Group – Viva DEI

Meltzer Center – Advancing DEI Initiative