Christian Legal Aid of Los Angeles is a non-profit organization that brings lawyers and other legal professionals together to bring God’s love and justice to the poor in Los Angeles.

CLA-LA was established to partner with local churches and other faith-based organizations to:

• Provide legal consultation and advisory services in select areas of law without charge to individuals and families in Los Angeles.
• Provide spiritual encouragement to those who seek our assistance by offering to pray with them, giving biblical counsel and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Solicit and train attorneys, legal assistants, law students and other persons to support them as they fulfill their calling to defend the rights of the afflicted and needy and do justice with the love of God.

> Click here to read our Articles of Incorporation. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, please click here to download.

Stephen Tuggy, Esq., Chairperson
Member of First Baptist Church West Los Angeles
stephen@christianlegalaid-la.org

Terry Steinhart, Esq., Vice-President and Secretary
Member of Living Word Christian Center
terry@christianlegalaid-la.org

Gary Maeder, Esq., Chief Financial Officer
Member of St. John’s Presbyterian Church
gary@christianlegalaid-la.org

Patricia Oliver, Esq., Director and Development Committee Chair
Member of City Presbyterian Church
patricia@christianlegalaid-la.org

Lydia Wu, Esq., Director
Member of Pacific Crossroads Church
lydia@christianlegalaid-la.org

Rev. Charles Suhayda, Ph.D., Director
charles@christianlegalaid-la.org

Joe Henderson, Esq., Director
Member of St. Luke's Anglican Church
joe@christianlegalaid-la.org

Michael Washburn, Law Student, 2nd Year, USC, Director
Member of USC Catholic Center
michael@christianlegalaid-la.org

Christian Legal Aid of Los Angeles provides free legal advice and legal assistance in a variety of subject areas, including landlord-tenant, criminal law, immigration, trust and wills, public benefits, employment law, lemon law, real property, small claims, expungements, and name change. CLA-LA helps its clients analyze their legal issues, outline pertinent facts, draft letters, and complete forms.  Usually, CLA-LA’s assistance is limited to a single clinic session or a single telephone consultation with no follow-up. In the event a clinic client requires further assistance, the client may sign up for the next clinic or be referred to another legal aid clinic capable of providing additional assistance.  However, as part of CLA-LA's Five Year Growth Plan, CLA-LA may provide ongoing assistance where the matter is appropriate for CLA-LA services and where resources are available.  CLA-LA also provides spiritual encouragement and prayer to any client who expresses a desire to receive such services.