LAS Founding Mothers (L to R): Willie James, Jane Welch, Doka Clausen LAS Founding Mothers (L to R): Willie James, Jane Welch, Doka Clausen

Legal Assistance for Seniors was founded in 1976 by three women who re-entered the workforce with the goal of protecting seniors’ legal rights. The agency began as a storefront office in downtown Oakland, with the mission of promoting the independence and dignity of Alameda County seniors by providing legal services to assure life’s most
basic needs.LAS obtained its first federal funding in 1978 and became incorporated as a private nonprofit organization in 1984. In 1988, LAS began offering our Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) as part of our services in order to provide seniors with assistance in understanding the complex rules governing Medicare and other health insurance programs.In 2000, we expanded our service base to include limited legal assistance to HICAP clients in Contra Costa County. In 2005, LAS recognized the need to bring together leaders in the elder care field to recognize, prevent, and address elder abuse and began hosting the annual Conference on Elder Abuse, where the latest research and techniques could be shared with front line services providers. In 2015, LAS celebrated ten years of the Conference on Elder Abuse as it continues to educate and empower service providers to help seniors live with independence and dignity.

LAS is focused on providing the seniors of Alameda County with the best possible service. Learn more about our individual programs here >>