Presented by Inland Counties Legal Services

Helping Our Communities Thrive: Legal Aid Symposium for the Inland Region's Core Needs

About This Event

Join us as we collaborate with multi-sector community leaders for a full-day community education event on common civil legal issues in the areas of housing, aging, public benefits, and healthcare and how we can address them together. The symposium features:

  • Complimentary breakfast, lunch, and refreshments
  • Expert speakers from across the community leading sessions with actionable items and possibilities for collaboration to solve the most pressing needs in our region
  • A resource expo
  • A networking reception to follow

A recent report from the Legal Services Corporation found that almost 40% of low-income Americans have 5+ civil legal issues that involve basic needs like housing, healthcare, child custody, and access to public benefits. Alarmingly, more than 92% of these issues go unaddressed. Many of our local communities do not get help they need with their civil legal issues simply because they are unaware an attorney can help or that free representation is available, leaving them to “go it alone.” Meanwhile the problem continues to snowball, creating toxic stress, anxiety, and poor living conditions for our community members.

Our sessions include:

  • Aging with Support and Dignity: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Protecting California’s Growing Senior Population
  • Disaster Legal Aid: Strengthening Resilience in Inland Southern California
  • HR-1 Changes and the Impact on Work Requirements and Renewals Affecting Access to Public Benefits in the Community
  • The Ripple Effect: How Housing Loss Impacts Health, Employment, Education, and Family Stability

*Guest speakers to be announced

To ensure an open and collaborative environment, this symposium will not be recorded, and recording sessions is prohibited.  

About This Event

Join us as we collaborate with multi-sector community leaders for a full-day community education event on common civil legal issues in the areas of housing, aging, public benefits, and healthcare and how we can address them together. The symposium features:

  • Complimentary breakfast, lunch, and refreshments
  • Expert speakers from across the community leading sessions with actionable items and possibilities for collaboration to solve the most pressing needs in our region
  • A resource expo
  • A networking reception to follow

A recent report from the Legal Services Corporation found that almost 40% of low-income Americans have 5+ civil legal issues that involve basic needs like housing, healthcare, child custody, and access to public benefits. Alarmingly, more than 92% of these issues go unaddressed. Many of our local communities do not get help they need with their civil legal issues simply because they are unaware an attorney can help or that free representation is available, leaving them to “go it alone.” Meanwhile the problem continues to snowball, creating toxic stress, anxiety, and poor living conditions for our community members.

Our sessions include:

  • Aging with Support and Dignity: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Protecting California’s Growing Senior Population
  • Disaster Legal Aid: Strengthening Resilience in Inland Southern California
  • HR-1 Changes and the Impact on Work Requirements and Renewals Affecting Access to Public Benefits in the Community
  • The Ripple Effect: How Housing Loss Impacts Health, Employment, Education, and Family Stability

*Guest speakers to be announced

To ensure an open and collaborative environment, this symposium will not be recorded, and recording sessions is prohibited.  

Getting There

California University of Science & Medicine
1501 Violet Street
Colton, California 92324
United States

Introducing Keynote Speaker: Erwin Chemerinsky

Dean Erwin Chemerinsky will be joining us virtually to provide his keynote address. 

Erwin Chemerinsky is Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Prior to assuming this position he was the founding dean of the University of California, Irvine School of Law, and a professor at Duke Law School, University of Southern California Law School, and DePaul Law School.

He is the author of 22 books and over 200 law review articles. His most recent major books are Campus Speech and Academic Freedom: A Guide for Difficult Times (with Howard Gillman) (Yale Press 2026) and Taking Sides: The Supreme Court October 2025 (American Bar Association 2025). He frequently argues appellate cases, including in the United States Supreme Court. In 2022, he was the President of the Association of American Law Schools.

Thank you to our sponsors!