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Legal Assistance
YJC Legal Clinic

Legal support for youth and families directly impacted by systems of harm.

YJC Legal Clinic
We work to dismantle barriers to justice by offering tools, advocacy, and education.

These resources empower people to defend their rights, clear their records, and build toward freedom and self-determination.

About the Legal Clinic

Our legal clinic helps systems-impacted youth and families navigate the courts, clear records, and access the resources they need to thrive because everyone deserves support.

01
Record Clearing

We help community members expunge, seal, or clean up records that block access to housing, jobs, and education. We clear records so our members can restore their dignity, open doors to new opportunities, and support them in their personal goals.

02
Court Support

Guided by participatory defense principles, our team shows up in court, provides advocacy letters, and stands with you through the process. Courtrooms can be intimidating and isolating, but no one should have to face them alone. We make sure youth and families feel supported, heard, and visible in spaces where systems often try to silence us.

03
Legal Education

We run workshops and trainings so youth understand their rights, legal options, and system traps. These sessions turn knowledge into protection—helping young people prepare to navigate police encounters, probation, and school discipline without being caught off guard.

04
Reentry Help

We support folks coming home with legal navigation, documentation help, and community referrals. Reentry is more than a transition—it’s a critical moment where people deserve stability, care, and real opportunities to rebuild.

05
Youth defense

We connect youth with abolition-aligned attorneys who believe in healing, not punishment. By pairing young people with attorneys who share our abolitionist values, we challenge the court system’s reliance on punishment and uplift pathways toward healing, growth, and community support.

06
Navigating the system

We guide families through confusing court, probation, and DCFS systems with dignity and care. By showing up with compassion and clarity, we ensure that families are not alone in facing these challenges. Together, we transform fear and confusion into confidence and collective strength.

Take the first step
Call (323) 235-4243 to make an appointment

We’re here to stand with you because no one should face these systems alone.