Get Legal Help at East Bay Community Law Center
East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) is a nonprofit legal aid organization based in Berkeley, California. It helps eligible community members with housing disputes, immigration issues, debt, public benefits, youth justice and education-related legal problems.
If you need legal assistance, the most important first step is to contact the correct program and complete its intake process. Visiting the office does not automatically mean an attorney will be available for a consultation.
Reviewed October 20, 2026. This is an independent information guide, not EBCLC or a legal advice service.
East Bay Community Law Center Hours & Locations
| Office | Address |
|---|---|
| Main Adeline Office | 2921 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA 94703 |
| Center Street Office | 2001 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 |
Published business hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Main phone: 510-548-4040
General inquiries: info@ebclc.org
Holiday closures, program intake hours, scheduled appointments and staffing may differ from general office hours.
What Legal Services Does EBCLC Provide?
Housing & Eviction Defense
Help with eviction lawsuits, Section 8 termination hearings, Rent Board disputes, landlord-tenant matters and housing rights.
Housing intake details →Immigration
Assistance involving DACA, immigration relief, asylum-related matters and other eligible immigration cases.
Immigration intake details →Consumer Debt
Help with personal debt lawsuits, student loans, credit reporting errors and identity theft.
Debt assistance →Healthcare & Public Benefits
Legal assistance with denied or reduced benefits, health coverage and certain state disability or employment-related benefit issues.
Benefits assistance →Youth Justice & Education
Assistance with school discipline, special education, juvenile legal proceedings and related youth rights.
Youth services →Homelessness Advocacy
Work addressing encampment evictions, property confiscation and rights of people experiencing homelessness.
Current service status →EBCLC may provide legal information, advice, limited representation, referrals or full representation depending on the matter, eligibility and program capacity.
Who Qualifies for Free Legal Help?
EBCLC does not have one universal eligibility rule for every legal issue. Requirements differ according to the program, your location, income, case type and current capacity.
| Program | General Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Housing | Qualifying tenants generally residing in Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville or Alameda, subject to income requirements. |
| Immigration | Potentially eligible Alameda or Contra Costa residents, qualifying UC Berkeley and California community college students, and certain referred cases. |
| HIV legal services | People living with HIV/AIDS or caring for someone with a diagnosis, generally in Alameda or Contra Costa County, subject to income criteria. |
| Youth Justice & Education | Generally K–12 youth who live in or attend school in Alameda County. |
| Consumer debt | Eligibility and case acceptance determined after contacting the program. |
| Homelessness | Current public intake page reports the program is at capacity for new individual clients. |
How to Request Free Legal Assistance
Choose housing, immigration, consumer debt, healthcare benefits, youth education or another category.
Visit EBCLC Get Help and select the service matching your situation.
Read geographic, income, referral and case-type requirements on that program’s page.
Call the listed number. Some programs use voicemail, specific email intake or partner referral systems.
State your name, callback number, location and type of problem. Mention urgent hearings, eviction notices or legal deadlines.
Gather court papers, notices, benefit letters, contracts, identification and other records relevant to your case.
Staff may ask about income, household circumstances, residence, case history and available documents.
If EBCLC accepts the matter, follow the team’s next steps. If not, ask for referrals to other legal aid providers.
Housing, Tenant Rights & Eviction Assistance
EBCLC’s Housing Program provides free assistance in eligible housing cases, including:
- Eviction and unlawful detainer lawsuits.
- Section 8 or Housing Authority termination hearings.
- Rent Board disputes.
- Tenant rights and landlord-related legal problems.
- Some related housing stabilization and social work needs.
How to Contact the Housing Team
- Call 510-548-4040.
- Request the Housing Program.
- Leave your name and reliable telephone number.
- State your city and briefly describe the housing issue.
- Mention any eviction notice, summons, complaint, hearing date or sheriff’s notice.
- Have the relevant documents ready for intake.
EBCLC states that its Housing Program generally returns intake calls within 48–72 hours for an initial telephone assessment.
Immigration Assistance, DACA & Student Support
EBCLC provides immigration services to eligible individuals and communities, including selected deportation defense, asylum-related, DACA and other immigration matters.
How to Request Immigration Help
Call 510-548-4040 and leave a message for the Immigration Program. Include your full name, telephone number and a brief description of the issue.
Use the official Find Your Ally appointment system linked by EBCLC for eligible community college students.
Current UC Berkeley students and recent graduates within the eligible period should use the university’s Undocumented Student Program appointment process.
Contact the immigration team to determine whether your location, income, case and referral status qualify.
Documents to Have Ready
- Any upcoming immigration hearing notices.
- USCIS receipts and immigration agency correspondence.
- Previous applications or decisions, where available.
- Important filing deadlines.
- A brief timeline of your immigration issue.
Do not send these documents to unverified contacts. Wait for the intake team’s instructions.
Consumer Debt, Student Loans & Identity Theft
The Consumer and Debt Services Program identifies the following types of legal concerns:
- Personal debt collection lawsuits.
- Credit-card and other consumer debts.
- Student loan-related legal problems.
- Credit reporting errors.
- Identity theft and associated debt issues.
Request Assistance
- Call 510-548-4040.
- Leave a message for the consumer legal assistance team.
- State your name, callback number and brief problem description.
- If you have been sued, identify the court and response deadline.
- Prepare statements, collection notices and relevant correspondence.
Public Benefits, Healthcare & HIV Legal Services
EBCLC’s Health and Economic Security Program assists eligible people with problems involving public benefits and access to care.
Covered Legal Issues May Include
- SSI and SSDI appeals.
- Medi-Cal denials, reductions or terminations.
- In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS).
- CalFresh, CalWORKS, CAPI and General Assistance.
- State Disability Insurance and unemployment benefits.
- California Paid Family Leave.
- HIV-related housing, legal documents and benefits concerns.
Important Referral Restriction
EBCLC operates medical-legal partnerships with hospitals and health organizations, including Highland Hospital and Children’s Hospital Oakland. Some partnership services are available only through a referral from a medical partner or another EBCLC program.
For applicable direct-access program assistance, call 510-548-4040 and leave a message describing your issue.
Youth Justice, School Discipline & Special Education
EBCLC’s Education Defense and Justice for Youth Program supports eligible young people facing issues involving school discipline, juvenile court and education rights.
Potential Assistance
- School suspension and expulsion matters.
- Special education disputes.
- Juvenile court and delinquency-related cases.
- Education access and school rights.
- Juvenile record-related resources and referrals.
Direct youth intake: 510-982-7695
Email: EDJYintake@ebclc.org
Provide your name, phone number, availability for a callback and a brief description of the issue. Intake may be limited to certain case types or available staff capacity.
Homelessness Advocacy & Available Referrals
EBCLC’s homelessness work includes advocacy relating to encampment evictions, property and vehicle confiscation, discrimination and parental rights.
If you urgently need shelter or housing-related assistance, EBCLC’s referrals page recommends contacting 211 to find available community services.
Other Referral Options Listed by EBCLC
- Homeless Action Center: 510-775-0035, with Berkeley and Oakland service locations.
- Bay Area Legal Aid: 800-551-5554 for its Legal Advice Line.
- Alameda County Bay Area Legal Aid: 510-250-5270.
These are independent organizations with their own eligibility, office hours and service capacity.
Documents to Prepare Before an Intake Call
| Legal Issue | Useful Records |
|---|---|
| Eviction or housing dispute | Lease, eviction notice, rent statements, text messages and court papers. |
| Immigration | Agency notices, receipt numbers, hearing information and previous applications. |
| Debt collection | Debt statements, collection letters, credit reports and court documents. |
| Public benefits | Benefit denial or termination notices, claim information and appeal deadlines. |
| School discipline | School notices, suspension or expulsion documents and hearing information. |
| Special education | IEP documents, evaluations and communications with the school. |
These are preparation suggestions, not a universal required-document list. Intake staff will explain the records they need.
East Bay Community Law Center Map & Directions
Main Adeline Office
2921 Adeline Street
Berkeley, CA 94703
Public Transportation
- Ashby BART: Approximately three blocks from the Adeline office.
- AC Transit 18: Stops near Shattuck Avenue and Russell Street.
- AC Transit 80: Stops near Ashby Avenue and Adeline Street.
Second Office Address
2001 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704. This is also listed by EBCLC, but visitors should confirm which office handles their appointment.
Which Phone Number Should You Use?
| Your Question | Contact |
|---|---|
| General legal help or referral | 510-548-4040 |
| Housing legal assistance | 510-548-4040; request Housing |
| Immigration services | 510-548-4040; request Immigration |
| Consumer debt services | 510-548-4040; request consumer assistance |
| Healthcare or public benefits | 510-548-4040; request Health and Economic Security |
| Youth Justice & Education | 510-982-7695 |
| General non-legal inquiries | info@ebclc.org |
For a question about service eligibility, call rather than sending detailed confidential case information to the general organizational email address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is East Bay Community Law Center located?
EBCLC lists offices at 2921 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA 94703, and 2001 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704. Confirm which location you need before visiting.
What are East Bay Community Law Center hours?
The published general office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM–5 PM. Individual legal programs may have different intake schedules or appointment requirements.
What is the East Bay Community Law Center phone number?
The main telephone number is 510-548-4040. Youth Justice and Education intake also lists 510-982-7695.
Does East Bay Community Law Center provide free legal help?
Yes. EBCLC provides free civil legal services to eligible clients. Geographic, income, case-type and program capacity restrictions apply.
Can EBCLC help with eviction notices?
Yes. The Housing Program handles eligible eviction, Section 8 and tenant-rights cases, primarily for qualifying tenants in Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville and Alameda. Call 510-548-4040 to request housing intake.
Does EBCLC help with immigration cases?
Yes. EBCLC provides immigration assistance to eligible applicants, including certain Alameda and Contra Costa residents, qualifying students and referred clients. Intake depends on the program and case.
Can EBCLC help with credit-card debt or student loans?
Its Consumer and Debt Services Program assists with eligible personal debt lawsuits, student loans, credit reporting errors and identity theft. Call 510-548-4040 for intake information.
Does EBCLC help with Medi-Cal and disability benefits?
Yes. Its Health and Economic Security Program handles eligible public benefit and health-related legal problems, including some Medi-Cal, SSI, SSDI and state disability matters. Certain services require partner referrals.
Can parents get help with school discipline or special education?
EBCLC’s Youth Justice and Education Program serves eligible K–12 youth who live in or attend school in Alameda County. Call 510-982-7695 or contact EDJYintake@ebclc.org.
Can I walk into EBCLC and meet with a lawyer?
Do not assume an attorney will be available for an unscheduled consultation. EBCLC uses program-specific intake and eligibility procedures. Call 510-548-4040 before visiting to find the correct next step.
Official Sources & Legal Help Resources
- EBCLC Office Locations, Hours & Contact
- EBCLC Free Legal Help Directory
- Housing and Eviction Assistance
- Immigration Services
- Consumer and Debt Services
- Healthcare, Benefits and HIV Services
- Youth Justice and Education Services
- Homelessness Advocacy and Service Status
- Youth Legal Rights and Educational Resources
Phone: 510-548-4040
Website: ebclc.org
This independent visitor guide provides general information, not individualized legal advice. Reading it or contacting this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. Legal deadlines and eligibility requirements must be checked with the appropriate court, agency or qualified legal professional.