Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee

Request for Applications to Operate Projects Under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, Fiscal Years 2026-2029

The Judicial Council of California, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, is charged with the implementation of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (Assem. Bill 590 (Feuer); Stats. 2009, ch. 457) by funding pilot projects. The purpose of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act is to improve timely and effective access to justice in civil cases by funding one or more projects that provide legal representation and improved court services to low-income parties on critical legal issues affecting basic human needs. The program has had five grant cycles since 2011. In early 2012, the Judicial Council selected 10 pilot projects to receive grant funds. Nine projects were selected in 2014, and 10 were selected in 2017. For the 2020-2023 grant cycle, 12 projects were selected in 2020, and one additional project was selected in 2021. For the 2023-2026 grant cycle, 14 projects were selected. Under the terms of the legislation, the projects were authorized for three-year periods, subject to renewal for a period to be determined by the Judicial Council, in consultation with each participating project, considering the project’s capacity and success. The sixth three-year grant period will commence on October 1, 2026. Up to $18 million will be awarded for each fiscal year of the 2026-2029 grant period.

Applications may only be submitted by qualified legal services providers, as defined by Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6213(a), and their court partners. Qualified legal service providers must complete the online application using an online platform, Submit.com, available at the link below. Instructions on how to submit your application using Submit.com will also be provided below. Completed applications must be submitted by 2:00 p.m., Friday November 7, 2025. NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED.

The application consists of a Project Summary, Project Narrative, Budget Proposal, and Certifications and Attachments. Further details, including eligibility, grant timeline, grant awards, use of funds, and application review, are available in the online application and related documents, below.

Grant Timeline:

The Judicial Council has developed the following list of key events related to this application. All dates are estimated and are subject to change at the discretion of the Judicial Council.

The application consists of a Project Summary, Project Narrative, Budget Proposal, and Certifications and Attachments. Further details, including eligibility, grant timeline, grant awards, use of funds, and application review, are available in the online application and related documents, below.

• Shriver Application to Operate Projects Under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act Fiscal Years 2026-2029 
• Shriver Application Budget 2026-2029
• Attachment 1 – Administrative Rules
• Attachment 2 – Standard Terms and Conditions
• Attachment 3 – Proposer’s Acceptance
• Attachment 4 – General Certifications Form
• Attachment 5 – Darfur Certification
• Attachment 6 – Payee Data Record Form
• Attachment 7 – Iran Contracting
• Attachment 8 – Unruh Civil Rights Act

Applicants' Videoconference Recording - October 9, 2025

Questions may be submitted to the committee staff at ShriverCommittee@jud.ca.gov.

The advisory committee is comprised of active and retired jurists, subject matter experts, and representatives from legal aid organizations, academia, and the State Bar.

Download the Committee Roster

Members

• Hon. Gary Slossberg, Cochair, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado
• Hon. Pahoua C. Lor, Cochair, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Fresno
• Mr. Kevin G. Baker, Attorney
• Ms. Clare Pastore, Professor of the Practice of Law, University of Southern California Gould School of Law
• Hon. Corie J. Caraway,, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Butte
• Ms. Salena Copeland, Executive Director, Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC)
• Ms. Mary Lavery Flynn, Consultant
• Ms. Donna Hershkowitz, Chief of Programs, The State Bar of California
• Mr. Jack Londen, Executive Director, California Access to Justice Commission

Judicial Council Lead Committee Staff

• Ms. Melanie Snider, Supervising Attorney, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California
• Ms. Youn Kim, Senior Analyst, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Judicial Council of California

June 2025

• Report to the Legislature on the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act

June 2020

• Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act Evaluation

Fact Sheets

• Overall Impacts
• Housing Outcomes
• Custody Outcomes
• Guardianship and Conservatorship Outcomes

August 2017

• Evaluation of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (AB590)
• Executive Summary of Key Findings and Recommendations

Report Chapters (contained in the full report)

• Chapter on Housing Projects
• Chapter on Child Custody Projects
• Chapter on Probate Guardianship and Conservatorship Project

January 2016

• Report to the Legislature on the Sargent Shiver Civil Counsel Act

About

Pursuant to the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (Assem. Bill 590 [Feuer]; Stats. 2009 ch. 457), the committee makes recommendations on the selection and funding of pilot projects that provide legal representation to low-income parties in civil matters involving critical issues affecting basic human needs. Pilot projects are operated by qualified legal services projects, as defined by Bus. & Prof. Code section 6213(a), in partnership with their local superior courts. The committee also provides input into evaluation of the pilot projects, which is reported to the Legislature every five years.

Pilot Projects

On July 21, 2023, the Judicial Council approved 14 three-year grants to qualified legal services providers and court partners for the administration of pilot projects for the 2023-2026 grant cycle consistent with the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (as amended by Assem. Bill 2193; Stats. 2022, ch. 486). The Judicial Council report on the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act grant awards is available at https://jcc.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12124930&GUID=FB567EA4-D0EA-4B2E-A554-6352E555984D.

Current Legal Services Providers

1. California Rural Legal Assistance
Court Partner: Superior Court of San Joaquin County
Case Type: Housing Pilot Project
Website: https://crla.org/

2. Central California Legal Services
Court Partner: Superior Court of Fresno County
Case Type: Housing Pilot Project
Website: https://centralcallegal.org/

3. Centro Legal de la Raza
Court Partner: Superior Court of Alameda County
Court Type: Housing Pilot Project
Website: https://www.centrolegal.org/

4. Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance
Court Partner: Superior Court of Kern County
Case Type: Housing Pilot Project
Website: https://www.gbla.org/

5. Justice and Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco
Court Partner: Superior Court of San Francisco County
Case Type: Child Custody Pilot Project
Website: https://www.sfbar.org/jdc/

6. Legal Access Alameda
Superior Court of Alameda County
Child Custody Pilot Project
Website: https://www.acbanet.org/legal-access/

7. Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County
Superior Court of Santa Barbara County
Housing, Guardianship, Probate Conservatorship Pilot Project
Website: https://lafsbc.org/

8. Legal Aid Society of San Diego
Superior Court of San Diego County
Housing Pilot Project
Website: https://www.lassd.org/

9. Legal Services of Northern California
Superior Court of Yolo County
Housing Pilot Project
Website: https://lsnc.net/self-help/housing

10. Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice
Superior Court of Los Angeles County
Child Custody Pilot Project
Website: https://www.laclj.org/

11. Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
Superior Court of Los Angeles County
Housing Pilot Project
Website: https://nlsla.org/

12. Public Law Center
Superior Court of Orange County
Custody Pilot Project
Website: https://www.publiclawcenter.org/

13. San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program
Superior Court of San Diego County
Case Types: Child Custody Pilot Project, Domestic Violence Pilot Project
Website: https://sdvlp.org/

14. San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation
Superior Court of San Luis Obispo County
Case Types: Housing, Elder Abuse, Guardianship, Probate Conservatorship
Website: https://slolaf.org/