After the devastation caused by the fires in Southern California, the needs of the victims are immense. Many of these victims are low-income community members who lost jobs, homes, or both. As of February 2, 2025, 10,699 households with household incomes of less than $15,000 per year and 18,100 households with household incomes between $15 – $30,000 per year had registered for FEMA assistance.

 

The need for legal services for these wildfire victims will continue through the next two or three years, as they navigate insurance and other critical matters. CCLS is part of the statewide Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative, which provides pro bono opportunities for lawyers seeking to help. In addition, interested lawyers and other legal professionals should register for the California Pro Bono Portal, which allows volunteers to search for disaster-related pro bono opportunities that match their skill sets. Training for disaster relief pro bono service is available through the Pro Bono Training Institute. Lawyers located in any area of the state can assist clients affected by these recent disasters.