E. Alex Espinoza
Host: Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Inc.
Alison Ponder
- Hosted by Volunteer Legal Services Program of the SF Bar
- Service location San Francisco
- Law school University of California, Berkeley School of Law
- Issue area Consumer Rights
- Fellowship class year 2011
- Program AmeriCorps Fellows Program
The Project
My project provides legal assistance to low-income individuals who are struggling with debt and/or facing collection lawsuits brought by creditors or third-party debt buyers. It is frequently consumer debts – often medical debt, student loan debt or credit card debt used to pay for basic living expenses– that pulls people from the lower working class into the spiral of poverty. I run a biweekly Consumer Debt Defense and Education Clinic to provide counsel and advice to low income San Franciscans dealing with a variety of consumer matters. I also recruit and train volunteer attorneys to represent clients in debt collection litigation.
The Inspiration
Meet Other Fellows Like Alison
Amanda Simmons
Host: Legal Aid of Arkansas
Adelaide Anderson
Host: Public Counsel
Eric Marfin
Host: Texas Legal Services Center