Renters' Legal Assistance

RLA offers assistance to U.C. Berkeley students and the surrounding community through counseling, educational workshops, and public interest research. Renters' Legal Assistance, formerly known as "ASUC Renters' Legal Assistance", was established in 1981 as a joint project of the ASUC, CALPIRG, and the Municipal Lobby to help educate tenants about their rights. Renters' Legal Assistance offers free advice to U.C. Berkeley students and the surrounding community through counseling, education, and public interest research. RLA provides in-office counseling, group counseling, phone counseling as well as workshops and seminars for the public. To aid students in asserting their rights, RLA distributes pamphlets and sample letters covering numerous topic. RLA maintains a comprehensive library containing material on housing issues and tenant's rights, current California Civil Codes, Berkeley Rent Control regulations and other housing related legal texts. RENTERS' LEGAL ASSISTANCE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM UC Berkeley student can apply to intern at Renters' Legal Assistance every semester. Initially, interns will familiarize themselves with California and Berkeley rent law through trainings, reading and observation. As interns become more familiar with the law, they may begin counseling clients. Interns can expect to develop skills such as public speaking, counseling, legal researching, problem solving, program development and enhanced writing skills. Interns must hold a minimum of 4 office hours per week and attend weekly meetings. Interns must also attend a training session early in the semester and pass a written exam. This group [Renters' Legal Assistance] was formerly named [ASUC Renters' Legal Assistance] - 3/15 IZ