In 1959, a group of lawyers and community leaders recognized a need to help the less fortunate in San Mateo County access legal services. Thanks to these visionaries, the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County was born. One of the first cases involved a Spanish-speaking maid who was not allowed to retrieve her belongings when she resigned. The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County successfully represented her, and the client was able to recover her possessions. Since then, the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County has grown to become one of the most respected public interest law firms in California. The organization works in partnership with over 30 law firms and corporate counsel in Silicon Valley, with four hundred volunteers providing thousands of pro bono hours annually. A vital voice to marginalized populations of San Mateo County, the organization and individual staff attorneys have received numerous awards for excellence in providing legal services. Today, the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County’s work covers five main areas of urgent client need: accessing income support programs, bridging the education gap, fighting for freedom from domestic violence, obtaining health care, and preventing homelessness.