LAE’s mission is to ensure Elders and younger individuals with disabilities residing in San Francisco the ability to exercise their legal rights and fully access to all benefits and services to which they are entitled. In the mid 1970’s, Legal Assistance to the Elderly was a program at the San Francisco Jewish Community Center that utilized volunteer attorneys to address the unmet legal needs of San Francisco elders. Incorporated in April of 1979 as a non-sectarian legal service, it quickly secured stable funding and hired several attorneys. Since that time it has served over 20,000 elders. As of 2003, they also provide legal services to younger adults with disabilities.