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Uncommon Law

EIN 46-1538094 · Oakland, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

UNCOMMON LAW'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND HEALING FOR PEOPLE IMPACTED BY INCARCERATION. WE DELIVER TRAUMA-INFORMED, HEALING-CENTERED MENTAL HEALTH AND LEGAL COUNSELING TO HELP PROVIDE A SAFE PATHWAY HOME FOR PEOPLE CURRENTLY SERVING LENGTHY PRISON TERMS IN CALIFORNIA PRISONS. WE REPRESENT PEOPLE IN THEIR PAROLE HEARINGS AND HABEAS PETITIONS, AND WE ENGAGE IN LITIGATION AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR PEOPLE IN PRISON, ATTORNEYS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND LAW STUDENTS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF PREPARATION FOR AND REPRESENTATION IN PAROLE HEARINGS. OUR CLIENTS CANNOT BE RELEASED FROM PRISON UNLESS AND UNTIL THEY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN COUNSELING AND OTHER TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND CAN SHOW THE CALIFORNIA PAROLE BOARD THEY CAN SAFELY REJOIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE HELP THEM GET READY TO MAKE THAT SHOWING.

Income
$7.6 million
Spending
$4.4 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
45
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$201,221, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 153% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $3.9 million spent. Legal:- Saw 12 of our clients come home to their communities - Filed 10 habeas corpus petitions (6 Superior, 3 Court of Appeal, 1 CA Supreme Court) - Delivered 23 consultations - Supported 61 parole hearings - Achieved a 59% grant rate in parole hearings completed
  2. Policy: - Sponsored AB2310, the Parole Hearing Language Accessibility Act, requiring the Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) to: translate essential documents into the give most commonly spoken languages among incarcerated individuals eligible for parole hearings; develop and publish bilingual glossaries of parole hearing terminology; and promulgate regulations establishing standards for interpreter qualifications, verifying interpreter credentials, and protocols for providing interpreter services during attorney visits. - Obtained a landmark dataset through a Public Records Act (PRA) to support deeper analysis of parole hearing outcomes from 2012 - 2024.
  3. In-Prison Programming:- Graduated 42 participants from our 10-month Home After Harm, Pathways for Parole Success, along with three Peer Mentor graduates, and enrolled 80 new participants total at California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC) and Salinas Valley State Prison for graduations in 2025. From our graduates:100% understood the parole hearing process as a result of the program - 97% knew how to articulate and connect the events in their lives that led to incarceration - 100% understood how to demonstrate insight in my parole hearing - 97% knew how to mentally and emotionally prepare for my parole hearing - 95% reported an overall positive sense of well-being at the end of the program, and another 95% reported their overall sense of hope and outlook for the future is positive.- Completed seven intensive parole readiness workshops across six prisons with a total of 355 participants. From the workshop participants: - 98% of participants left the workshop with a better understanding of the Boards expectations - 90% of participants reported higher confidence in their ability to receive a parole grant

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.