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Oregon Law Center

EIN 93-1194564 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ACHIEVE JUSTICE FOR THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF OREGON BY PROVIDING A FULL RANGE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES.

Income
$15.8 million
Spending
$15.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
125
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$173,939, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 (1)
  1. $13.7 million spent. THE OREGON LAW CENTER (OLC) PROVIDES FREE CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE (THOSE LIVING AT AND BELOW 125% OF THE NATIONAL POVERTY GUIDELINES); ADVOCATES TO SUPPORT THE INTERESTS OF LOW-INCOME OREGONIANS BEFORE JUDICIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BODIES; PROVIDES COMMUNITY EDUCATION TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE; AND MAINTAINS A PANEL OF PRO BONO ATTORNEYS. OLC EMPLOYS ATTORNEYS AND PARALEGALS WORKING IN ELEVEN OFFICES ACROSS OREGON TO PROVIDE THE FULL RANGE OF CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO CLIENTS WHO LIVE IN POVERTY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.)THE TYPES OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY OLC INCLUDE: CONSULTATION AND ADVICE; BRIEF SERVICE; COMMUNITY EDUCATION/SELF-HELP/PRO SE FORMS/WEBSITES; NEGOTIATION/MEDIATION; REPRESENTATION IN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS; COURT REPRESENTATION; LIMITED APPEALS; LIMITED ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY; AND LIMITED LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY. OLC PROVIDES FREE COMMUNITY EDUCATION TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS SERVING LOW-INCOME PEOPLE TO HELP OUR CLIENT POPULATION BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE LAW. OLC, WORKING IN COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, HELPS TO CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE FREE COMMUNITY EDUCATION INFORMATION ONLINE AND IN PRINT FORM. OLC EMPLOYEES DO OUTREACH TO LOCATIONS THAT ARE CONVENIENT TO LOW-INCOME CLIENTS (HOMELESS SHELTERS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES SERVING LOW-INCOME CLIENTS, NURSING HOMES, LABOR CAMPS, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, AND SIMILAR LOCATIONS) AND OFFER FREE APPOINTMENTS TO PROVIDE ADVICE AND BRIEF SERVICE AND CONSIDER ACCEPTING A CASE FOR REPRESENTATION. OLC, WORKING IN COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, OPERATES A HOTLINE WHERE LOW-INCOME CLIENTS CALL TO RECEIVE ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICE OR REPRESENTATION ON LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO RECEIVING PUBLIC BENEFITS, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, AND SIMILAR MATTERS. OLC ATTORNEYS CONDUCT REGULAR INTAKE INTERVIEWS WITH APPLICANTS WHO CONTACT AN OLC OFFICE. THE ATTORNEYS OFFER ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICE OR FULL REPRESENTATION IN THESE INTERVIEWS. CLIENTS ACROSS THE STATE CAN REACH OLC OFFICES BY TOLL-FREE NUMBERS TO RECEIVE ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICE AND TO SEEK REPRESENTATION. OLC MAINTAINS A PRO BONO PROGRAM WHERE APPLICANTS' CALLS ARE SCREENED AND THEN SENT TO PRIVATE ATTORNEYS WHO PROVIDE SERVICE WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE CLIENT. SOME OF THESE CASES ARE SENT TO PRO BONO CLINICS. OTHER PRO BONO CASES ARE POSTED ON A LISTSERV WHERE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS CAN PICK UP THE CASE. CASES ARE ACCEPTED BASED ON APPLYING PRIORITIES THAT ARE SET THROUGH A ROUTINE ASSESSMENTS OF CLIENT NEEDS. OLC AVOIDS ACCEPTING FEE-GENERATING CASES THAT WOULD BE TAKEN BY PRIVATE ATTORNEYS. IN A FEW CASES THAT END UP IN LITIGATION, OLC RECOVERS ATTORNEY FEES FROM THE ADVERSE PARTY, BUT THESE COMPRISE A SMALL NUMBER OF CASES AND A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OLC'S INCOME. ATTORNEY SALARIES ARE SET BY THE BOARD WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ATTORNEY FEES.IN THE MOST RECENT TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD FOR WHICH STATISTICS ARE AVAILABLE, OLC CLOSED 2,923 CASES, INCLUDING 37 CASES WHERE THE REPRESENTATION RESULTED IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY DECISION AND 235 CASES WHERE THE REPRESENTATION RESULTED IN A COURT DECISION. ABOUT 13% OF THESE CASES WERE CATEGORIZED AS FAMILY LAW (ALMOST ALL OF WHICH INVOLVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR CHILD ABUSE), 64% WERE CATEGORIZED AS HOUSING LAW (INCLUDING LANDLORD/TENANT, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING AND FORECLOSURE CASES), 10% WERE CATEGORIZED AS EMPLOYMENT LAW (CASES THAT ARISE UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL STATUTES RELATED TO WAGES, DISCHARGE, DISCRIMINATION, SAFETY AND SIMILAR ISSUES), 3% WERE CATEGORIZED AS INCOME MAINTENANCE (UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, VETERANS' BENEFITS, SOCIAL SECURITY, AND OTHER PUBLIC BENEFITS), 2% WERE CATEGORIZED AS CONSUMER LAW, 5% WERE CATEGORIZED AS INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS (INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH, DISABILITY RIGHTS, CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING), 2% WERE CATEGORIZED AS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, AND 1% WERE CATEGORIZED AS WILLS/ESTATES, EDUCATION, JUVENILE, LICENSES, OR OTHERS.CLIENTS ACHIEVED A POSITIVE RESULT IN 88% OF CASES INVOLVING SOME FORM OF LITIGATION. AS A RESULT OF THIS FORM OF REPRESENTATION: 84% WERE MORE ECONOMICALLY SECURE; 81% OF THE CASES ALSO BENEFITTED THE CLIENT'S FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS; AND 15% OF THE CASES BENEFITTED OTHER LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN OREGON BEYOND THE CLIENT'S FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD. WHERE A MATTER INVOLVED THESE SPECIFIC ISSUES: 89% OF THE CLIENTS WERE PHYSICALLY SAFER; 79% WERE BETTER ABLE TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE; AND 86% OBTAINED OR MAINTAINED HOUSING. SOME OF THE CASES IMPROVED POLICIES AND/OR PRACTICES TO BENEFIT A LARGE NUMBER OF LOW-INCOME CLIENTS, AS WELL AS OBTAINING RESULTS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CLIENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.