Social Justice Law Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Provide free legal assistance to low income persons financially unable to afford such services and support programs that provide legal assistance to low income persons. To provide such services particularly impact litigation to alleviate the barriers created by arrest and conviction records to individuals seeking employment and other benefits or rights such as licensing housing and other matters.
- Income
- $0
- Spending
- $21,410
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $12,000, secretary and executive attorney
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
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
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: 92 out of 100.
Independent board
18 of 252 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $3,000 spent. Extensively reviewed responses and drafted freedom of information act requests to eight separate California courts regarding the procedures and standards followed in the dissemination and retention .of criminal history record information for employment or licensing purposes and the procedures and practices followed in the deletion or sealing of criminal history record information. Superior courts included Alameda Richmond Contra Costa,Santa Clara Fresno and San Mateo San Bernardino Sacramento and Los Angles.
- $1,500 spent. 42 USC Section 9101: SJLP spent substantial time and expenses on extensive research drafting and development of challenge to a federal statute 42 USC section 9101 that has been interpreted to require state agencies including local courts and the California Department of Justice to disclose the complete State created criminal history record to the Federal government and federal agencies for persons seeking employment with the Federal government or for employment with private employers with a federal contract.
- $3,767 spent. Compliance with California statutory Change: Amendments to California law required California Department of Justice DOJ to conduct review of records at various facilities and for facilities to correct or delete certain records. I spent substantial time in reviewing the practices and procedures followed by DOJ and the facilities in revising or changing records and the failure to cover the full scope of the directions of the Legislature in describing the scope of records to be deleted. records.
- $11,000 spent. 1development legal and factual of challenge to laws expanding access to certain criminal records for State and federal employment practices. 2 Development of potential litigation to address policies and practices followed in failing to completely delete marijuana records from information provided for employment practices
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.