In the news.

Boxer & Gerson Partner and Workers’ Compensation Specialist Maria Grasso has joined the Advisory Board of Centro Legal de la Raza’s Youth Law Academy (YLA), a program whose mission is to inspire high school students from underserved populations to pursue the study of law. Sager served on Oakland-based Centro Legal’s Board of Directors for the past seven years, three of those as its chairperson, before her tenure ended last September. Her service on the YLA Advisory Board will continue her long-term involvement with the organization and this key program that helps shape future leaders among Centro Legal’s service population.

The  Youth Law Academy accepts applicants from Oakland high schools for a three-year program that includes wide and sustained exposure to various aspects of the legal profession. Activities include seminars, mock trials, summer internships with select legal firms, a free SAT preparation course, and college and financial aid advising. Boxer & Gerson has hosted summer interns for the past seven years and will do so again in 2018.

In the course of these intensive activities spread over their high school careers, interns often develop long-term supportive relationships that extend into college and beyond as they pursue legal careers or related fields of human service.

Founded in 1969, Centro Legal de la Raza will be celebrating a half-century of service next year as a comprehensive legal services agency dedicated  to protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant, low-income, and Latino communities throughout Northern and Central California. It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization served by a volunteer board of directors and supported by contributions and fundraisers that reflect the great amount of goodwill it has built up over decades as a persistent voice and resource for bilingual legal representation, education, and advocacy.