Our legal staff is led by Directing Attorney Rob Ross, a graduate of Boalt Hall. Mr. Ross spent seven years with the San Diego Legal Aid Society as a tenants’ rights lawyer before joining CCSLS as a staff attorney eighteen years ago. Mr. Ross has extensive knowledge of HUD housing programs, including public, senior and subsidized housing. He also provides advice, assistance and representation on a wide range of civil matters, including mortgage foreclosure, consumer fraud, elder abuse and mistreatment in long-term care.

Executive Director Laine Lawrence has been with CCSLS for nearly 24 years. She is a certified paralegal and former Director of CCSLS’s Pro Bono program. In addition to her administrative duties, she also advises clients about public benefits (with special emphasis on Medi-Cal and long term care issues) as well as SSI and Social Security overpayments. She also conducts outreach and educational programs in senior centers, and elsewhere, throughout the county.

Staff Attorney Verna Haas is a graduate of Hastings College of the Law. Her previous experience includes service as a deputy district attorney for Sacramento County, and several years in private practice primarily handling business litigation matters. She assists clients with matters involving elder abuse (including elder abuse temporary restraining orders) as well as with civil litigation matters such as consumer credit, debt management, and income maintenance and finance. Next year, her duties will include administering the new Senior Self Help clinic in conjunction with the Court.

We also have a number of pro bono attorneys who volunteer in our monthly clinics in local senior centers. Among them we are fortunate to have the services of Gerald Richards, who has been honored for his many years of service to CCSLS by the Contra Costa County Bar Association.  Other attorneys who provide pro bono services in our Free Wills Clinics or our Consult-an-Attorney Program include James Giblin, Esther Capon, Maurice Huguet, Jr., Anita Nunan Dunne, Karen Stein, Robert Merritt, Leah Presley, and Christopher Becnel. We are grateful for these and other attorneys who have graciously donated their time to insure that our seniors receive much needed legal services. We welcome all members of the legal community to contact us if they are interested in volunteering.

Our office is managed by Namusa Buchongo with the help of our current part-time and volunteer assistants.