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MILLIONS IN INMATE WELFARE FUNDS RESTORED Public Interest Law Firm, with pro bono co-counsel Fenwick & West, represented a class of inmates in a successful lawsuit against the County of Santa Clara which alleged misappropriation of funds designated by state law to be used for the benefit of inmates. PILF alleged that the County violated this law by diverting money from telephone commissions away from the Inmate Welfare Fund (IWF) and using that money to pay for services that are legally mandated or not primarily for inmates� benefit. After years of litigation and settlement negotiations, PILF reached a settlement with the County that requires sweeping policy changes in the administration of the IWF. It provides for the appointment of a consultant to assess inmate needs, creates enhanced oversight and auditing, and will result in $1.5 million in restitution to the IWF, over $1 million in new monies to be deposited to the IWF, and up to $450,000 in attorneys� fees and costs.

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Public Interest Law Firm: Mission

PILF was formed in 1974 by the Santa Clara County Bar Association to provide legal representation through class action and impact litigation to individuals and groups whose civil and constitutional rights were threatened. In 1987, the firm expanded its ability to provide such representation through the development of Public Interest Counsel, a panel of law firms and attorneys committed to co-counseling with PILF on a pro bono basis and supporting PILF through yearly donations.

Click Here to read more about our Pro Bono program.

Our Mission

The mission of the Public Interest Law Firm (PILF) to protect the human rights of individuals and groups in the Silicon Valley area who face barriers to adequate representation in the civil justice system, using impact litigation and advocacy.

PILF accomplishes its mission by leveraging the skills and resources of pro bono attorneys to provide high quality representation in class action and impact litigation, advocacy in state and local government, and litigation support to local legal services programs.