The Commons Law Center

The Commons Law Center Nonprofit Law Firm | Sliding-Scale Fees | Family Law, Estate Planning, Probate, and Tenant Rights

The Commons Law Center's mission is to revolutionize access to basic civil legal services, information, and support for underserved people. In pursuit of this mission, The Commons provides sliding-scale legal services to everyday Oregonians, practical training for new lawyers and law students, and free community legal education for the public. The Commons was founded because 85% of low income peop

le go without needed civil legal services, year after year, nationwide. The Commons harnesses modern business practices and technology to drive down the cost of service delivery. It welcomed its first client in January 2017 and now has a staff of 14 people and has hosted 30+ student law clerks since May 2020.

UPDATE: Only a portion of the rental assistance has been made available at this time. More of the funding will be availa...
06/08/2026

UPDATE: Only a portion of the rental assistance has been made available at this time. More of the funding will be available starting July 1st.

Thank you to Multnomah County and the City of Portland for allocating $4.5 million in emergency rental assistance funds to help prevent eviction and the impacts it has on families and communities.

Eviction prevention support is accessible as of June 3, 2026 via 211info by dialing 2-1-1 or emailing [email protected].

To be eligible for the program, households must meet both requirements below. There is no citizenship requirement for these funds.
1. Resident of the City of Portland.
2. Household income at or below 65% of Area Median Income (AMI). Income is based on a snapshot of current income at time of application – the current gross income of all household members, or the household's total income for the full calendar year before intake.

This Thursday is our Power of Attorney & Advance Directive Workshop!This workshop is free, virtual and we will provide y...
05/26/2026

This Thursday is our Power of Attorney & Advance Directive Workshop!

This workshop is free, virtual and we will provide you the forms ahead of time. Don't wait, get these important documents taken care of!

http://thecommonslawcenter.org/poa_ad_workshop/

Last Friday our team got together to celebrate 10 years since our nonprofit was incorporated! For the past decade, our t...
05/21/2026

Last Friday our team got together to celebrate 10 years since our nonprofit was incorporated!

For the past decade, our team has helped thousands of community members through legal issues, trained up the next generation of legal practitioners and revolutionized the way legal services are delivered. Thank you to our founders, board members, staff, volunteers, donors and community partners for making this work possible. Here's to the next 10 years!

Multnomah County has already seen more than 12,000 evictions filed since the start of the year. Our Tenant Eviction Def...
05/20/2026

Multnomah County has already seen more than 12,000 evictions filed since the start of the year.

Our Tenant Eviction Defense (TED) program meets tenants where they are at the most critical time in their legal matters. Our presence at the courthouse makes a difference. We are able to provide education regarding renters' rights, reduce the rate of evictions, and connect our clients with rental assistance and other vital resources.

Submit testimony today and tell Multnomah County Commissioners to fund eviction defense!

https://multco.us/info/fy-2027-chairs-proposed-budget

This Wednesday is the last chance to tell County Commissioners what you would like to see in the '26-'27 FY Budget.Our T...
05/18/2026

This Wednesday is the last chance to tell County Commissioners what you would like to see in the '26-'27 FY Budget.

Our Tenant Eviction Defense clinic has been operating since 2023. In that time we've honed our system to be incredibly efficient. It costs us just $396 to represent someone in eviction court, a minute investment compared to the thousands of dollars it costs to support someone in becoming re-housed.

Our program is currently funded at less than half of its operating cost. Encourage the county to collaborate with the City of Portland to release the unspent $1.9M in housing funds and fully fund this program that works!

https://multco.us/info/fy-2027-chairs-proposed-budget

Eviction Prevention is Humanitarian. Multnomah County is hearing public testimony this evening regarding the 2027 Budget...
05/13/2026

Eviction Prevention is Humanitarian.

Multnomah County is hearing public testimony this evening regarding the 2027 Budget. We encourage you to testify and write to your commissioners to encourage them to fund eviction prevention.

This work is vital to support renters’ physical and mental well-being, their dignity and privacy, and to provide stability in this housing crisis. Write to your commissioners today and encourage them to help keep people housed.

https://multco.us/info/fy-2027-chairs-proposed-budget-sign-testify-or-submit-comments

Eviction Prevention is Humanitarian. Multnomah County is hearing public testimony this evening regarding the 2027 Budget...
05/13/2026

Eviction Prevention is Humanitarian.

Multnomah County is hearing public testimony this evening regarding the 2027 Budget. We encourage you to testify and write to your commissioners to encourage them to fund eviction prevention.

This work is vital to support renters’ physical and mental well-being, their dignity and privacy, and to provide stability in this housing crisis. Write to your commissioners today and encourage them to help keep people housed.

Huge thank you to FOX 12 Oregon for featuring our Tenant Eviction Defense clinic! The disparity in representation betwee...
05/07/2026

Huge thank you to FOX 12 Oregon for featuring our Tenant Eviction Defense clinic! The disparity in representation between tenants and landlords is stark. Our clinic stands as a line of defense for tenants at risk of losing their housing.

With investment from Multnomah County, Oregon we can fully staff both courthouses and ensure that everyone has the right to the advocacy and support they need to stay housed.

Check out the story at:
https://www.kptv.com/2026/05/07/free-legal-clinic-helps-tenants-avoid-eviction-multnomah-county/

Everyone, regardless of their age or health status, should get a Power of Attorney and Advance Directive. These document...
05/06/2026

Everyone, regardless of their age or health status, should get a Power of Attorney and Advance Directive. These documents help you ensure that your medical wishes are followed and the people you trust most to make decisions for you are able to do so.

Join us Thursday, May 28th at noon and get all the information you need to fill out these important documents. Free forms provided!

Google Meet - Register at the link below
https://thecommonslawcenter.org/poa_ad_workshop/

Address

Portland, OR
97209

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(503) 850-0811

Website

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