Brunner Named Head of Law Foundation

SAN JOSE, CA, May 15, 2013 – Alison Brunner has been named the new executive director of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, a 39-year-old nonprofit legal services organization.  Brunner succeeds James K. Bower, who announced his retirement in October 2012 and recently stepped down from the position after 14 years.

“The Law Foundation is poised to expand its impact in the legal services community, and the board of directors sought a leader ready to guide the organization through its new five-year strategic plan,” said Vicki Veenker, president of the Board of Directors for the Law Foundation.  “Working through The Bridgespan Group, our search committee vetted many highly qualified candidates, and ultimately we believed it was Alison who had the right set of skills and experience to fulfill our vision.”

Brunner, 42, currently serves as directing attorney for the Mental Health Advocacy Project and Health Legal Services, two of the five programs offered by the Law Foundation.  She worked her way through the ranks of the organization, which she joined in 1996, after serving as a legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).

“I am excited by the opportunity to lead the Law Foundation and its dedicated staff in this next phase of its growth.  I was drawn to the mission of the Law Foundation 17 years ago, and I’m as inspired today as I was then by its charge to provide the highest quality free legal and public interest advocacy services to our Silicon Valley community in need,” said Brunner.

Brunner earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Los Angeles and went on to obtain her juris doctorate from Santa Clara University School of Law.  She is completing a OneJustice Executive Fellowship and is deeply engaged in the region’s legal services community, serving on the advisory board for the Katherine and George Alexander Community Law Center and the executive committee of the Association of Mental Health Contract Agencies for Santa Clara County.  Born and raised in San Jose, California, she now resides in nearby Los Gatos with her husband and two children.

ABOUT THE LAW FOUNDATION OF SILICON VALLEY: The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley is a nonprofit agency established in 1974 and last year provided more than 6,700 individuals in Silicon Valley with free legal services. The Law Foundation’s mission is to advance the rights of under-represented individuals and families in our diverse community through legal services, strategic advocacy, and educational outreach. The Law Foundation’s services are available through five programs: Health Legal Services, Fair Housing Law Project, Legal Advocates for Children & Youth, Mental Health Advocacy Project, and Public Interest Law Firm.