Mobile Law Center
Project Type
Commercial — Workplace
Intended Use
Provide mobile legal services throughout the Central Coast
Model
1978 Airstream
Photography courtesy of Shannon McMillen Photography.
Vision
After more than 18 years of practicing law, Stern realized there was a lack of accessible and affordable legal services for those in need. He noticed a lot of people felt intimidated by anything that had to do with the law, and he wanted to address that issue.
And so the idea of the Mobile Law Center was born.
Stern wanted a way to help people in need of legal services throughout the Central Coast, regardless of their location or income level. He even makes special trips to clients if they can’t come to him. After doing extensive research on what kind of vehicle he wanted for his practice, Stern purchased a 1978 Airstream from a real estate agent in Los Osos.
“I felt like there was a void of so many people that felt so intimidated by the legal process, lawyers, the language, and the cost, that I wanted to create something that made them feel comfortable. Sometimes people are homebound, they don’t have transportation, they can’t leave. They can’t come down to San Luis Obispo at your office when there’s an opening.”
— Stephen Stern
Highlights
While the Airstream has been upgraded with modern amenities, Stern has kept a few of the original features of this vintage vehicle. The Airstream’s original 8-track is still located in the dashboard, along with the polished chrome exterior stripped of chipped paint.
The vehicle has white Corian countertops, a fully functional bathroom unit in the back, and not a single framed certificate or award on the walls. “When you walk into a law office, there is a lot of hard wood. Everything is very serious and there’s framed certificates everywhere,” he said. “There’s nothing in this place that’s posted that says I’m special. It’s not about me.”
Stern’s humility shows not only in the decor and presentation of his Mobile Law Center, but also through his practice. He specializes in student loan debt and has handled more than 5,000 cases dealing with debtors.
-
Exterior branded wrapping
Solar tiles on the roof that serve as a trickle charger for two stout marine batteries and a mobile hotspot
Polished chrome exterior stripped of chipped paint
-
White Corian countertops
Fully functional bathroom unit
The Results
Stern’s mobile office has no address. He practices law from his silver bullet luxury trailer, helping people grow their businesses and deal with debt-related issues. Traveling to different cities on the Central Coast throughout the month to serve his clients, he gets help from paralegal Rebecca Lilley and three Cal Poly interns. The Mobile Law Center helps clients assess their legal situations, charging $45 for 20-minute sessions.
“They’re in control of their situation, they know they can do one of several things to help to resolve it, and they know what’s going to happen if they don’t resolve it,” Stern said.
One of his clients, Tracey Little, has been working at Family Care Network for more than eight years. She decided to go back to school to become a social worker two years ago. In just two weeks, she’ll be graduating and getting ready to start paying off her student loans. “With student loans coming up, that’s a whole different language to me,” Little said. “It’s very confusing, on repayment plans and different programs offered.”
With Stern’s legal services, Little was able to get all the help she needed to map out a plan for her student loans.
Between teaching part-time at Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business and working out of the Mobile Law Center, Stern is now practicing law on his terms.
“Innovative Spaces worked with us on our budget and we couldn’t be happier.”
— Stephen Stern
