About Us
“We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.”
Our Mission
To empower and transform the lives of those who are burdened by a criminal record and to provide a safety net for those at risk of re-entering the criminal justice system.
Our Values
- New beginnings
- Forgiveness
- Respect
- Accessibility
- Diversity
- Holistic approach to client service
- Commitment to legal and evidence-based practices and trauma-informed care
- Continual learning and education
- Collaboration and community
Our Vision
Renewing Hope, Restoring Trust, Rebuilding Self-worth, Empowerment, Transformation
FOUNDER
Elissa Lasserre
Ms. Lasserre has worked in the legal field for 40-years. She began her legal career as a Court Clerk in the West Los Angeles Courts. Thereafter, she went to work in private law practices working her way up from receptionist, to legal secretary, to paralegal and finally office manager.
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Read More About Elissa
Ms. Lasserre attended law school at Southern California Institute of Law. She worked fulltime in a law office during the day and attended law school at night. In 1995, she graduated law school at the top of her class and earned several awards of merit in Evidence and Trial Advocacy. Immediately after graduating, she sat for the California State Bar and began practicing law.
Although her passion from her early days as a court clerk was criminal law, Ms. Lasserre’s early experience as an attorney was in the area of complex civil litigation. During this time, she litigated cases involving millions of dollars in damages. This experience taught her the invaluable skills of case evaluation, written and oral argument and court preparedness.
In 2003, she left civil litigation to pursue her passion as a criminal defense attorney. She opened her own criminal defense practice where she began representing indigent juvenile and adult defendants by court appointment.
In 2005, Ms. Lasserre was offered the position of Bay Area Staff Attorney for the Cochran Firm-Criminal Defense Division. It was an honor to be considered for this position as Johnnie was a brilliant litigator and inspiration to those in the trenches practicing criminal defense. She accepted the position and represented Cochran Firm clients throughout the bay area. The Cochran Firm – Criminal Defense Division dissolved in 2006 due to Johnnie’s untimely passing.
Ms. Lasserre immediately re-opened her criminal law practice and continued to represent indigent defendants in criminal and juvenile proceedings. Over the years, she has represented defendants charged with many different crimes including driving under the influence, drug possession and sales, theft, domestic violence, serious and violent felonies, strike offenses, assault, gang violence, sex crimes and attempted murder. She has also been appellate counsel on several cases including a life-sentence rape case.
After years of watching people’s lives negatively defined by involvement in the criminal justice system, Ms. Lasserre decided to focus her efforts on helping clients assess and redefine their lives. In late 2015, Ms. Lasserre founded the New Beginnings Law Center. The Center’s focus is to help clients diminish the effects of a criminal record thereby increasing self-worth and lowering recidivism rates.
Board of Directors
James Ricci, Board President
Robin Brennan. Treasurer Pro Tem
Heather Donoho, Secretary Pro Tem
Elissa Lasserre, Founding Director
Erika Rosales-Shelfo, Director
John Wallace, Director
Lee Cusick, Director
Committees
Contact us to see how you can get involved in one of our exciting projects.
Law Clerks, Interns, and Volunteers
NBLC would not be where we are today without the hard work and dedication of volunteers, law clerks, and interns. Thank you!
As Seen On
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At New Beginnings Law Center, we believe that in order for clients to avoid recidivism, they must become empowered. We help empower our clients by providing an environment of trust, respect, accessibility, and direction from commencement to conclusion of their case. After the case is over, we maintain a relationship with the client and provide referrals according to their needs.