Gutiérrez: Legal literacy in Santa Clara County should not begin in a crisis

Like many people, I grew up watching television shows about the law. For a long time, courtroom dramas were my first introduction to the justice system. Even now, I still find myself drawn to legal shows, podcasts, social media clips and YouTube videos that try to explain the law in simple ways.

But after graduate school, I began to understand how far those dramas are from reality. I was fortunate to intern for a local judge the summer after graduation. He was deeply invested in my learning and allowed me to observe nearly every part of his courtroom.

That experience stayed with me.

I entered the internship with little understanding of how the court truly worked. As a Latina, I was raised to be a good person, follow the rules and keep my head down. For most of my life, television had been my first legal education. My internship gave me something different: a view from the inside.

What I saw was a system filled with brilliant legal minds: judges, attorneys, court staff and language interpreters. I also saw something that troubled me.

I saw nervous faces. I saw people in courthouse hallways unsure of where to go, who to speak with or what would happen once they stepped before a judge. I saw people trying to remain calm while carrying the weight of uncertainty.

I recognized that fear.

It was the fear of the unknown. The fear of feeling out of place. The quiet feeling that maybe you do not belong in such a formal space. Courthouses can do that. The tall halls, serious rooms, legal language and strict procedures can make anyone feel small.

I had moments of doubt too. But unlike many people I observed, I had a badge. I had permission to be there. I had someone explaining what was happening around me.

Many people appearing before the court do not have that same support. They often know their lives, families, housing, finances or freedom may be affected by a process they do not fully understand.

That should concern all of us.

Since that internship, I have felt called to help fill the gap between the legal system and the communities expected to navigate it. Legal literacy is not a luxury. It is essential for our communities to thrive.

Legal literacy matters because it helps people understand everyday issues that shape their lives: housing, employment, immigration, education, family stability and financial well-being. These are real moments when people are vulnerable to being misled, overlooked or taken advantage of.

Without a basic understanding of our rights and options, simple moments can become overwhelming. A letter from a landlord can feel like a threat. A meeting with a school administrator can feel intimidating. A traffic stop can create fear instead of clarity.

Legal literacy can change that.

When people understand their rights, they are better prepared to ask questions, seek help, avoid misinformation and make informed decisions. When they do not, fear replaces confidence, silence replaces advocacy and avoidance replaces action.

The goal should be simple: the law should not intimidate us before it informs us.

Legal literacy becomes powerful when people have access to clear information, trusted guidance and a community that empowers rather than shames them. That is the heart of the work I have started: a safe space where questions can be asked without fear, uncertainty can become clarity and shame can turn into dignity.

Our community deserves to understand the law. Our community deserves to live without fear. Our community belongs.

Cruzsilla Gutiérrez is the founder of Faith & Justice Support Services, a San Jose-based nonprofit initiative focused on legal literacy, community education and culturally rooted support for underserved communities.