Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

Community Legal Services (CLS) of Philadelphia is part of a national legal services program that provides free civil legal assistance to low-income Philadelphians. CLS’ mission is to fight poverty, challenge systems that perpetuate injustice and change lives through cutting-edge advocacy and exceptional legal representation. CLS assists clients when they face the threat of losing their homes, incomes, health care, and even their families. CLS attorneys and other staff provide a full range of legal services, from individual representation to administrative advocacy to class action litigation, as well as community education and social work.

CLS’ Employment Unit represents clients with employment-related problems, including tackling barriers to employment, seeking unpaid wages, and preserving jobs. The unit also advocates at the national and state levels. Family Advocacy Unit (FAU) provides interdisciplinary legal representation to parents in Philadelphia dependency proceedings, with the goal of strengthening families and keeping children safely at home. Housing Unit represents private, public, and subsidized housing tenants in matters involving eviction, illegal lockouts, and substandard housing. Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) embeds legal advocates within health care practices to address health-harming legal issues such as lack of heat, unstable housing, or food insecurity. Please visit CLS’ website to know more about their programs.