Our mission is to fight poverty, challenge systems that perpetuate injustice, and change lives through cutting-edge advocacy and exceptional legal representation. Founded in 1966 by the Philadelphia Bar Association, Community Legal Services (CLS) has provided free civil legal assistance to more than one million low-income Philadelphians.
Approximately 10,000 clients were represented by CLS in the past year. 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.
Approximately 10,000 clients were represented by CLS in the past year. 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.
Services
Services
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If you apply for cash assistance and are turned down, CLS can help you appeal to the county assistance office. Our advocates can also help you regain benefits if they change or are cut off. Child care subsidies help you pay for child care while you are in school, at work, or in other approved programs.
Utilities
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Unaffordable utility bills are stressful and pose risks to safe and healthy families. CLS advocates fight for affordable utility bills to help you keep the heat, electricity and water on. Loss of utility service in your home is an emergency. CLS advocates can help you determine the fastest and most affordable way to restore heat, electricity or water to your home.
Criminal Records
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CLS represents individuals with "indicated" child abuse reports that directly affect their employment by helping them appeal the reports and advocating with the agencies that maintain the child abuse registry. CLS can assist individuals who cannot access public benefits due to a criminal record and determine eligibility for criminal record clearing.
Youth Justice Project
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The Youth Justice Project can connect young people ages 16-24 to free legal help at Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance. Criminal & Juvenile Records, including expungement, bench warrants, impact on employment, and court debt. Family & Kids, including Childline Records (child abuse registry), DHS involvement, protection from abuse, and child custody.
Medical-Legal Partnership
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Using Legal Services to Improve Health: Community Legal Services' Medical-Legal Partnerships. Medical-Legal Partnerships (MLP) address legal issues that impact health, such as lack of heat, unstable housing, or food insecurity, by embedding legal experts within health care teams. The MLP model ensures that legal advocates can address problems before they become crises by working closely with health care teams.
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