Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
@clsphila.bsky.social
Our mission is to fight poverty, challenge systems that perpetuate injustice, and change lives through cutting-edge advocacy & exceptional legal representation.
www.clsphila.org
www.clsphila.org
Pinned
CLS has created a starter pack of legal aid programs across the US. As our organizations address poverty, inequity, and injustice, follow along to learn more about the legal issues & solutions that impact us all, especially people experiencing oppression and struggling to get by. go.bsky.app/GFQBhWT
This week, our Family Advocacy Unit is celebrating the recent reunifications of multiple families, just in time for them to spend the holiday season together!
November 26, 2025 at 6:04 PM
This week, our Family Advocacy Unit is celebrating the recent reunifications of multiple families, just in time for them to spend the holiday season together!
We’re celebrating the accomplishments of the Eviction Diversion Program in Philadelphia over the past five years!
CLS helped implement the program, and we continue to provide trainings, technical expertise, and support to the housing counselors in the program.
CLS helped implement the program, and we continue to provide trainings, technical expertise, and support to the housing counselors in the program.
November 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM
We’re celebrating the accomplishments of the Eviction Diversion Program in Philadelphia over the past five years!
CLS helped implement the program, and we continue to provide trainings, technical expertise, and support to the housing counselors in the program.
CLS helped implement the program, and we continue to provide trainings, technical expertise, and support to the housing counselors in the program.
Attention Philadelphia homeowners—especially low-income homeowners! There's a lot of info going around on TikTok & elsewhere that might not be right for you. Rachel Gallegos from our Homeownership & Consumer Rights Unit discusses why a will is probably a better idea than a trust for most homeowners.
You Probably Need a Will Not a Trust!
YouTube video by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Attention Philadelphia homeowners—especially low-income homeowners! There's a lot of info going around on TikTok & elsewhere that might not be right for you. Rachel Gallegos from our Homeownership & Consumer Rights Unit discusses why a will is probably a better idea than a trust for most homeowners.
Congratulations to CLS attorney Louise Hayes on winning the Philadelphia Bar Foundation award! Louise is a nationally recognized SNAP expert and has represented 2,000+ clients so they & their families can access & maintain a range of public benefits including SNAP, Medicaid & TANF cash assistance.
November 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Congratulations to CLS attorney Louise Hayes on winning the Philadelphia Bar Foundation award! Louise is a nationally recognized SNAP expert and has represented 2,000+ clients so they & their families can access & maintain a range of public benefits including SNAP, Medicaid & TANF cash assistance.
Last month at the NLADA Conference, Supervising Attorney in the SSI Unit and Language Access Project Chi-Ser Tran presented on a panel called “Walking the Talk: Advancing Language Justice in Legal Services Organizations – Ethical Imperatives in a Changing Landscape.”
November 13, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Last month at the NLADA Conference, Supervising Attorney in the SSI Unit and Language Access Project Chi-Ser Tran presented on a panel called “Walking the Talk: Advancing Language Justice in Legal Services Organizations – Ethical Imperatives in a Changing Landscape.”
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
In this podcast, host Stuart Yasgur and Sharon Dietrich discuss Clean Slate laws, from their key role in making Fair Chance Hiring practices more equitable, to how automating the process of clearing records alleviates the burden on individuals.
🎧 economicarchitectureproject.org/2025/11/12/f...
🎧 economicarchitectureproject.org/2025/11/12/f...
How can a “clean slate” offer a fair chance? [Fair Chance Hiring Series | Episode 3]
In this podcast, Sharon Dietrich walks through Clean Slate laws, which make Fair Chance Hiring practices more equitable.
economicarchitectureproject.org
November 12, 2025 at 3:16 PM
In this podcast, host Stuart Yasgur and Sharon Dietrich discuss Clean Slate laws, from their key role in making Fair Chance Hiring practices more equitable, to how automating the process of clearing records alleviates the burden on individuals.
🎧 economicarchitectureproject.org/2025/11/12/f...
🎧 economicarchitectureproject.org/2025/11/12/f...
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
NLADA conference Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2025 has focused on emerging issues in civil legal aid, public defense & public interest law, & on strengthening strategies to meet legal needs of low-income individuals & families.
#NLADA25
@nlada.bsky.social @clsphila.bsky.social @palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social
#NLADA25
@nlada.bsky.social @clsphila.bsky.social @palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 8:59 PM
NLADA conference Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2025 has focused on emerging issues in civil legal aid, public defense & public interest law, & on strengthening strategies to meet legal needs of low-income individuals & families.
#NLADA25
@nlada.bsky.social @clsphila.bsky.social @palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social
#NLADA25
@nlada.bsky.social @clsphila.bsky.social @palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social
The @phillybarassoc.bsky.social Bar Reporter has a special #probonospotlight this week! Click through to read about Lanique Roberts's path to CLS's Justice Rising Advocates and her reflections on volunteering at our Clean Slate Clinics. philadelphiabar.org?pg=ThePhilad...
October 22, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The @phillybarassoc.bsky.social Bar Reporter has a special #probonospotlight this week! Click through to read about Lanique Roberts's path to CLS's Justice Rising Advocates and her reflections on volunteering at our Clean Slate Clinics. philadelphiabar.org?pg=ThePhilad...
TODAY is the deadline to apply for the Low Income Tax Freeze and Senior Citizen Tax Freeze!
Apply for the Low Income Tax Freeze and Senior Citizen Tax Freeze by September 30th! Thank you to Monty Wilson and Rachel Gallegos, Attorneys in the Homeownership & Consumer Rights Unit, for spreading the word. Go Birds.
youtube.com/shorts/cncpi...
youtube.com/shorts/cncpi...
Apply for the Low Income Tax Freeze and Senior Citizen Tax Freese by September 30th!
YouTube video by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
youtube.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:16 PM
TODAY is the deadline to apply for the Low Income Tax Freeze and Senior Citizen Tax Freeze!
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! We are proud to share this article, written by CLS Alum Ray Alvarez, about how La Liga del Barrio is preventing youth violence in Philadelphia. La Liga was founded by Ray & CLS paralegal Esther Alvarez 25 years ago. share.inquirer.com/srexTR
How do we keep our kids safe? For 25 years, one answer has come from an unlikely place. | Opinion
Twenty-five years after the phone call that triggered its creation, La Liga is the city’s longest-running Latino youth sports league, serving more than 18,000 children and helping to keep them safe.
share.inquirer.com
September 24, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! We are proud to share this article, written by CLS Alum Ray Alvarez, about how La Liga del Barrio is preventing youth violence in Philadelphia. La Liga was founded by Ray & CLS paralegal Esther Alvarez 25 years ago. share.inquirer.com/srexTR
Starting in October 2025, the Pennsylvania Prison Society is offering safe, affordable bus rides from Philadelphia to four state prisons — SCI Benner, SCI Frackville, SCI Mahanoy, and SCI Muncy. Visits to these institutions are critical to keeping families together, including CLS clients.
September 23, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Starting in October 2025, the Pennsylvania Prison Society is offering safe, affordable bus rides from Philadelphia to four state prisons — SCI Benner, SCI Frackville, SCI Mahanoy, and SCI Muncy. Visits to these institutions are critical to keeping families together, including CLS clients.
Just because the Eagles won at the last minute yesterday (literally!) doesn't mean you should wait to apply for the Low Income Tax Freeze and Senior Citizen Tax Freeze. Applications are due September 30th!
Apply for the Low Income Tax Freeze and Senior Citizen Tax Freeze by September 30th! Thank you to Monty Wilson and Rachel Gallegos, Attorneys in the Homeownership & Consumer Rights Unit, for spreading the word. Go Birds.
youtube.com/shorts/cncpi...
youtube.com/shorts/cncpi...
Apply for the Low Income Tax Freeze and Senior Citizen Tax Freese by September 30th!
YouTube video by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
youtube.com
September 22, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Just because the Eagles won at the last minute yesterday (literally!) doesn't mean you should wait to apply for the Low Income Tax Freeze and Senior Citizen Tax Freeze. Applications are due September 30th!
Apply for the Low Income Tax Freeze and Senior Citizen Tax Freeze by September 30th! Thank you to Monty Wilson and Rachel Gallegos, Attorneys in the Homeownership & Consumer Rights Unit, for spreading the word. Go Birds.
youtube.com/shorts/cncpi...
youtube.com/shorts/cncpi...
Apply for the Low Income Tax Freeze and Senior Citizen Tax Freese by September 30th!
YouTube video by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
youtube.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Apply for the Low Income Tax Freeze and Senior Citizen Tax Freeze by September 30th! Thank you to Monty Wilson and Rachel Gallegos, Attorneys in the Homeownership & Consumer Rights Unit, for spreading the word. Go Birds.
youtube.com/shorts/cncpi...
youtube.com/shorts/cncpi...
Applications are now open for our summer law student internship program! Interns will receive exceptional training and the opportunity to work with some of the most talented legal minds in civil legal services.
Learn more about the internship and apply at clsphila.org/careers.
Learn more about the internship and apply at clsphila.org/careers.
September 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Applications are now open for our summer law student internship program! Interns will receive exceptional training and the opportunity to work with some of the most talented legal minds in civil legal services.
Learn more about the internship and apply at clsphila.org/careers.
Learn more about the internship and apply at clsphila.org/careers.
Thank you to Council Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson for hosting a Wills Workshop with us last week, in collaboration with Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. and the City of Philadelphia Register of Wills.
September 4, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Thank you to Council Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson for hosting a Wills Workshop with us last week, in collaboration with Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. and the City of Philadelphia Register of Wills.
Thank you to Councilmembers Rue Landau and Nina Ahmad for hosting us for a constituent services training session about helping Philadelphians navigate the new SNAP work requirements.
September 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Thank you to Councilmembers Rue Landau and Nina Ahmad for hosting us for a constituent services training session about helping Philadelphians navigate the new SNAP work requirements.
Find out if you may able to get your record cleared to open the door to new employment opportunities! Check out mycleanslatepa.org
If your record can’t be sealed and you need to apply for a pardon, there’s good news! The Board of Pardons recently launched a new, easy, online application: bop.pa.gov
If your record can’t be sealed and you need to apply for a pardon, there’s good news! The Board of Pardons recently launched a new, easy, online application: bop.pa.gov
September 3, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Find out if you may able to get your record cleared to open the door to new employment opportunities! Check out mycleanslatepa.org
If your record can’t be sealed and you need to apply for a pardon, there’s good news! The Board of Pardons recently launched a new, easy, online application: bop.pa.gov
If your record can’t be sealed and you need to apply for a pardon, there’s good news! The Board of Pardons recently launched a new, easy, online application: bop.pa.gov
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
New SNAP rules start in September! Most adults must now work 20+ hours/week to stay on SNAP unless exempt. Those who aren’t exempt or don’t meet the requirement can only get 3 months of SNAP every 3 years.
Need help? Check out this guide from @clsphila.bsky.social: clsphila.org/SNAPchanges
Need help? Check out this guide from @clsphila.bsky.social: clsphila.org/SNAPchanges
August 21, 2025 at 10:27 PM
New SNAP rules start in September! Most adults must now work 20+ hours/week to stay on SNAP unless exempt. Those who aren’t exempt or don’t meet the requirement can only get 3 months of SNAP every 3 years.
Need help? Check out this guide from @clsphila.bsky.social: clsphila.org/SNAPchanges
Need help? Check out this guide from @clsphila.bsky.social: clsphila.org/SNAPchanges
Join us for a webinar with the Urban League of Philadelphia about the impact of H.R.1 and the cuts to SNAP and Medicaid Thursday, August 21, from 1-2pm on Zoom. This will be a non-partisan space to learn, connect, and prepare for collective action. Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
August 20, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Join us for a webinar with the Urban League of Philadelphia about the impact of H.R.1 and the cuts to SNAP and Medicaid Thursday, August 21, from 1-2pm on Zoom. This will be a non-partisan space to learn, connect, and prepare for collective action. Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Pennsylvania has the lowest minimum wage out of any state in our region. A living wage helps families, businesses, and the economy. That's why we support #RaiseTheWage
July 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Pennsylvania has the lowest minimum wage out of any state in our region. A living wage helps families, businesses, and the economy. That's why we support #RaiseTheWage
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
No matter where you live in Pennsylvania, civil legal aid is within reach. Each year, our network provides free legal help to low-income residents in all 67 counties of the state—supporting veterans, seniors, homeowners, children, those recovering from disasters, and many others: www.palegalaid.net
July 22, 2025 at 7:24 PM
No matter where you live in Pennsylvania, civil legal aid is within reach. Each year, our network provides free legal help to low-income residents in all 67 counties of the state—supporting veterans, seniors, homeowners, children, those recovering from disasters, and many others: www.palegalaid.net
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
I also recommend any Philadelphian who cares about this kind of thing regularly donate to @clsphila.bsky.social
They are absolute champions — nationally, not just locally — of defending and winning benefits and rights that people need in order to live.
They are absolute champions — nationally, not just locally — of defending and winning benefits and rights that people need in order to live.
Donate to CLS - Community Legal Services
Donate to help Community Legal Services provide free advice and representation to low income Philadelphians
clsphila.org
July 1, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I also recommend any Philadelphian who cares about this kind of thing regularly donate to @clsphila.bsky.social
They are absolute champions — nationally, not just locally — of defending and winning benefits and rights that people need in order to live.
They are absolute champions — nationally, not just locally — of defending and winning benefits and rights that people need in order to live.
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Across Pennsylvania, people face barriers to accessing the legal system due to language gaps, disability access, lack of transportation, and the basic cost of legal help. Civil legal aid levels the playing field and makes justice accessible for all.
July 1, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Across Pennsylvania, people face barriers to accessing the legal system due to language gaps, disability access, lack of transportation, and the basic cost of legal help. Civil legal aid levels the playing field and makes justice accessible for all.
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Protect Medicaid and SNAP from cuts. Call your Congress members today at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to reject work requirements!
June 2, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Protect Medicaid and SNAP from cuts. Call your Congress members today at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to reject work requirements!
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Medicaid work requirements and more renewals will terminate health care for:
• Seniors in nursing homes
• Families
• Caregivers
• People fighting cancer
• Workers who get laid off
• Gig and freelance workers
• Seniors in nursing homes
• Families
• Caregivers
• People fighting cancer
• Workers who get laid off
• Gig and freelance workers
June 2, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Medicaid work requirements and more renewals will terminate health care for:
• Seniors in nursing homes
• Families
• Caregivers
• People fighting cancer
• Workers who get laid off
• Gig and freelance workers
• Seniors in nursing homes
• Families
• Caregivers
• People fighting cancer
• Workers who get laid off
• Gig and freelance workers