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| Community Legal Services and Counseling Center | |
|---|---|
| Name | Community Legal Services and Counseling Center |
| Type | Nonprofit legal services |
| Founded | 1970s |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Services | Civil legal aid, counseling, representation |
Community Legal Services and Counseling Center is a nonprofit legal aid organization providing civil legal assistance and counseling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with emphasis on housing, consumer, employment, and family law matters. The organization operates in the context of Philadelphia County institutions such as the Philadelphia Bar Association, Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Philadelphia City Council, Housing Authority of the City of Philadelphia, and regional legal networks like the Legal Services Corporation, National Legal Aid & Defender Association, and American Bar Association.
The organization emerged during the wave of legal aid expansion in the 1960s and 1970s alongside entities like Legal Services Corporation and initiatives inspired by the War on Poverty and the Civil Rights Movement, drawing comparisons with historical providers such as Legal Aid Society (New York City) and Neighborhood Legal Services Program (Washington, D.C.). Early leadership engaged with local actors including the Philadelphia Bar Association, Temple University Beasley School of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, and municipal officials on issues resonant with cases from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and precedents from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Over subsequent decades the organization adapted to policy shifts following legislation such as the Legal Services Corporation Act and administrative decisions tied to the U.S. Department of Justice and state agencies, while collaborating with civil rights litigators from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, public interest firms such as the Public Interest Law Center, and community groups including the AARP and National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Its mission emphasizes ensuring access to civil justice for low- and moderate-income residents in matters similar to those handled by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau investigations, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development enforcement, and precedents from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Core services include eviction defense paralleling litigation in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, foreclosure prevention akin to actions involving the Federal Reserve Board concerns, public benefits advocacy in lines with Social Security Administration programs, and family law assistance echoing docket matters in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. Ancillary supports coordinate with entities like Catholic Charities USA, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, Health Federation of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Corporation for Aging to integrate legal remedies with counseling, benefits navigation, and housing stabilization programs.
The organization is governed by a board of directors drawn from stakeholders including members of the Philadelphia Bar Association, academics from Temple University Beasley School of Law and University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, representatives from funders like Legal Services Corporation and Philadelphia Foundation, and advocates from partner nonprofits such as the Public Interest Law Center and Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers. Leadership comprises an executive director or president, managing attorneys overseeing practice areas comparable to models at the Legal Aid Society (New York City) and Lutheran Social Services, a development team interacting with grantmakers such as the Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations, and volunteer coordination aligned with clinics at Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and pro bono programs linked to the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Funding blends federal grants from Legal Services Corporation, state appropriations from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, municipal contracts with City of Philadelphia agencies, foundation grants from organizations like the Ford Foundation and William Penn Foundation, and donations managed through intermediaries such as the Philadelphia Foundation and United Way. Fee-for-service elements and cy pres awards in class actions related to consumer protection or housing sometimes supplement revenue streams similar to mechanisms used by the Public Interest Law Center. Financial oversight complies with standards promoted by the American Bar Association and audit practices used by nonprofits receiving funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service and other federal programs.
The organization has influenced local jurisprudence through precedent-setting matters affecting tenant protections, benefits eligibility, and consumer rights, often interacting with case law from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, enforcement actions under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and regulatory guidance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Notable campaigns and litigation have paralleled efforts by groups like the Public Justice Foundation, National Housing Law Project, and Legal Services Corporation grantees to secure injunctive relief, policy changes at the Philadelphia City Council, and remedies enforced by the Pennsylvania Attorney General. Impact metrics are tracked in concert with research partners such as University of Pennsylvania Center for Public Interest Law and evaluation bodies like the Urban Institute.
Outreach strategies include clinics with law schools such as Temple University Beasley School of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, and Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law; collaborations with community organizations like Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, Public Citizens for Children and Youth, ACLU of Pennsylvania; and partnerships with funders and conveners including the Philadelphia Foundation and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. The organization participates in coalitions together with the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP)-style groups, and civic initiatives associated with the Mayor of Philadelphia to advance legislative reforms and public education campaigns.
Recognition has come from local and national bodies such as commendations by the Philadelphia Bar Association, grants and awards from the Ford Foundation and Mellon Foundation, pro bono honors administered by the American Bar Association, and citations in reports by research institutions like the Urban Institute and Pew Charitable Trusts. Individual staff have received fellowships from organizations including the Echoing Green fellowship network and the Skadden Fellowship Foundation.
Category:Legal aid organizations in the United States Category:Non-profit organizations based in Philadelphia