Our Work

Promoting a fresh and equitable start for returning citizens by removing barriers to employment and housing, including criminal record sealing and certificates for qualifications for employment.

Giving people a fresh financial start by reducing or eliminating debt, including consumer, utility, and student loans, as well as helping consumers assert their rights in debt collection and garnishment matters.

Finding solutions to non-medical barriers that keep people from being healthy by providing holistic legal services to improve disparate health and learning outcomes related to students with special learning needs, infant and maternal health, and chronic disease.

The entry point for residents applying for help from CLA. HelpLine staff provide equitable support for applicants, offer applicants transitions from collaborative partner referrals, and also provide additional legal information and referrals for those not eligible for CLA’s services.

Ensuring low-income homeowners have safe, stable, and affordable places to live by working directly with homeowners facing foreclosure to save their home, improve their financial situation, and assert their rights in foreclosure proceedings.

Ensuring that new Americans have equal access to the civil justice system as they enrich our culture and economy through holistic legal services for immigrants and refugees facing housing, financial, family, employment, or educational barriers that keep them from thriving.

Ensuring that students have access to a quality education by empowering parents and care-givers to advocate for children with special needs, addressing root causes in educational disparities such as the school-to-prison pipeline, and providing holistic legal services to families of students with legal issues that are barriers to educational success.

Helping survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and stalking find safety and independence through holistic legal services for victims and vulnerable children to help them gain protection from physical, mental, and financial abuse.

Protecting the rights of low-income taxpayers by assisting taxpayers with controversies with the Internal Revenue Service, educating low-income residents about their tax rights and responsibilities, and advocating for equitable tax policies for low-wage earners.

Promoting economic development in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods by providing legal advocacy, expertise, and support to strengthen grassroots efforts in expanding social justice and racial equity, empowering disinvested communities, and building coalitions for positive social change.

Dedicated to reducing disparities in visitation for noncustodial parents, especially marginalized populations, through legal education, support, and direct representation.

Promoting economic justice for working class and low-income residents by helping clients obtain or maintain unemployment compensation, federal and state government benefits, including social security, disability, food and cash assistance, and Medicaid.

Ensuring low-income renters have safe, stable, and affordable places to live by helping renters maintain their home, improve their living conditions, and assert their rights in eviction proceedings.

Supporting veterans and their families through holistic legal services, as well as collaborations for supportive services with local honor courts, VA hospitals, and veteran services commission offices.

Expanding CLA’s capacity for protecting the legal rights of working class and low-income people through partnerships with private attorneys, law firms, and corporate counsel offices.