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clsphila.bsky.social
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
@clsphila.bsky.social
820 followers 170 following 230 posts
Our mission is to fight poverty, challenge systems that perpetuate injustice, and change lives through cutting-edge advocacy & exceptional legal representation.

www.clsphila.org
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clsphila.bsky.social
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia @clsphila.bsky.social · Nov 20
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
clsphila.bsky.social
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
clsphila.bsky.social
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.
Group photo of CLS staff celebrating Louise Hayes's award. Group photo of Executive Director Debby Freedman and former Executive Director Cathy Carr celebrating Louise Hayes's award.
November 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
clsphila.bsky.social
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.”
The panelists pose for a photo. Mary Welch, Northwest Justice Project; Marilyn Lovo, Ayuda; Chi-Ser Tran, Community Legal Services; Jailine Aparicio, Maryland Legal Aid
November 13, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
economicarch.bsky.social
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...
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
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
legalaidsepa.bsky.social
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
From left: Debby Freedman, Executive Director of Community Legal Services of Philadelphia; Lori Molloy, Executive Director of North Penn Legal Services (NPLS); Meredith Rapkin, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.; and Shawn Boeheringer, Executive Director of Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP). Shawn Boehringer; Carolyn Johnson, LASP Chief Counsel; Laurel Anderson, LASP Community Engagement Unit Supervising Attorney; and Richard A.J. Prebil, LASP Veterans Advocacy Project Supervising Attorney. Kesha James, Executive Director of the Management Information Exchange (MIE), with Shawn Boehringer. Kesha is also a member of LASP's Board of Directors and a LASP alumna. Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. staff and alum.
October 31, 2025 at 8:59 PM
clsphila.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...
Lanique Roberts's headshot
October 22, 2025 at 3:47 PM
clsphila.bsky.social
TODAY is the deadline to apply for the Low Income Tax Freeze and Senior Citizen Tax Freeze!
clsphila.bsky.social Community Legal Services of Philadelphia @clsphila.bsky.social · Sep 11
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...
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
clsphila.bsky.social
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
clsphila.bsky.social
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.
Pennsylvania Prison Society Affordable Rides to Pennsylvania State Correctional Facilities Starting October 2025 Visits Matter Seeing your loved one face-to-face can mean everything. That’s why we offer low-cost, reliable bus rides from Philadelphia to four state prisons—SCI Benner, SCI Frackville, SCI Manahoy, and SCI Muncy—to help families stay connected. When you ride with us, you can expect: Low-cost tickets; Comfortable, safe rides; Visiting slots guaranteed on your travel day—no separate Keystone booking. Purchase tickets here: www.prisonsociety.org/services/transportation Get in touch: 215-564-4775, helpline@prisonsociety.org
September 23, 2025 at 6:15 PM
clsphila.bsky.social
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!
clsphila.bsky.social Community Legal Services of Philadelphia @clsphila.bsky.social · Sep 11
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...
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
clsphila.bsky.social
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...
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
clsphila.bsky.social
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.
Graphic with the CLS logo on a navy blue background. Large text in a white banner reads: Applications Open! Text in the middle reads: Summer Law Student Internship Program. Smaller text at the bottom reads: Interns will receive exceptional training and the opportunity to work with some of the most talented legal minds in civil legal services. Find out more and apply at clsphila.org/careers
September 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
clsphila.bsky.social
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.
Mira Sydow presenting to a room of people. Mira Sydow posing for a photo with Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson.
September 4, 2025 at 2:26 PM
clsphila.bsky.social
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.
Lydia Gottesfeld, Councilmember Rue Landau, Maripat Pileggi, Louise Hayes, and Debby Freedman pose for a group photo in front of the training session slideshow. Group of people sitting and standing around a conference room table for the SNAP changes training session.
September 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM
clsphila.bsky.social
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
Graphic of an internet browser window. The search bar says: clear my record. The text in the window says: Find out if you may be able to get your record cleared to open the door to new employment opportunities! Get started: mycleanslatepa.com. If you rrecord 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 on their website: bop.pa.gov
September 3, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social
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
This is an informational graphic with a white background. At the top, the outline of a lightbulb appears in dark blue with light blue rays shining outward. Below it, large dark blue text reads “RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT,” followed by a thin horizontal blue line and the text “New SNAP Requirements.” The logos for Community Legal Services of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network are centered at the bottom.
August 21, 2025 at 10:27 PM
clsphila.bsky.social
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...
Public Policy Unpacked Live Webinar 8/21 1-2pm
August 20, 2025 at 6:43 PM
clsphila.bsky.social
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
Raise the Wage It’s 7/25 and the minimum wage in PA is still $7.25 Happy anniversary of the federal increase to the minimum wage. It’s been more than 15 years, it’s time for $15/hr now!
July 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social
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
This is an image of a mother and her young son outdoors in daytime. There is tall grass, wildflowers, and mountains in the background. The mother wears a purple shirt while her son wears a striped shirt, and they appear to be exploring and playing together in the meadow. White text over the image reads: 'Across all of Pennsylvania, families seeking civil legal aid can find help through our network.' The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network logo appears in white at the bottom.
July 22, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
jenniferkates.bsky.social
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.
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
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social
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.
This is an image of three human figures of different heights standing on platforms of varying sizes, allowing all three to reach the same level. Beneath the image, the text reads 'justice for all' accompanied by the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network logo.
July 1, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
clsphila.bsky.social
Protect Medicaid and SNAP from cuts. Call your Congress members today at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to reject work requirements!
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
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
clsphila.bsky.social
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
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
June 2, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
clsphila.bsky.social
Work requirements are just cuts by another name. They are expensive and unworkable. There is no surefire way to exempt older adults and people with disabilities from work requirements, so if there are SNAP work requirements, everyone on SNAP is at risk of losing their benefits.
Work requirements are just cuts by another name. They are expensive and unworkable. There is no surefire way to exempt older adults and people with disabilities from work requirements, so if there are SNAP work requirements, everyone on SNAP is at risk of losing their benefits.
June 2, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Reposted by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
clsphila.bsky.social
Most adults with these benefits already work. This will only:
• Add more burdensome paperwork.
• Add more red tape by forcing you to prove that you're working or unable to work.
• Overload county assistance offices, increasing your wait times.
• Result in you losing healthcare when you lose your job
Medicaid and SNAP Work Requirements are Cuts to Healthcare and Food Assistance. Most adults with these benefits already work. This will only: • Add more burdensome paperwork. • Add more red tape by forcing you to prove that you are working or are unable to work. • Overload county assistance offices with more work which will increase your wait times. • Result in you losing access to health care when you lose your job.
June 2, 2025 at 9:06 PM