Children's Law Center of Massachusetts

What Children's Law Center of Massachusetts does

Children's Law Center of Massachusetts (CLCM), legally Children's Law Center of MA, Inc., is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm founded in 1977 as the North Shore Children's Law Project and headquartered at 2 State Street in Lynn, Massachusetts. The organization provides free, client-directed legal representation to income-eligible children and youth ages 0-22 in Essex County and Greater Boston, organized into four core practice areas: Education, Family Integrity (foster care and CRA cases), Immigration, and Youth Justice (delinquency), with specialized programs including the Medical-Legal Partnership with MGB-Chelsea HealthCare Center, the Immigrant Children's Justice Project for unaccompanied minors, and the Civil Legal Aid to Victims of Crime (CLAVC) project. From July 2024 to July 2025, CLCM provided legal assistance to 549 youths across these practice areas.

CLCM operates a hybrid direct-service and systemic-advocacy model combining individual legal representation with strategic litigation and policy reform. Intake occurs through a statewide hotline (1-888-KIDLAW8), an online request form, and CPCS court appointments in Essex County juvenile courts. Attorneys are CPCS-certified and engage in science-based advocacy recognizing adolescent brain development. The organization couples casework with statewide technical assistance, peer-led Know Your Rights trainings, and amicus advocacy, most recently securing a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Gotay v. Creen establishing DCF's constitutional duty to children in its custody.

The organization is funded through a diversified mix of state appropriations via the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants through the U.S. Department of Justice, Massachusetts Bar Foundation and Boston Bar Foundation grants (including Adams Benefit proceeds), private foundation grants (Cummings, Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, Cabot Family Charitable Trust), corporate donations from law firms including Proskauer Rose and McDermott Will & Emery, and individual donors. CLCM employs approximately 20 staff including roughly a dozen attorneys, headed by Executive Director Jenny Chou (joined October 2023), with senior leadership including Co-Directors of Strategic Advocacy Lauren Russell and Alexis Williams Torrey, Managing Director of Innovation and Advocacy Claire Valentin, and Senior Attorney Emily Paradise.

Name

Children's Law Center of Massachusetts

Legal name

Children's Law Center of MA, Inc.

Website

https://clcm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Children's Law Center of Massachusetts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 that provides free, client-directed legal representation to income-eligible children and youth ages 0-22 in Essex County and Greater Boston across education, foster care, immigration, and juvenile justice matters, while engaging in strategic litigation and policy advocacy statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAM

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGABAG

Child Protection & Child Rights

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPAGAEAE

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYEDAAAFAI

Legal Literacy & Public Legal Education (Know Your Rights)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

Keywords

• Legal aid services
• Children's legal representation
• Immigration legal services
• Juvenile justice advocacy
• Education rights advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Lynn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Private Donations: Individual donors and private foundation grants provide significant funding support. CLCM is a 501(c)(3) charity.
2. State Funding: State funding sources including Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) and MA Office for Victim Assistance through state bridge funds.
3. Federal VOCA Grants: Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) grant from Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, and Human Trafficking and Drunk Driving Trust Funds.
4. Bar Foundation Grants: Funding from Massachusetts Bar Foundation, Boston Bar Foundation supporting legal aid operations.
5. Event Fundraising: Annual John & Abigail Adams Benefit fundraiser for Boston Bar Foundation raising over $1 million annually for civil legal aid organizations including CLCM.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Children's Law Center of Massachusetts provides free, client-directed legal representation and advocacy to low-income children and youth ages 0–22 across Massachusetts in four practice areas: Education, Immigration, Family Integrity (foster care and child welfare), and Youth Justice. Services include direct individual representation, technical assistance and training to professionals statewide, and strategic litigation and policy advocacy. The organization supplements these practice areas with specialized programs such as the Medical-Legal Partnership with Massachusetts General Brigham-Chelsea, the Immigrant Children's Justice Project, and the Civil Legal Aid to Victims of Crime (CLAVC) project.

Product overview

Children's Law Center of Massachusetts is a legal services nonprofit offering four integrated practice areas (Education, Family Integrity/Foster Care, Immigration, and Youth Justice) that provide zealous, client-directed legal representation to low-income children and youth ages 0-22. The organization operates specialized programs including the Medical-Legal Partnership with MGB-Chelsea for Chelsea students, the Immigrant Children's Justice Project for unaccompanied minors, and CLAVC for child crime victims. Services include direct legal representation, technical assistance, trainings, and systemic advocacy aimed at policy reform. The organization primarily serves Essex County and Greater Boston, with statewide reach for certain matters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP): A first-of-its-kind medical-legal partnership between CLCM and Massachusetts General Brigham-Chelsea HealthCare Center providing legal aid to children in Chelsea, Massachusetts who face barriers to educational access.
• Immigrant Children's Justice Project
• Civil Legal Aid to Victims of Crime (CLAVC)

Products and services

• Education Practice Advocacy for quality education for students in under-resourced districts, including representation in school discipline hearings, enrollment issues, disability-related matters, and systemic challenges to district policies. Conducts advocacy at schools, administrative bodies (BSEA, DESE), and in court on behalf of low-income children and youth.
• Immigration Practice Represents immigrant children and youth ages 0-22 in Northeastern MA eligible for immigration status and protection, including Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), asylum, DACA, TPS, U visas, and T visas. Prioritizes unaccompanied minors without a parent or legal guardian.
• Family Integrity Practice Zealous advocacy for children and youth living in foster care, those at risk of foster care placement, young adults aged 18-22 who have aged out of foster care, and youth in Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) cases in Essex County courts.
• Youth Justice Practice Zealous, client-directed representation for children and youth in delinquency matters at trial level in Essex County and at appellate level statewide. Attorneys are CPCS-certified and use science-based advocacy recognizing adolescent brain development.
• Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) with MGB-Chelsea First-of-its-kind partnership with Massachusetts General Brigham-Chelsea HealthCare Center providing legal aid to children in Chelsea facing educational barriers or school exclusion risk, with focus on special education disputes, school discipline, enrollment issues, and homelessness.
• Immigrant Children's Justice Project Centralized holistic advocacy program for unaccompanied immigrant minors and immigrant children who are victims of serious trauma, handling immigration, education, and family law/custody matters.
• Civil Legal Aid to Victims of Crime (CLAVC) Provides legal assistance to child victims of crime who have suffered violence, intimidation, threats, or similar offensive actions, funded by a Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance grant.

Quantifiable outcome

• 549 youths provided legal assistance from July 2024 to July 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• End the SIJS Backlog Coalition - Youth Leadership CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Co-hosted peer-led Know Your Rights training for SIJS youth. Youth facilitators from Coalition's SIJS Youth Leadership Council led training on understanding SIJS status and navigating interactions with immigration authorities.
• Lynn Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2025In response to CLCM advocacy, Lynn School Committee voted to adopt revised policy honoring students' right to enroll in school until age 22, reversing exclusionary policy affecting newcomer and immigrant youth.
• End the SIJS Backlog CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2025CLCM is a proud member contributing expertise to co-author practice advisory on termination of SIJS Deferred Action Policy. Coalition includes End the SIJS Backlog Coalition, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), and other immigration advocacy organizations.
• Massachusetts State LegislaturecoreOthers · 31 July 2025FY2026 Massachusetts State Budget codified end of practice of diverting foster children's federal benefits to state's general fund, protecting benefits for approximately 600 foster children with disabilities or deceased parents.
• Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF)majorOthers · 1 May 2025CLCM advocated for legislative reform requiring DCF to stop diverting federal benefits from foster children. New law mandates DCF provide financial literacy education to children starting at age 14.
• Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2025CLCM co-authored amicus curiae brief in Gotay v. Creen with CPCS, arguing for constitutional rights of children in foster care. CPCS is the public defender agency in Massachusetts.
• Community Legal Aid / Family Preservation ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2025CLCM attorney Alexis Williams Torrey partnered with Community Legal Aid parent advocates to facilitate workshop on preventing family separation by DCF.
• Massachusetts General Brigham - Chelsea HealthCare Center (MGB-Chelsea)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) providing legal aid to children in Chelsea facing barriers to educational access or risk of school exclusion. MGB-Chelsea identifies patients in need and facilitates connections to CLCM's educational advocacy services.
• Center for Law and EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CLCM to urge Lynn Public Schools to repeal age-based exclusion policy.
• Citizens for Juvenile JusticemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CLCM in advocacy against Lynn Public Schools' exclusionary enrollment policy.
• EdLaw ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with CLCM on advocacy for educational rights of Lynn students and historically partner in education advocacy initiative.
• Massachusetts Advocates for ChildrenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in advocacy efforts for educational access and against exclusionary policies.
• Proskauer Rose LLPmajorOthersLaw firm supporter providing pro bono legal services and/or funding.
• McDermott Will & EmerymajorOthersLaw firm supporter providing pro bono legal services and/or funding.
• Pathways Family Resource CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Essex County's first annual Family Unification Celebration as part of National Family Reunification Month.
• MIRA CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnow Your Rights resources available in multiple languages through MIRA Coalition partnership for immigrant families and youth.
• Massachusetts Sickle Cell AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLCM participated as panelist at State of Sickle Cell Care in Massachusetts Symposium hosted by MSCA and partners.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): National nonprofit providing legal representation to unaccompanied immigrant children in immigration proceedings. KIND Boston — previously led by CLCM's current Managing Director Claire Valentin — directly overlaps with CLCM's Immigration Practice and Immigrant Children's Justice Project in case type, client population, and core service model.
• Community Legal Aid (Massachusetts): Massachusetts civil legal aid organization providing free legal services to low-income residents. CLCM partnered with Community Legal Aid's Family Preservation Project on DCF prevention workshops, and the two organizations share mission, funding sources (MLAC, IOLTA), and target populations in Central and Western MA.
• Massachusetts Advocates for Children: Statewide children's advocacy organization advancing educational rights and equitable access. CLCM has formally partnered with Mass Advocates for Children on the Lynn Public Schools age-exclusion policy campaign, and both organizations focus on education rights for low-income, immigrant, and disabled children in Massachusetts.
• Center for Law and Education (CLE): National nonprofit focused on education equity and special education rights for low-income students. CLE is a closely comparable organization to CLCM's Education Practice, and CLCM's Executive Director Jenny Chou previously served as Senior Attorney and Racial Justice Fellow at CLE.
• EdLaw Project: Massachusetts special education and education law project historically co-located with CLCM through 2018. EdLaw Project remains a direct comparable peer in education advocacy and continues to collaborate with CLCM on Lynn Public Schools advocacy.
• Citizens for Juvenile Justice: Massachusetts nonprofit advancing juvenile justice reform. CLCM partnered with CfJJ in advocating against Lynn Public Schools' exclusionary enrollment policy, and both organizations focus on youth affected by the juvenile justice and education systems.

Broad incumbents

• Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS): Massachusetts public defender agency whose Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division appoints CLCM attorneys to represent children in care and protection, delinquency, and related matters. CPCS is the broader institutional player CLCM is embedded within and certified by, with overlapping mandates in youth representation.
• Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS): Regional legal aid organization serving low-income clients across Greater Boston. GBLS is a comparable nonprofit legal aid provider in CLCM's geography, with overlapping service areas and several CLCM staff alumni having worked in GBLS's Asian Outreach and Immigration Units.
• Justice Resource Institute (JRI): Massachusetts-based human services nonprofit serving children, adolescents, and families across multiple practice areas. JRI is a comparable multi-program nonprofit operating in CLCM's service geography with overlapping client populations in child welfare and juvenile justice.
• National Center for Youth Law (NCYL): National nonprofit advancing justice for children through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and direct representation. NCYL is a comparable youth-focused legal services organization operating at a national scale, with overlapping priorities in child welfare, education equity, and immigrant youth rights.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Children's Law Center of Massachusetts