Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

What Community Legal Services of Philadelphia does

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit civil legal aid organization founded in 1966, headquartered at 1424 Chestnut Street in Center City, with a second office at 1410 W. Erie Avenue in North Philadelphia. The organization provides free legal representation, advice, and administrative advocacy to approximately 13,000 low-income Philadelphia residents annually whose household income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty line. Its service portfolio spans eight practice areas — public benefits, employment, housing, debt and consumer rights, utilities, family law, criminal records, and seniors — supported by specialized projects including the Youth Justice Project (ages 16–24, operated jointly with Philadelphia Legal Assistance), the Rowhouse Protection Project, the Medical-Legal Partnership (embedded with PHMC's Rising Sun Health Center and CHOP's Karabots Pediatric Care Center), and the Clean Slate record-clearing program with an online self-service screener.

CLS's underlying technology is limited to operational and service-delivery tools rather than a proprietary software platform: a Clean Slate online screener that automates Pennsylvania criminal record screening, a virtual intake form for the Youth Justice Project, phone hotlines, and an interdisciplinary legal-plus-social-work service model. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, supported by a Leadership Council and the Justice Rising Advocates young-professional network, and led by an Executive Director (Debby Freedman) with a C-suite including COO, CFO, and a Chief Culture and Opportunity Officer, plus managing attorneys across each practice unit.

The business model is a charitable-donation nonprofit: CLS generates no revenue from client fees (services are free to eligible clients) and instead relies on individual donations, law-firm and corporate contributions through the annual Bar Campaign (over $500,000 raised in 2025), cy pres and legal settlement awards, United Way workplace giving, and likely government and foundation grants. Nationally recognized as a model legal services program, CLS combines direct individual representation with systemic class-action and policy advocacy, and in 2026 is marking its 60th anniversary of operation.

Name

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

Legal name

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

Website

https://clsphila.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1966 that provides free civil legal aid across eight practice areas to approximately 13,000 low-income Philadelphia residents annually, supported by donations, the Bar Campaign, and embedded Medical-Legal Partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Social Assistance (624), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Public Defense & Legal Aid Services (BPAIAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA), Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN)

Keywords

• Civil legal aid
• Nonprofit legal services
• Public benefits law
• Housing legal assistance
• Criminal record clearing

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: CLS operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 23-1671562) that relies on charitable donations from individuals, law firms, and businesses. The Bar Campaign raised over $500,000 in 2025.
2. Bar Campaign Fundraising: Annual fundraising campaign through the Leadership Council that raises critical funds from Philadelphia law firms and businesses
3. Cy Pres and Legal Awards: CLS receives funds from cy pres awards and legal settlements
4. United Way and Workplace Giving: Accepts donations through United Way workplace giving campaigns

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia provides free civil legal assistance to low-income Philadelphia residents (household income at or below 125% of the federal poverty line) across eight core practice areas: Public Benefits, Employment, Housing, Debt and Consumer Rights, Utilities, Family Law, Criminal Records, and Seniors. The organization also operates specialized projects — the Youth Justice Project for ages 16–24, the Rowhouse Protection Project, Medical-Legal Partnerships embedded in healthcare settings, Right to Counsel, and the Clean Slate criminal record-clearing program — delivered through two physical offices, hotlines, and an automated online Clean Slate Screener.

Product overview

Community Legal Services (CLS) of Philadelphia is a nonprofit civil legal aid organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of legal services, not a software product company. CLS provides free legal assistance to low-income Philadelphians through multiple service areas including Public Benefits, Employment, Housing, Debt & Consumer Rights, Utilities, Family Law, Criminal Records, and Seniors services. The organization also operates specialized projects including the Youth Justice Project for young adults ages 16-24, the Rowhouse Protection Project for construction-related housing damage, and the Medical-Legal Partnership embedding advocates in healthcare settings. CLS operates a Clean Slate program with an online screener tool for Pennsylvania criminal record clearing. The organization serves approximately 13,000 clients annually through direct representation, administrative advocacy, and class action litigation, with services delivered via two physical office locations and hotlines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clean Slate: A record clearing project helping Pennsylvanians seal their criminal records under Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law.
• Rowhouse Protection Project
• MyCleanSlate

Products and services

• Civil Legal Assistance Services Free civil legal assistance to low-income Philadelphians including legal representation, advice, administrative advocacy, and community education across multiple practice areas.
• Public Benefits Services Assistance with SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, Medicare, SSI/Social Security, LIHEAP, cash assistance, child care subsidies, WIC, and other public benefits programs.
• Employment Services Legal assistance with employment issues including wage claims, employment discrimination, workers with criminal records, disability accommodations, immigrant workers, and unemployment compensation appeals.
• Housing Services Representation for tenants in eviction cases, private rental housing issues, subsidized housing, mortgage and foreclosure prevention, property tax assistance, and code enforcement.
• Debt and Consumer Rights Services Legal help with bankruptcy, consumer scams, credit issues, debt collection, payday loans, and student loans.
• Utilities Services Assistance with affordable utility bills, prevention of gas/electric/water shutoffs, weatherization, and participation in water rate cases.
• Family Law Services Legal representation for parents in DHS cases, domestic violence resources, and referrals for divorce, custody, and child support matters.
• Criminal Records Services Help with record clearing through expungement, sealing, and pardon processes, including the Clean Slate initiative for Pennsylvania residents.
• Seniors Services Legal assistance for seniors including estate recovery program, guardianship issues, nursing home care, personal care homes, and wills/estate planning.
• Youth Justice Project Free legal help for young people ages 16-24 addressing criminal/juvenile records, family issues, public benefits, housing, and loans/debt.
• Rowhouse Protection Project Legal assistance for homeowners and renters facing damage from adjacent construction, including help with negotiations, complaints, zoning, and code enforcement issues.
• Medical-Legal Partnership Embedded legal advocates within healthcare settings (PHMC Rising Sun Health Center and CHOP Karabots Center) to address health-impacting legal issues like housing, utilities, and benefits.
• Clean Slate / MyCleanSlate (Automated Record Clearing Screening Service) Automated record clearing screening service for Pennsylvania residents to check eligibility for sealing criminal records under Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law via an online self-service screener that returns personalized screening results by email.
• Language Access Project Program ensuring CLS services are available to Philadelphia communities with limited English proficiency, addressing language barriers to benefits and access to justice.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped approximately 13,000 Philadelphians in the past year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) - Karabots Pediatric Care CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018CLS expanded its Medical-Legal Partnership in 2018 to CHOP's Karabots Pediatric Care Center in West Philadelphia, the largest pediatric primary care center in the country treating over 30,000 patients annually.
• Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) - Rising Sun Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014CLS's first Medical-Legal Partnership launched in 2014 with PHMC's Rising Sun Health Center in Olney, serving a low-income and diverse immigrant population. Legal advocates work alongside doctors, nurse practitioners, and social workers to address health-harming legal issues.
• Philadelphia Legal AssistancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between Philadelphia Legal Assistance and Community Legal Services to operate the Youth Justice Project, providing holistic legal services to young people ages 16-24.
• Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L+I)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLS works with Philadelphia L+I on code enforcement issues related to third-party development affecting rowhouse homeowners.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• LegalServer: Case management and technology platform provider serving legal aid organizations nationally; adjacent enabling technology provider whose tools (e.g., intake, case management) support legal aid operations similar to CLS's service-delivery infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Public Counsel: Largest pro bono public interest law firm in the United States, serving low-income Los Angeles residents across civil legal services and impact litigation; directly comparable full-spectrum service model and advocacy approach.
• Legal Aid of North Carolina: Statewide civil legal aid provider serving low-income North Carolinians across housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and employment law; comparable mission and service scope.
• The Legal Aid Society (New York City): The nation's largest civil legal aid organization; provides free legal services to low-income New Yorkers across housing, family, public benefits, employment, and consumer law — directly comparable mission and service portfolio to CLS.
• Maryland Legal Aid: Statewide civil legal aid organization serving low-income Maryland residents; provides direct representation across housing, family, public benefits, and consumer law — comparable to CLS's full-spectrum service portfolio.
• Atlanta Legal Aid Society: Provides free civil legal services to low-income residents of metro Atlanta across housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and employment law; directly comparable mission, scale, and service mix to CLS Philadelphia.
• Philadelphia Legal Assistance: Philadelphia's other major civil legal aid provider; shares overlapping boards, collaborates with CLS on the Youth Justice Project, and serves a similar low-income Philadelphia client base across civil legal matters.
• Greater Boston Legal Services: Major civil legal aid provider serving low-income residents of Greater Boston across housing, family, public benefits, and consumer law; operates a similar Medical-Legal Partnership model and serves as a comparable institutional peer.
• Bay Area Legal Aid: Provides free civil legal services to low-income residents across the San Francisco Bay Area; operates multiple MLPs and serves a comparable urban low-income client base with a similar practice-area mix.
• Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights: Chicago-based civil rights and legal aid organization providing direct representation, policy advocacy, and impact litigation; comparable to CLS's combination of direct services and systemic advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CLSphila
• Facebookfacebook.com/clsphila
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clsphila
• Instagraminstagram.com/CLSphila

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Legal Services of Philadelphia