Community Legal Aid (CLA) is the civil legal aid program serving the low-income and elderly residents of Central and Western Massachusetts. Through CLA’s effective advocacy in more than 8,000 cases each year, some of the most vulnerable residents of the region obtain safe and stable housing; access unemployment, disability and other benefits to stabilize their income; break free from domestic violence and other abuse and exploitation; and get needed services in school. In addition, CLA’s wholly-owned subsidiary, the Central West Justice Center (CWJC), specializes in cases involving humanitarian-based immigration relief.

Applicants should indicate whether they prefer any specific practice areas:

• Family Law: Assist clients, primarily survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, with the full range of domestic relations cases, including divorce, restraining orders, child custody and parenting time, and child support.
• Elder Law: Assist clients age 60 or older with cases involving access to benefits and healthcare; consumer credit issues; elder abuse, including financial and physical abuse by caretakers and/or family members; housing issues; and family law issues.
• Immigration Law (CWJC): Assist immigrants in removal proceedings and help clients apply for relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and for other forms of relief including U and T visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and asylum.
• Benefits Law: Assist clients with social security; cash assistance; SNAP (food stamps); and health care benefits.
• Employment Law: Assist low-wage workers with unemployment claims and with issues in the workplace involving compensation, leave, and discrimination.
• Re-entry Law: Assist formerly incarcerated persons overcome the barriers posed by their involvement with the criminal court system, including challenging housing and employment denials and sealing and expunging criminal records.
• Education Law: Assist children with special needs and other at-risk students access appropriate services in school; challenge expulsions and suspensions, including monitoring disproportionate discipline experienced by students of color; and work on systemic issues including language access for English Language Learners and their families.
• Housing and Homelessness Law: Assist advocates handling eviction defense, fair housing, shelter access, and subsidy access cases for tenants.

CLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. CLA encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

• You must be a 3L at an ABA-accredited law school to apply.