Proposed Regulations Threaten to Undermine Occupational Licensing Reform Law

During the height of the pandemic in 2020, the Pennsylvania General Assembly made a priority of approving Act 53, known as the occupational licensing reform bill.  The bill was guided to passage by bipartisan lead sponsors and supported by both conservative and liberal advocates, including the PA Chamber.  The goal of all concerned was obvious:…

New CLS Report Uncovers Glaring Inequities in the SSA System

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are critical lifelines for millions of people with disabilities. However, more than a decade of underfunding has made it extraordinarily difficult for people to access the vital benefits they need to survive. Applicants and beneficiaries must navigate woefully inadequate interpretation services, an outdated phone system,…

How Is That Legal? A new podcast from CLS

How many times have you encountered an injustice that shocked you so much that you wondered, “How in the world could this possibly be legal?”   Well, that’s exactly why we at Community Legal Services created our new podcast, “How Is That Legal?”. With help from our host, CLS Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Kee Tobar,…

Photo of Howard Lesnick

Remembering Howard Lesnick

Howard Lesnick was a pioneer and inspiration for many, and changed how we think of legal education.   In the mid-60s, Howard was the ideal law professor for young aspiring Penn law students to have as a teacher and mentor. As the welfare rights movement emerged amidst a larger civil rights movement and War on…