Of Counsel George D. Gould is an Of Counsel Attorney in the Energy Unit at Community Legal Services. He previously managed the Energy and Housing Units. He joined the staff at Community Legal Services as a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow in 1970. The Housing Unit provides representation in housing cases, including landlord/tenant and public housing.…
Divisional Supervising Attorney Mr. Ballenger is a Divisional Supervising Attorney for CLS’s Energy Unit, where he works to restore and maintain clients’ access to essential utilities. Mr. Ballenger has been admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania since 2004, in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania since 2011 and in the United States…
Supervising Attorney Seth Lyons (he/him) is a Supervising Attorney in the CLS Employment Unit. He began his work at CLS as a Berkeley Law Public Interest Fellow. Seth’s current work focuses on representing low-wage immigrant workers and reducing barriers to employer for people with criminal records through record clearing, individual representation, and systemic advocacy. He…
Senior Attorney Brendan Lynch started at CLS in 1998 as an Independence Foundation fellow in the Public Benefits unit. From 2000 – 2001 he clerked for the Honorable Petrese B. Tucker of the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Following his clerkship, he returned to work at CLS. In 2006,…
Senior Attorney Nadia Hewka (she/her) is a Senior Attorney in the Employment Law Project, in the Workers Rights and Advocacy Project. She has developed specializations in representation of immigrant workers, sexual harassment, and retaliation. She has successfully argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Her advocacy work has centered on issues of concern for low wage…
Jamie Gullen Managing Attorney – Employment Unit Jamie Gullen is the Managing Attorney of the Employment Unit and Youth Justice Project at Community Legal Services. Ms. Gullen began her career at CLS as a law student intern in 2010, and was awarded a Penn Law fellowship sponsored by the Langer, Grogan, and Diver law…
Litigation Director Sharon Dietrich has been an attorney with the Employment Unit of Community Legal Services, Philadelphia, since 1987. She became CLS’ Managing Attorney for Public Benefits and Employment in 1997, and its Litigation Director in 2014. Ms. Dietrich represents low-income Philadelphians in employment matters, with the goals of removing employment barriers, preserving jobs, and…
Supervising Attorney Pamela Walz is a Supervising Attorney in the Health and Independence Unit at CLS. Ms. Walz’s practice includes representation of older adults and younger individuals with disabilities in matters involving nursing home and personal care home residents’ rights, access to home and community based long term services and supports, public benefits and guardianship,…
Of Counsel Amy Hirsch is Of Counsel at Community Legal Services. Prior to her retirement, she served as the Managing Attorney for the CLS Health and Independence Unit. In her positions at CLS, Ms. Hirsch has worked on state and federal civil litigation and policy advocacy with particular concentrations on welfare, health, and food stamps;…
