Report: Breaking Down Barriers to Record Clearing – A Survey of the Field
Clearing criminal records can be life-changing, leading to employment, higher wages, housing, educational opportunities, and more. For the one in…
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Testimony in Support of Improving the Unemployment Compensation System in Pennsylvania
CLS Litigation Director Sharon Dietrich submitted the following testimony before the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee on March 10,…
Have a Criminal Record? This New Law May Help You Get Work in Pennsylvania
Many people in Pennsylvania have trained for a career, or have thought about pursuing a new profession, only to be…
Good News: Extended Unemployment and More in Stimulus Bill
A piece of good news for people who are unemployed! Congress passed a COVID relief bill which extends emergency unemployment…
CLS Releases Recommendations for the Biden-Harris Administration
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), one of the largest and most respected legal services programs in the nation, congratulates…
PA General Assembly Unanimously Expands Criminal Record Sealing By Removing Court Debt and Other Barriers
On Wednesday, October 21st 2020, the Pennsylvania General Assembly unanimously enacted House Bill 440 (Delozier, R-Cumberland, and McClinton, D-Philadelphia), a…
Financial Support for Working Parents Who Need Childcare During COVID-19
Working parents may be eligible for paid time off to care for children who are stuck at home because of…
Using Innovation to Address Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System
Reflections from CLS Deputy Director of Operations and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Brenda Marrero on racial injustice.
PA General Assembly Enacts Bipartisan Economic Recovery Bill, Removing Criminal Record Barriers to Occupational Licensing
On June 24 2020, the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 637 (DiSanto, R-Dauphin/Perry and Schwank, D-Berks), which reforms occupational licensing…
Testimony in Support of Creating Leave for Public Health Emergencies in Philadelphia
Women’s Law Project (WLP) Managing Attorney Terry L. Fromson submitted the following testimony on behalf of WLP and Community Legal…
Gig Workers’ & Contractors’ Rights and COVID-19
Información en Español Printable flyer Great news! A new unemployment benefit called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) is available to workers…
Los Derechos de los Trabajadores Independientes y contratistas y COVID-19
Haga clic aquí para descargar el folleto ¡Buenas noticias! … Un nuevo beneficio de desempleo que se llama Asistencia por…
Report: The Application for Pennsylvania Pandemic Unemployment Assistance has Problems. Here’s How to Fix Them.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) was passed by Congress as part of the CARES Act to provide unemployment compensation (UC) benefits…
Los Derechos de los Trabajadores Inmigrantes y COVID-19
Haga clic aquí para descargar el folleto Los Trabajadores Inmigrantes tiene derecho a: Un Lugar de Trabajo Saludable y Seguro…
Frequently Asked Questions: Returning to Work During Coronavirus
Need help deciding if you can or should return to work? Use our checklist to find out what your rights…
Report: Pennsylvania Clean Slate: Delivering on Its Promises
Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate law, Act 56 of 2018, was passed to bring criminal record sealing to scale by the use…
