Founded in 1985 as a referral organization, CLS started out by matching low-income residents of Prince George’s County with attorneys offering free legal advice. Since then, it has expanded exponentially, and now operates several walk-in clinics across the county. Staff and volunteer attorneys provide, in English and Spanish, free, brief legal advice to individuals with a variety of needs – whether the client is a domestic violence survivor pursuing a protective order, a day laborer seeking unpaid wages, a tenant who missed a rental payment, or a family facing foreclosure. And for just $25, those meeting income requirements can apply for a referral to receive full legal representation at no cost. Last year, CLS assisted in over 9,900 cases, but in today’s economy, demand far exceeds supply. Your support can help secure justice for even more of our deserving neighbors.

COVID-19 Update: With offices and clinics closed, CLS staff continued to work remotely, expanding hours of intake and legal advice. In addition to providing remote and in-person representation in Peace and Protective Order cases, new COVID-19 initiatives such as Tenant Tuesdays (updates regarding Prince George's County District Court re-opening phases and tenant rights) and Table Talk Thursdays (information on family law matters including guardianship of minors and custody) were created. A free, five-part legal webinar series – on Domestic Violence Abuse, Foreclosure Bankruptcy, Rent Court, Wills & Power of Attorney, and Advanced Medical Directives & Guardianship – is also available in both English and Spanish to all income-eligible residents in the County.

Headquarters: MD-Prince George's County

Where They Operate: MD-Prince George's County; Langley Park; Upper Marlboro; All of Prince George's County

Ethnic Groups Served: African American; Asian American; Caucasian; Latino/Hispanic; Native American; Other

Population(s) Served: All

Awards & Recognition

n/a

Press

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Budget (FY0)

  • $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

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Each year 120 expert reviewers evaluate applicants for distinction, merit, and impact. Each featured charity has been successfully site visited and its financials given the thumbs up. The Catalogue for Philanthropy charges no fees and raises funds separately to support its work. Since 2003, it has raised over $40 million for charities across the Greater Washington region.

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