Community Legal Aid

Community Legal Aid Free civil legal help for low-income and elderly residents of central and western Mass. www.communit Community Legal Aid, Inc.

(CLA) provides free civil legal services to low-income and elderly residents of central and western Massachusetts. Regardless of how much money you have, we assure fairness for all in the justice system, protecting homes, livelihoods, health, and families. We are unique – no other organization provides these legal services in the communities we serve.

Community Legal Aid's Family Law Pro Bono Judicial Seminar returns to Western Massachusetts! Thursday, June 25, 2026, 2 ...
06/15/2026

Community Legal Aid's Family Law Pro Bono Judicial Seminar returns to Western Massachusetts!

Thursday, June 25, 2026, 2 PM to 5 pm
Summit View Restaurant, 555 Northampton Street (Route 5), Holyoke, MA

Join Community Legal Aid’s Pro Bono Program for an exclusive conversation with the Probate and Family Court Justices of Western Massachusetts. Moderated by the Hon. Richard Simons and Attorney Kelly Koch of Raipher, P.C., the panel will discuss topics of interest in family law.

Panelists:
Hon. David Dacyczyn
Hon. Dana Doyle
Hon. Ellen Randle
Hon. Kathleen Sandman
Hon. Bernadette Stark
Hon. Claudine Stoudemire
Hon. Diana Velez-Harris

Register: https://communitylegal.org/event/family-law-seminar/

06/14/2026

Community Legal Aid's annual Access to Justice Campaign raises $103,000 from residents of Franklin and Hampshire counties, providing free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families.

Community Legal Aid was thrilled to be able to celebrate CLA Springfield Managing Attorney Corrine Ryan at BusinessWest'...
06/13/2026

Community Legal Aid was thrilled to be able to celebrate CLA Springfield Managing Attorney Corrine Ryan at BusinessWest's 40 Under 40 awards this Thursday! Ryan was one of the 40 local leaders honored for their contributions to their communities.

"Since becoming Managing Attorney of Community Legal Aid's Springfield office, Corrine Ryan has led several new initiatives, including the Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA) Medical Legal Partnership, a collaboration between CLA attorneys and CCA medical staff that gave critical legal help in 350 cases to poor and elderly patients presenting with health-harming legal needs between 2022 and 2025, as well as the Family Preservation Project, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary team that helps families with open child welfare investigations, with the goal of keeping families intact.

'It’s an access-to-justice gap, really, and we try to fill that gap by providing representation to people who can’t afford attorneys,' Ryan said, adding that one of her biggest challenges is coping with the reality that CLA must turn away half the people who apply for help because it simply doesn’t have the capacity."

Pictured: CLA Executive Director Jonathan Mannina and CLA Deputy Director Faye Rachlin with CLA Managing Attorney Corrine Ryan at the 40 Under 40 awards on June 11th, 2026.

Despite being illegal, discrimination against people with disabilities remains pervasive. In a recent case settled by Co...
06/11/2026

Despite being illegal, discrimination against people with disabilities remains pervasive. In a recent case settled by Community Legal Aid, the organization helped a group of tenants fight back against disability-based housing discrimination.

CLA represented six individuals, all of whom are low-income people with disabilities, in a case against the owners and managers of the large housing complex where they lived.

Among many detailed allegations about the complex's failure to recognize and protect the rights of tenants with disabilities, CLA's complaint alleged that the defendants violated the tenants’ rights by failing to provide reliable elevator access. On several occasions, these long-lasting elevator outages left tenants stranded on upper floors of the high-rise building or stranded in the lobby and unable to return to their apartments or access bathrooms.

After over two years of litigation, CLA recently reached a comprehensive settlement in this case. As part of the court-approved settlement agreement, the housing complex agreed to widespread changes that will impact all of its residents, including providing its employees with training on federal and state anti-discrimination laws. CLA’s attorneys will also monitor Lincoln Village for two years to avoid potential further discrimination against other disabled and elderly residents.

Michelin C. Cahill, Senior Supervising Attorney for CLA’s Fair Housing Project, noted,

“In this case, our six plaintiffs bravely came forward to ensure their neighbors didn’t face the same discrimination that they had. Through this lawsuit they demanded safety and dignity in their housing and for their neighbors.”

[Pictured: One of the clients in this case, Jacquie Ormo (center) with two CLA Staff Attorney Taylor Largmann (left) and CLA Senior Supervising Attorney Michelin Cahill (right).]

Make a Justice in June gift to Community Legal Aid TODAY and ensure dignity and justice for our neighbors. Link in the comments.

Community Legal Aid's Fitchburg, Northampton, and Pittsfield offices got in the spirit yesterday, helping to get out t...
06/11/2026

Community Legal Aid's Fitchburg, Northampton, and Pittsfield offices got in the spirit yesterday, helping to get out the word about CLA's important work! Staff from across Central and Western Massachusetts shared their "why" for participating in this year's Justice in June Giving Days.

🗨️ "Access to legal advocacy is a human right, not a financial privilege." -- Caela Hall, CLA Staff Attorney, Fitchburg

🗨️ "YOUR support makes MY work possible." -- Ashley Stone, CLA Coordinating Case Manager, Northampton

🗨️ "The love of justice in not enough." -- Raquel Manzanares, CLA Staff Attorney, Northampton

🗨️ "I support my local communities." -- Jenna Johnson, CLA Development Intern, Northampton

🗨️ "Equal access to justice matters." -- Jen Dieringer, CLA Managing Attorney, Northampton/Greenfield

🗨️ "I believe in equality for all!" -- Carrie Love, CLA Managing Attorney, Pittsfield

Have you made your 2026 Justice in June gift yet? If so, let us know your reason for supporting Justice in June for CLA!

Haven't made a gift yet? No problem! Head over to the Justice in June giving page to learn more and make your gift. Link in the comments!

06/10/2026

Board Member Janea Bunn was generous enough to share a little bit more about the reason she is such an advocate for Community Legal Aid.

"CLA fought for me at a time when I wasn't even able to fight for myself. I was going through a really rough and rocky divorce [while caring for] a days old newborn. Community Legal Aid really stepped in and guided me along the way. They took care of everything. I am forever grateful to CLA for what they've done not only for me but for my child. He is now six, living a full healthy, happy life. I couldn't have done it, I really couldn't have done it without CLA."

Now, a member of CLA's board of Directors, Janea is working to ensure that CLA remains a resource for our communities for decades to come.

To make a gift to Community Legal Aid, head over to our website or Justice in June Giving Page! Already made a gift? You can help us spread the word about Community Legal Aid by posting a short video like Janae's and tagging us in the caption.

Let us know - What's YOUR reason for supporting Community Legal Aid this ?

06/10/2026

Hector* worked as a forklift operator at a large chain store for over twenty years before going out on medical leave. Due to a misunderstanding about the number of sick days he had accrued, Hector was fired for absenteeism. After applying for unemployment benefits, he suffered a debilitating stroke that left him unable to work or communicate verbally.

Although he could not work after the stroke, Hector had been able to work from the time he was fired until he had his stroke, and he was legally entitled to unemployment benefits for this period. Unfortunately, the Department of Unemployment Assistance erroneously denied those benefits.

Having missed the deadline to appeal Hector’s denial of benefits, his family reached out to CLA and were connected with Community Legal Aid Employment Law Attorney Madison O’Brien.

Attorney O’Brien worked closely with Hector’s daughter to prepare for several hearings related to Hector’s benefits. At each hearing, Attorney O’Brien carefully and patiently explained to the review examiners why her client’s daughter was speaking on Hector’s behalf, and also why Hector met the various requirements for unemployment benefits. Attorney O’Brien also argued that after Hector had suffered his stroke, he was eligible for three weeks of illness benefits, a benefit that does not require the person to be capable of working.

Throughout this nearly year-long process, Attorney O’Brien prevailed on Hector’s behalf at all of the hearings. Thanks to her diligent advocacy, Hector was awarded retroactive benefits for all the weeks that he was owed, benefits that were much needed as he continued recovering from his stroke.

*Pseudonym used to protect client privacy

Make a Justice in June gift to Community Legal Aid TODAY and ensure access to justice for our neighbors, like Hector!

06/10/2026

JUSTICE IN JUNE STARTS TODAY!!

Join us for Community Legal Aid’s Justice in June Giving Days on June 10 & 11, 2026!

For over 7 decades, Community Legal Aid and its predecessor organizations have been protecting families from homelessness, stabilizing household incomes, supporting survivors fleeing domestic violence, and helping our elders and veterans access the services they are entitled to.

As we reflect on 75 years defending liberty and justice for all, we stand steadfast in our support of the individuals and families we serve. But, we need your help!

Participate in Justice in June by:

👛 Making a gift to CLA. Already donated this year? Consider making a special Justice in June gift or set up a monthly commitment to CLA.

💬 Spread the word about CLA’s life-changing work! Share the Justice in June giving page (link in bio) with your friends, family, and followers. Add a personal note about why CLA is important to you and our communities.

06/09/2026

Client ↗️ Board Member

Community Legal Aid Board Member Janea Bunn first found out about Community Legal Aid when she desperately needed help with a serious family law issue. Her CLA Attorney helped her navigate the legal system to obtain the outcomes and protections that she and her young child needed.

Now a member of the Board of Directors for Community Legal Aid, Janea is passionate about educating the public about the importance of CLA's services. She's joining us for Justice in June 2026 and says, "I think that everyone should support this organization because they are fighting for people who cannot fight for themselves."

ABOUT JUSTICE IN JUNE:

For over 75 years, Community Legal Aid and its predecessor organizations have been protecting families from homelessness, stabilizing household incomes, supporting survivors fleeing domestic violence, and helping our elders and veterans access the services they are entitled to.

By joining us for Justice in June Giving Days on June 10th and 11th, 2026, you can help us raise funds and awareness to ensure that CLA is here to stand up for our most vulnerable community members for decades to come.

Learn more, make a gift, or help CLA spread the word about Justice in June by visiting the Justice in June Giving Page or CLA website.

Address

Community Legal Aid Administrative Offices, 370 Main Street, Suite 200
Worcester, MA
01608

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18552525342

Website

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