Community Legal Services, Inc.

Employment Project
Philadelphia, PA

This is the 2024 fellowship description for this mentor organization. This position has been filled.

Established in the early 1970's, the Employment Project of Community. Legal Services of Philadelphia is at the forefront of the cutting-edge advocacy issues for low-wage workers. With its ten employment lawyers and 17 employment unit staff members, CLS is one of the few legal services programs in the country with expertise in employment law. The following are some of the ways in which CLS conducts its pioneering work:

  • Legal and policy advocacy to advance the rights of people with criminal and child abuse records who are unfairly locked out of employment opportunities;
     
  • Combatting the exploitation of low-wage workers particularly through fighting wage theft, with a focus on workers who are immigrants;
     
  • Community engagement, including conducting "Know Your Rights" workshops and operating a community-based expungement clinic program;
     
  • Advocacy concerning the operations of the unemployment compensation system;
     
  • Advocacy to advance policies that benefit workers, including raising the minimum wage, fair scheduling, paid sick leave, and more;
     
  • Representation of low wage workers in traditional employment law matters, including those under the Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII, and more.

The Peggy Browning Fellow working with CLS's Employment Unit can anticipate joining efforts on these and other issues. The Fellow will assist on individual cases which include a great deal of client contact. Additionally, there will be exposure to activities in the area of public advocacy and community engagement. The criteria for selecting a Peggy Browning Fellow are: interest in and ability to work directly with low-income individuals; commitment to racial equity; flexibility to learn new areas of law and a wide array of advocacy tasks; and strong research and writing skills. Background in employment law, while not required, is preferred. Ability to speak a language other than English is also preferred.

The total ten-week stipend for this fellowship will be $7,000.

Address cover letter to: 

Rhiannon DiClemente, Esq.
Community Legal Services, Inc.
1424 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102

www.clsphila.org