Community Legal Services (CLS) of Philadelphia is seeking a paralegal in its Employment Unit located at the 1424 Chestnut Street office location. CLS’s mission is to fight poverty, challenge systems that perpetuate injustice and change lives through cutting-edge advocacy and exceptional legal representation. CLS is recognized as one of the leading legal services programs in the country. We provide high quality direct legal representation, engage in systemic policy advocacy with the goal of effectuating broad-based change, and conduct community education and outreach.

CLS has several legal units providing free civil legal services to low-income Philadelphians. The Employment Unit’s work focuses on eliminating barriers to employment; fighting against worker exploitation; and ensuring workers receive the pay and benefits they are entitled to. The unit most commonly handles cases involving criminal record and child abuse record clearing; challenges to employer policies and state laws that overly restrict access to employment based on records; and wage theft and other forms of worker exploitation, especially for immigrant workers.

Summary of Position: 

This position is for a paralegal specializing in addressing barriers to employment caused by criminal records. Key job responsibilities include:

• Screening clients for eligibility for criminal record clearing and providing clients with advice or representation in the expungement, sealing, and pardon processes, under the supervision of attorneys.
• Drafting expungement, sealing, and court debt waiver motions to be reviewed and filed by an attorney supervisor; preparing clients for court appearances when needed.
• Advising clients about their rights under Fair Hiring laws and drafting demand letters to employers to help connect clients with employment.
• Community engagement via participating in our community-based record clearing clinic program, as well as other opportunities to engage in outreach with community partners.
• Assisting with other unit cases or work as needed.
• Paralegals in the employment unit carry their own high-volume caseloads under the supervision of an attorney supervisor.

CLS seeks applicants with the following qualifications:

• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, as well as attention to detail.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to learn and apply new and complex areas of the law to client situations.
• Commitment to working with diverse populations and advocating for racial and economic justice.
• Experience or interest working in partnership with grassroots and community-based organizations.
• Sound professional judgment.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest work.
• Experience using technology with an emphasis on Microsoft products (word, excel, Outlook, Sharepoint, OneDrive, etc.).
• Abilities to speak Spanish or other languages is a plus.
• Lived experience with the criminal legal system is a plus.

To Apply: 

CLS will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. But applicants should apply by Monday May 5, 2025 to receive first round consideration. You can submit your application on CLS’s website online at:

• https://clsphila.org/careers/ OR
• https://clsphiladelphia.applytojob.com/apply/djDlHQGVSU/Employment-Unit-Paralegal

What to Include in your application:

Please include a cover letter, resume, three professional references. Community Legal Services values a diverse work environment and strongly encourages women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, and people with disabilities to apply. For this job, the perspective of people with criminal records is especially valuable. 

CLS invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.

This is a full-time position covered by the collective bargaining agreement between Community Legal Services, Inc. (CLS) and the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, AFL-CIO and its affiliate District 1199C. 

The current minimum starting salary is $45,970 for entry-level applicants but that salary is subject to change or adjustment if an applicant has relevant years of experience and according to the provisions of the current collective bargaining agreement. Raises and benefits are also governed by that agreement.

Community Legal Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of all diverse backgrounds to apply. CLS, Inc. does not discriminate in the selection of employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, genetics, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, CLS complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.