Serving the Philadelphia Community With CLS’s Justice Rising Advocates
By: Lanique A. Roberts
For some, service to underserved communities is an easy decision. I embarked on a legal career knowing that I wanted to use my skills not just to succeed in my practice, but also to help less privileged communities. While I had volunteered sporadically, the drive to re-engage in volunteerism on a deeper level came in 2021. I was a few years into my practice and knew that I wanted to use my skills to contribute to the well-being of the communities I cared deeply about, especially those experiencing poverty.
A casual conversation with a friend reintroduced me to the world of pro bono and the behind-the-scenes of the systems that keep this world moving. That friend introduced me to the then-leaders of Community Legal Services’ Justice Rising Advocates (JRA). JRA is a group of young professionals who fight for justice alongside CLS by engaging with substantive, service, and social opportunities that advance civil legal aid in Philadelphia.
Through JRA, I’ve grown personally and professionally, made friends who share my values, and learned so much about the legal aid landscape. Most importantly, though, I’ve been able to channel my energy, skills and network toward helping CLS and its clients. I do this in many ways, but one of my favorites is through CLS’s clean slate clinics.
Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Law allows certain criminal records to be sealed from public view, allowing those impacted by the justice system a second chance at things like employment, housing and education. The law was initially passed in 2018, but Gov. Josh Shapiro signed its most recent iteration, HB 689 or Clean Slate 3.0, into law in December 2023.
Clinic days with CLS are second-to-none. They’re fun, vibrant, and impactful. Clients come because an old record has been holding them back from opportunities that will help them thrive. They feel huge relief when they learn that their records are eligible for sealing, and their reactions show how life-changing that is. I always leave these clinics with a rewarding and reinvigorating feeling.
One of my first clients at a CLS clinic aspired to become a nurse practitioner, but an old conviction was holding her back. Now that her record can be sealed, she’ll go on to her next round of schooling and become an even greater asset in her community. At this clinic, I felt well equipped as an attorney and CLS volunteer to assist her with this next step, especially considering the thorough training provided by CLS. CLS provides volunteers with sufficient training, support, and practice prior to and during clinic days, allowing volunteers to leave knowing that they made a real difference in the life of a CLS client.
This work is all around us. In a city like Philadelphia, you never know who might need the assistance of CLS. As attorneys, we’re in a unique position to use our skills to support and strengthen the communities in which we live and work. CLS offers us the chance to do just that.
Reprinted with permission from the October 20, 2025 edition of “The Legal Intelligencer” © 2025 ALM Media Properties, LLC. All rights reserved. Further duplication without permission is prohibited. For information, contact 877-257-3382, reprints@alm.com or visit www.almreprints.com.
