With the help of students and volunteers, the CSJ provides free legal services to the community through its pro bono programs.
To get free legal help with your consumer debt case or with CORI sealing and expungement, please call 413-796-2101 or email us at csj@law.wne.edu.
To volunteer, please sign up here or email us at csj@law.wne.edu.
Through advocacy, outreach, and free legal representation, the CDI aims to increase financial resiliency and socio-economic inclusion in the community. Hampden County has some of the highest rates of debt collection actions in Massachusetts, and these court cases disproportionately impact low-income communities in the area. The CSJ represents consumers in actions filed by debt collectors in Springfield District Court through a Lawyer for the Day program that covers the Small Claims sessions. The CDI’s legal focus also extends to post-judgment matters as well as payment review and trustee process hearings in District Court. As part of this program, the CSJ also organizes community outreach, financial literacy workshops, and know-your-rights events.
To help reduce barriers to employment, housing, and education, the CSJ offers free legal help to community members who are eligible to seal and/or expunge their Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI).
The CSJ is developing innovative solutions to increase access to technology and justice for community members in need. The CSJ has embedded Free Legal Kiosks at key sites across the state to facilitate public access to devices, legal resources, and court technology. The CSJ also operates a Justice Bus that improves the delivery and accessibility of legal services in western Massachusetts by facilitating pop-up legal clinics and know-your-rights events across the region.
