About Community Legal Aid
What is Community Legal Aid?
Community Legal Aid (CLA) is "the free civil legal aid provider for residents of the five counties of Central and Western Massachusetts (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester)." Its mission is "to improve the lives of low-income and elderly people through legal assistance that protects fundamental rights, secures access to basic needs, and challenges policies and practices that harm our clients." Its roots go back to January 1951, when Worcester County Bar Association attorneys formed the Legal Aid Society of Worcester. Poverty law programs in Western Massachusetts later joined to form Western Mass. Legal Services, and in 2011 the two merged into Community Legal Aid. CLA now serves more than 9,000 low-income and elderly clients a year, reaching an estimated 23,000 people. It helps tenants facing eviction or the loss of a rent subsidy, homeless families seeking shelter, people applying for public benefits and unemployment compensation, domestic violence survivors in family law cases, students who need support to thrive in school, elders whose independence or safety is at risk, and victims of crime with a related civil legal problem. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Central West Justice Center (CWJC), handles humanitarian immigration relief, employment cases for low-wage workers and public benefits, and hires through the same board.
Where will I work?
In one of six regional offices, on a hybrid schedule. CLA has full-service offices in Worcester, Fitchburg, Springfield, Greenfield, Northampton and Pittsfield, and uses satellite space in Holyoke and North Adams to meet clients. "We also have a hybrid work environment and staff is expected to work in the office at least three days per week," says the careers page, and the postings ask advocates to work "in their assigned office at least three days per week". The five roles open in September 2026 are in Worcester and Springfield: a case manager for the Family Preservation Project, a housing staff attorney, a one-year family law staff attorney, and immigration attorneys for CWJC in both cities.
What is the CLA team like?
"With over 180 staff, we are one of the largest, most skilled and effective providers of free legal services in Massachusetts and all of New England," says the careers page, which describes its employees as "bright, passionate people with diverse backgrounds" and promises "an inclusive, supportive work environment" that is "committed to nurturing the skills and talents of our staff". Advocates work in practice units for housing, family law, elder law and disability benefits, education, employment, and CORI and re-entry, alongside the Fair Housing, Family Preservation and Medicare Advocacy projects and a pro bono program, and each regional office has its own managing attorney. Executive Director Jonathan L. Mannina leads the organization. Pay follows a union scale: attorneys start at $73,000, "adjusted upward depending on experience" to a maximum of $109,000 on current postings, and the case manager role starts at $53,140. Its immigration and family law postings welcome third-year law students and recent graduates as well as experienced lawyers, and the one-year family law role expects most of its clients to be survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes.
Work-Life Balance
"Although we work hard, we realize the importance of personal time away from the office and offer generous leave benefits, including 4 weeks of vacation, 3 personal days, 12 sick days, 13 holidays, and parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child," the careers page says, and every current posting repeats the same leave. Not counting sick days, that is 36 days off a year. The hybrid model means at least three days a week in the office.
Perks and Benefits
- 4 weeks of vacation, 3 personal days and 13 holidays a year
- 12 sick days a year
- Parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child
- Low-cost health and dental insurance for individuals and families
- Employer-paid vision insurance for individuals and families
- A 401(k) with employer-paid contributions
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance, and $50,000 of life insurance
- Malpractice insurance
- An employer-paid pre-tax commuter plan
- Student loan repayment assistance of up to $500 a month for qualified loans
- Relocation reimbursement
- Union-scale salaries published on every posting