Our Story
1994
Incorporated in May as AWA Family Mediation Center, the Community Legal Center’s original mission was to provide free mediation services to people of limited means. The idea was to assist Memphis Area Legal Services by mediating family law cases. The Community Legal Center obtained initial funding through an IOLTA grant from Tennessee Bar Foundation, along with a generous donation from the Association for Women Attorneys (AWA).
1995
The Board of Directors adopted a plan of action to establish a legal services program and clinic to provide legal representation, as well as mediation, for the “working poor”, the same population whose medical needs were being provided for by the Church Health Center. The Community Legal Center was born.
2004
Established the Community Legal Center pro se clinic in collaboration with MALS and the University of Memphis’ Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Staffed with a part-time staff attorney, the Pro Se Clinic helps self-represented litigants prepare and make their own divorce filings, saving them the cost of a private attorney.
2006
Started the Immigrant Justice Program (IJP) in conjunction with the Memphis Immigration Bar and the University of Memphis’ Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. This program provides pro bono legal services to immigrant who live within the jurisdiction of the Memphis immigration Court.
2012
Expanded the IJP through LAV grant funding obtained in collaboration with the YWCA Immigrant Women’s Project, Memphis Area Legal Services, and the Family Safety Center. This founding paid for a new Community Legal Center staff attorney who provided legal services for immigrant victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and human trafficking.
2019
CLC celebrates its 25th anniversary! We moved to our new office on Adams Ave. We expanded our immigration program to include Civil Immigrant Justice, offering civil legal work for immigrants regardless of status.
2020
IJP partners with MidSouth Immigration Advocates and Advocates for Immigrant Rights to form Welcome South, an organization providing immigration services in the Deep South.