Community Law Center

General information

Our History

Community Law Center is Maryland's only legal services organization dedicated solely to strengthening neighborhoods. Our mission is to provide legal services and technical assistance to improve the quality of life and economic viability of communities. We seek partnerships with community organizers, nonprofit housing developers, urban planners, educators, and law enforcement agencies to realize each client’s strategic goals.

Community Law Center empowers low-income communities that lack the financial resources to pay for private legal representation. Community Law Center makes an important and unique contribution to the region as it uses its expertise and effectiveness in using the law to overcome or mitigate many of the social, economic, and environmental problems that plague neighborhoods.

Community Law Center partners with hundreds of community organizations, nonprofits, grassroots organizers, business representatives and government agencies to improve communities at the level of the vacant lot, abandoned property and struggling neighborhood. Through our programs, we have assisted in the formation of community groups, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses, facilitated the transformation of blighted land, aided in the cleaning and securing of scores of abandoned buildings, and reduced drug distribution by bringing actions against the nuisance properties.

Since our founding over 25 years ago, Community Law Center has provided countless hours of free or reduced cost legal services to organizations working make all neighborhoods places you want to call home.