By Khesia Taylor
Christian Legal Aid of DC (CLADC)—a DCBF grantee partner organization—is a small but mighty team that provides free legal services to DC residents with low income. As a Christian-based legal aid organization, faith is an important part of its mission. CLADC’s staff and volunteers offer prayer for and with their clients who are often facing crises; however, receiving prayer is voluntary, and CLADC serves clients from all beliefs and backgrounds. Their faith motivates them to pursue justice for all of their neighbors and is a deep source of inspiration and compassion for their team.
CLADC has been making an impact in DC since 2007. It organizes legal clinics and connects clients to attorneys for legal representation. Services range from legal advice to extended representation, primarily in criminal record sealing, estate planning, probate, social security, and housing. CLADC also provides educational workshops in these areas. CLADC is recognized by the DC courts and local community organizations as one of the biggest providers of pro bono criminal record sealing assistance in DC, supporting critical second chances for returning citizens.
One of the most important parts of CLADC’s work is the partnerships and collaborative efforts it curates with local organizations. One such partnership highlighted by Sheily Virella, interim executive director and pro bono manager, is its long-standing partnership with Central Union Mission, which serves vulnerable populations in DC, including homeless men, women, children, seniors, families, and veterans. Sheily notes, “This partnership dates back to CLADC’s inception and allows CLADC to provide free, on-site legal services at Central Union Mission’s Men’s Shelter and Comprehensive Family Resource Center.” Through in-person staff-led clinics—which have gone from monthly to weekly in 2024—CLADC provides legal advice and referrals for various issues. Sheily says, “CLADC has been an essential part of Central Mission’s wrap-around service delivery during the last 12 years, offering not only legal expertise but also personalized, compassionate support.”
Sheily, who is also the DC Social Justice Transformations Network’s co-lead for the Network Action Team, noted, “We have significantly expanded our partnerships with churches, local nonprofits, and law firms. The pursuit of justice for all requires a significant commitment from everyone, and CLADC, as a faith-based organization, is working to connect churches and other Christian organizations to this cause. CLADC also coordinated and participated in events with local government agencies, such as the Court Services Offender Supervision Agency, the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs, and the DC Department of Aging and Community Living.”
Another big win for CLADC is that they served nearly 800 DC residents, more than three times the number of clients they served in 2019.
As CLADC reflects on its impact on the DC community in 2024, it looks toward 2025 with optimism. Like many organizations, it hopes to improve its service delivery and expand community involvement across all eight wards in DC. To do this, it intends to increase volunteer capacity. Sheily says they have seen a growing number of calls for assistance with housing-related issues, and volunteer involvement—along with partnerships with other organizations—would allow them to offer more assistance in housing matters.
Volunteers are a critical aspect of CLADC’s work. “We are able to serve an increasing number of clients each year because of the many volunteers who respond to the call for increased access to justice and dignified representation. We are thankful for each lawyer and law student who takes time to volunteer with us to serve our neighbors across our city who are facing critical legal challenges,” Sheily noted.
CLADC wants to continue growing in 2025, and it believes this is possible because of the staff, volunteers, and partners who remain dedicated to delivering compassionate legal services. Their devotion allows CLADC to continue having a sustainable impact.
Please visit the DCBF website to learn more about how the DC Bar Foundation supports grantee partners like Christian Legal of Aid DC.
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