With a $10,000 initial investment from the Fresno County Bar Association in 1966, CCLS began offering advice and help with legal matters to low-income residents in Fresno County. Now, three CCLS offices with more than sixty employees provide a broad array of legal services in Fresno, Merced, Tulare, Kings, Mariposa, and Tuolumne counties.

CCLS is a private, not-for-profit corporation established for the purpose of providing free civil legal assistance to low-income families and individuals. The organization provides representation for low-income families, individuals and community-based organizations in civil matters and also ensures access to civil legal assistance for those who would otherwise be denied for lack of resources.

CCLS handles basic “safety net” issues: helping victims of domestic abuse, the disabled and elderly, families facing foreclosure and eviction, individuals making the welfare-to-work transition, and persons who have been wrongfully denied Social Security, Medicare or other public benefits.

CCLS works with local community-based organizations, state and local bar associations, social service providers, and local government agencies.