Language Access Policy

Community Legal Services - 030187

Abstract Number: 030187

November 2003

Community Legal Services, a non-LSC funded program, adopted a "Language Access Policy" to ensure their clients can receive high-quality legal services in the client's preferred language. The central tenet of the policy is that the program must take responsibility to deliver services in the client's language. CLS' comprehensive LEP policy includes sections on their general policy, storing client language data, immigration and citizenship status, delivering services and hiring bilingual case handlers, determining need for language services, who may provide language services, scope of language services, training for CLS staff, and monitoring and assessment. The primary emphasis of this policy is meant to ensure that LEP clients are aware of and can access legal services irrespective of their English language abilities. To learn more about this policy, access the full policy below as a PDF document.

Contact Information:

Paul Uyehara
Community Legal Services
1424 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: (215) 981-3718
Fax: (215) 981-0436
Email

Additional Information:

• "Language Access Policy," Community Legal Services, 2003. (1.4mb, PDF)

• Paul Uyehara, "Opening Our Doors to Language-Minority Clients," Clearinghouse Review 36, No. 11-12 (March-April 2003) 544-557. (030099)

• Paul Uyehara, "Making Legal Services Accessible to Limited English Proficient Clients," Management Information Exchange Journal 17, No. 1 (Spring 2003) 33-37. (030063)

• Community Legal Services' Language Access Project (LAP) (030065)

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