CILS is a nonlegal services corporation organization, which was formed to provide unrestricted legal services in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. The organization has an annual budget of $450,000 and has a current staff of seven located in the cities of Chester and Coatesville.

CILS has two offices where clients can visit � one in the City of Chester, Delaware County, and one in the City of Coatesville, Chester County. The legal staff is well seasoned and all are members of the legal services community. In Chester, Robert Salvin, Esq., and Gonzella Hales, paralegal, staff the office. In Coatesville, Shannon Foster, Esq., Eleonor Glasco, paralegal and Lita Alston, legal assistant, provide free civil legal services. The executive director is Carolyn Johnson, Esq., who has 16 years of experience delivering legal services.

CILS assists eligible clients with free legal services on a variety of important homeownership related issues, including consumer fraud, personal debt and predatory loan remediation. In addition to legal representation, advice and advocacy, CILS also works to educate the community, promoting sound financial choices and helping area residents avoid credit problems before they start.

The Delaware County office will assist households with landlord and tenant problems as well as homeownership issues. The paralegal will discuss a variety of housing problems over the phone at 610-876-0804. Consumers in Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties can access services at 1-800-967-9150.

Households must be financially eligible for free civil legal services. In Chester and Delaware counties, clients at or below 80 percent of the median income are eligible for free legal assistance. In other counties, CILS provides assistance at 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.