Chesapeake Legal Alliance

At Chesapeake Legal Alliance (CLA), we apply the power of the law to protect and restore clean water and promote healthy, resilient ecosystems for communities across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. CLA is the only regional organization solely dedicated to providing free legal services to protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed. We are a trusted source for innovative legal strategies to solve the Bay’s most complex problems. Our clients include individuals, community groups and environmental advocates working to protect the Bay’s lands, waters and communities. CLA also works with local, state, and federal regulators seeking unique solutions to Chesapeake Bay protection and restoration. We provide Bay advocates with FREE legal help in many forms: education, pro bono counsel, strategic legal counseling, and policy support.

CLA Fast Facts

• Established: 2009
• Employees: 8
• Based in Annapolis, Maryland
• Annual budget: $950K

Our Organization

Although CLA was founded over 10 years ago, we are currently in a phase of significant growth and reorganization. As a result, we operate much like a start-up organization. Over the past 18 months, CLA has secured a sizable multi-year grant, undergone a merger, increased our staff and budget by 50%, and significantly expanded our services. With this increased capacity, our dynamic, committed team has achieved exponential results in a short time! Our goal at CLA is to provide free legal services for as long as it takes to achieve enduring protection for the Chesapeake Bay watershed with healthy ecosystems, sustainable land use, and clean water for all. We can only achieve this goal with careful financial planning and proactive fundraising.