The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuarine system in the United States and one of the largest in the world. It is of enormous economic value to the region, and is a priceless environmental resource. Unfortunately, it is in jeopardy.
The Chesapeake Legal Alliance, Inc. (CLA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to using the law to improve the quality of the Chesapeake. It grew out of the perceptions that (1) there is a large unmet need for legal resources to enforce and strengthen the laws that govern pollution and development that adversely affects the Bay, and (2) there exists a substantial and largely untapped resource of private lawyers who care about the health of the Bay and are consequently willing to contribute time and effort, pro bono publico, toward its improvement. CLA’s goal is to match this resource to the need for legal services to create a network of attorneys with the hope of making a significant contribution toward restoring the Chesapeake to health.
CLA’s principal function is to serve as a catalyst and clearinghouse, identifying lawsuits, administrative proceedings, law reform efforts and other legal initiatives whose goal is to reduce pollution in the Chesapeake or otherwise contribute to improving the quality of its waters. CLA solicits the pro bono efforts of private law firms and individual lawyers, matching them with matters that require legal skills. It also provides technical assistance and monitoring to assure that the quality of the work is consistently high.
Chesapeake Legal Alliance was incorporated in Maryland in February, 2009. We are qualified as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our office is at
67 Franklin Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
phone: (410) 216-9441
fax: (410) 216-7077
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