In 1946— decades before there was a national legal aid movement— four of Delaware’s legal titans, Collins J. Seitz, William Poole, Clarence A. Southerland and J. Caleb Boggs, recognized the urgent need to provide free legal services for those who could not afford representation. In post-World War II America, they were particularly concerned for the welfare of war widows and their children, which led to the creation of one of the oldest civil legal aid agencies in the country: the Legal Aid Society of Delaware, now Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI). In the first year, Legal Aid served 204 clients with criminal and civil cases involving family law and GI Bill eligibility.
Since then, Delaware’s civil legal aid ecosystem has continued to expand, helping more people in a wide variety of civil matters where legal representation is typically only available to those who can afford it. In 1981, due to shifting tides nationally regarding legal services for the poor, Delaware Volunteer Legal Services, Inc. (DVLS) was established to best position the pro bono arm of legal aid: connecting private volunteer attorneys to civil cases. Legal Services Corporation of Delaware, Inc. (LSCD) was founded in 1996, taking over the work funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation—mostly in the areas of consumer law and private housing matters.
Today, CLASI, DVLS, and LSCD divvy up the work across problem type and client populations to represent as many individuals and families as possible, whether helping them avoid homelessness, ensuring safety from domestic violence, or safeguarding access to critical food and health benefits. Legal aid also creates broader change benefiting communities statewide through impact litigation and advocacy to improve laws and policies, such as recent efforts that increased school funding for vulnerable students and secured a right to representation in eviction cases.
In 2026, 80 years after CLASI’s founding, we have a unique opportunity to honor the legacy and preserve the history of Delaware’s civil legal aid movement. Legal aid’s impact has been immeasurable — from its origins protecting widows and children in the wake of WWII to the shared work of our modern legal aid agencies, which now assist more than 8,000 Delawareans a year.
We are working with local studio Teleduction to create a 30-minute video documenting the story of legal aid in Delaware. There are only a handful of individuals alive today who have intimate knowledge of the work of legal aid in Delaware dating back to the 1940s. Their memories, stories, and perspectives are an irreplaceable connection to our earliest institutional histories.
This film will:
- Capture firsthand accounts from early legal aid leaders and advocates;
- Trace the evolution of civil legal aid in Delaware from its pioneering beginnings to today;
- Highlight critical advocacy victories and their impact on everyday Delawareans;
- Spotlight today’s civil legal advocates as they continue the legacy of representing Delawareans in need;
- Celebrate the enduring role of the Bar, Judiciary, and funders in sustaining access to justice;
- Serve as a lasting educational and historical resource for the Delaware legal community, law schools, and beyond;
- Inspire a new generation of supporters and staff to carry forward the vision of equal access to justice.
The documentary will premiere in screenings in 2026 celebrating the 80th anniversary of civil legal aid in Delaware and has potential to be featured in regional and national media markets.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorship of the 80th Anniversary Campaign is more than event support—it is an investment in preserving Delaware’s legal history, honoring the leaders who built our civil legal aid system and demonstrating an enduring commitment to equal justice under law.
Sponsors will receive prominent recognition across anniversary events, materials, and the documentary itself, with opportunities to align their names with a milestone moment in Delaware’s legal history.
We hope you will join us in this opportunity to tell our story, to ensure that future generations understand that justice can be durable, principled, and community driven.
Protector of Justice – $15,000
Bundled sponsorship for 2026 CCJ events
- Premier recognition across all 2026 events
- “Presented by” opening credits recognition on the documentary and premiere event
- Prominent logo placement on anniversary materials, signage and website
- Gold sponsorship recognition at the CCJ Golf Tournament (8/3/2026)
- Including 2 foursomes
- Verbal recognition at anniversary celebration
- Social media post
- Commemorative 80th Anniversary sponsor gift
Defender of Justice – $10,000
- Featured sponsor recognition for the documentary and premiere event
- “Presented by” opening credits recognition in the documentary and premiere event
- Logo placement on anniversary materials, signage and website
- Verbal recognition at anniversary celebration
- Social media post
Upholder of Justice – $5,000
- Sponsorship recognition for the documentary and premiere event
- “Presented by” closing credit recognition in the documentary
- Logo placement on event signage and website
- Recognition in event program
Promoter of Justice – $2,500
- Recognition at documentary premiere
- “Presented by” closing credit recognition in the documentary
- Logo (or name) placement on event signage and website
Supporter of Justice – $1,000
- “Presented by” closing credit recognition in the documentary
- Logo (or name) placement on event signage and website
(Custom sponsorship packages and multi-event sponsorships available upon request.)
Checks can be made to the Combined Campaign for Justice P.O. Box 49 Wilmington, DE 19899
Sponsorships can be made online at this link: https://revenue-usa.keela.co/documentary
Please reach out to Molly McPheeters ([email protected]) with any questions.
