UPDATE: I quickly learned how goofy this group is. And the information kept coming.

I volunteered for these folks last weekend. I'd point you to their website, but they don't have one. They don't want one. Something about not wanting a web presence makes me questions a group's motives.

After volunteering last weekend, I went in today to discuss what I might be able to do to help. Things were normal enough on Saturday, in spite of some comments that made them come off a bit radical in many ways for my tastes. Today, I got what amounted to a sales pitch, followed by what struck me as some strong-arm, almost cultish tactics. Not, "Hey, come help us at our literature table Saturday." Not, "How about you send out these daily letters?" I was asked which part of their strategies I wanted to run. This is my second day with them.

I don't know. They do strike me as being legitimate. I do think they're sincere in what they believe in, which is that most Americans have lost significant access to the legal system. But there's just something that strikes me as "off" about the organization. I can't put my finger on it. I just know that I felt uncomfortable tonight.

There was one thing in particular that irritated me. I mentioned I was busy; I've got work, with lots of stuff to get out of the way before school starts. I've got school in less than a month. I've got a few random things planned for the next month. And I felt like I was being guilted, like if I didn't drop the things interfering, I simply wasn't committed enough to solving any perceived problems.

I pushed off to Wednesday giving an answer. I felt that the one event Saturday (a legal advice session in Bayview) followed by a meeting and a presumption that I was ready to take charge of something was just too fast, as if they felt they had to lock people in at first contact. It was all just too much for me. I think I'll be calling tomorrow to say they can count me out.

[...] Earlier, I wrote up my feelings after the Monday meeting, including: [...]

Just googled this organization and your blog came up. As you noted, no website is an odd portend in this day and age. They accosted me on my way out of the Brooklyn Law School building, and though I don't like being petitioned on the sidewalk, I stopped for a minute because I basically agree with the pitch - as you say - that most americans have no access to the legal system. But what struck me as off was that they didn't just want my email and address, but they wanted my phone number. And I only have a cell phone these days - so giving out my number is real access to me. I told them that I'd have to look into it (meaning that I'd check their website when I got home). The woman said something like - 'you can look into it by volunteering.'

Like you said - too much too soon. Something cultish indeed. Too bad, too.

Too bad, sure. Fortunately, there are others out there doing similar work. After recounting this story for one of my lawyer friends, he said, "Surely your school has a list of reputable organizations you could volunteer for." Of course, the university lists the CCLP as community service organization; not the law school, though.

Good move on not giving them the phone number. They make good use of it.

I have donated to this group once after being approached in front of the San Francisco County Courthouse. I basically agree with their mission, but the fundraising tactics are beyond anything I have ever encountered. They had only my cell number. After finding out where I work- big mistake in discussing that- a member showed up at my workplace, unannounced, asking for me. As I was not there, my coworkers were then hit up for donations and assistance. One person was asked to make some translations in Spanish! I too was given the guilt trip for why I wouldn't/couldn't commit more of my time to their cause. Be wary.

When I was 18 I went to Long Island as a full-time volunteer to provide free health care for farm workers for a year before going to college. I ended up being recruited into a cult through the Eastern Farm Workers Association (EFWA). EFWA is a front organization for the Communist Party - Provisional as is CCLP. That isn't even quite accurate as the party is a sham to. The group is a cult. I spent 14 years with this group before leaving and it took me 12 years afterwards to be able to engage in a political conversation after the experience. It also cost me $ for counseling. Three lawyers I know of lost their law licenses after engaging in illegal activities on orders from leadership of this group. The shame of it is that they provide much needed services to people who are at the bottom of society and there are few groups that do this. The field organizers are for the most part very dedicated people who don't believe they're participating in a sham at all. I thought I was building an organization to provide a voice for farm workers. The benefit however comes at a great cost to the full time organizers who are victoms of mental, verbal and sometimes physical abuse. If anyone is interested there is a discussion from ex-cadre of this organization at http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/11/304593.shtml. I am now a third year law student and am able to see many more unethical practices of this group. However, they won't just suck you up. If they keep calling you after you've said no, it's probably because someone forgot to update the records. Keep saying no and eventually they'll stop calling.

I was approached on the street in Brooklyn to join the CCLP. I have told them time and time again that I am not interested (I volunteer for other organizations freely but feel these people are bullies) yet they continue to call me at my place of work. The person who calls is very domineering and I cant seem to get it over to her that I dont have anything to give (financially or in time). Yet each time they call I am told that it is urgent I respond to the cries of help from Hurricane Katrina victims. I do feel guilty that I cant do more to help, but frankly, the bullying tactics of this group scare me.

After reading everyone's posts, it seems my fear is founded.

I also contacted CCLP for information about volunteering. The woman on the phone seemed irritated when I asked a few questions about the
organization's membership and her involvement/position. She also was pushy about getting me in there doing something right away, which made me think they are very short on volunteers. When I wanted to come in to talk to someone there, she seemed miffed that I couldn't accomodate to their schedule. In short, the phone call was a turnoff despite the fact that initially it seemed like their goal was a good one. Sounds similar to your experience. They made me unconfortable about dealing with them. And, you're right, they have no website.

wow im so glad I came across this. the woman from CCLP calls me constantly to come in. she's very overwhelming and not understanding of my schedule. I work pt, go to school ft, and I am already committed to volunteering for another organization.

I think people would be more interested in CCLP if they were not so pushy and over-bearing.

I encountered a similar group at a local grocery store..the Alaska Workers Association. The organizers at the store seemed like they really believed in the stated goals of the organization. I was interested, so I went in to find out more. They put me to work right away, canvassing a neighborhood for members, which I thought was ridiculous, since I knew next to nothing about the organization next to some general goals. The full time volunteer struck me as very odd- bullying. My experience sounds very similar to others. I eventually stopped answering their calls after doing some research into what the Workers Association was really about- deception and manipulation. Now the cadre has started calling me from a caller-ID blocked number! I can't believe how aggressive they are...

Dude, theyre not a cult, they don't accept government money because if they do then they can't organize class actions against the government (conflict of interest clearly). I volunteered there in Brooklyn once. I showed up, they read us some stuff about poverty in America and then a lawyer came in to give free legal advice to people off the street. I sat in on every session and they were all basic legal advice to poor people who couldn't afford to find out what to do next. Parking tickets, domestic violence, landlord/tenant law and a few other basic issues were discussed in private with the volunteering attorney. Then he left, and everyone went home. Hardly a cult. Yes they call too often, yes theyre annoying. They call me to this day, but instead of crying about it I just don't pick up. They do this full time, their entire lives are devoted to getting as many volunteers as possible, so they call until theyre annoying. But just don't pick up. You're not so important that you can't be bothered to look at your phone and not pick up and place it back into your pocket. If you read these posts it sounds like a bunch of 5 year old girls whining. Lets just put it this way, its a good thing you guys chose law school and not the army. "Wah! they gave me a sales pitch" Shut up and grow some.

I am a law student. I do not consider myself a wimp. I worked with the Provisional Communist Party/ Natlfed which started and runs CCLP for 14 years from 1979-1994. In my opinion it is a cult masquerading as a communist party which runs front organizations like CCLP. Yes, CCLP helps the poor and gives free legal advice. Yes, there are many committed individuals who want to change things for working people in the country. However, at the same time, CCLP and other organizations also funneled money and volunteers to feed the drug and sex addiction of it's leader when I was there. From individuals who've left more recently I gather it still feeds the egos of those now in charge. It also mentally, physically and verbally abused full time organizers and got full time volunteers to sign over their inheritances. Most who were there when I was(including myself) left looking over our shoulders and thinking someone would assassinate us eventually. Many suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. You can google natlfed to find the personal stories of people who were brutalized over a long period of time. No, they don't do this right away but they target individuals for recruitment who are attracted by the legal sessions and other activities, pull them in gradually over a couple of years and then gradually subject them to increasing levels of abuse - all in the name of the REVOLUTION. But, there is no real revolution and one can only surmise that there is a hidden agenda of power mongering in the leadership. Everyone is vulnerable at some time in their life and groups like this prey on that fact. Yes, definitely do not answer them. Tell them firmly that you do not wish to speak to them and that they are not to call you again and then hang up. Don't bother being polite simply be firm and hang up. After a few calls like this you won't be bothered. If they come to your law office ask them to leave immediately and if they don't call security.

I am a law student. I was called by them. I thought their practices were a bit odd, such as calling me, rather than the other way around, to find volunteers. They also wanted me to bring other law students with me and were disappointed when I said I wasn't going to. I found it extremely weird today when they didn't know what an externship was, although they were interested in qualifying as one. Normally I would look up an organization well before going there, but in this case there didn't seem to be any concern about being accepted, so I didn't take the time. I went to check them out before going to bed and I found lots of stuff online backing up what you said and virtually nothing refuting any of it. What little is written about them positively is done so either with little knowledge ("law students are wimps"), with much skepticism (wikipedia), or by someone from the group (ihcenter.org).
I'm supposed to be there at 9:30 tomorrow morning. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to go. On the one hand, I don't want to get involved in such an organization, but on the other I'm really interested in cults and cult culture academically. I've engaged in friendly debates with recruters from the jews for jesus, the hassids, and the johova's witnesses around NYC streets and subways. If I do go, I imagine this will be considerably different, as like many people on this blog, I expect to basically agree with the sentement of many of the individuals I encounter, just not the degree or the tactics. (many sites suggest they are essentially a communist organization and while I do believe in free-market socialism/welfare capitalism, communism is too fraught with possibilities for corruption and disaster for me, as are totalitarian systems.)
When it comes right down to it, its a 2 hour trip from the bronx to brooklyn and I'd rather spend that time applying for work in organizations that do similar good works without well founded accusations of communism or cultishness. Also, well I enjoyed debating with the Jews for Jesus and others several times, there's a reason I never agreed to their suggestion that I actually attend their meetings to continue the discussion. Thanks for the warning.

I am a labor lawyer with a long history of involvement in left politics. I was asked by this group to write an article for their magazine, and did so. Only later, meeting with the Director of the local NYC office, who is not a lawyer, did it become apparent that something was not right. I did some research and discovered that they were, as mentioned by an earlier ceommentator, a front group for a "communist" group. Now I have no problem, per se, with groups that identify as communist or Marxist, but these folks are fringe cultists who hide their politics, are run by non-lawyers, and will not work with any other groups on the left (National Lwyers Guild, etc.). They live communally taking the income of their hard core members, and, members associated with their inner grouping were arrested in Brooklyn about a decade ago with a house full of weapons. Their deal appears to be to offer real services to poor communties (recruiting legitimate lawyers who do not know what this group is really about to give advice at public sessions) and using these services to recruit potential members to the concentric circles of their parent organization. They are very good at posing as legitimate - they have come to public interest legal job fairs at NYU and elsewhere to recruit - BUT THEY ARE NOT. If you are a progressive lawyer and want to do real work on behalf of the oppressed, check out the Lawyers Guild.

I actually have an orientation with the NCCLP tonight and I was trying to find a website for them and I found this blog. Is this this the same group as the CCLP? I gave them my number outside of my law school in NYC. Their office is in the Woolworth Building...Anyone?

It is hard to be sure that this is the same group from the small amount you've told us. But, National Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals (NCCLP) is affiliated with the local branches of CCLP spoken of here. I am told that they have an office in Manhattan now. I was a full-time cadre with Natlfed/ Provisional Communist Party which runs CCLP for 14 years from 1979-1994. I have just passed the Illinois bar exam and will be an attorney after being sworn in. I think in addition to the cult accusations, the above commentator makes a couple of good points. It is of concern that they are not run by attorneys and do not cooperate with other progressive legal groups. I would be glad to communicate further with you either on-line here or off-line if you wish.

Robin Fahlberg

Five years ago, I came into contact with CCLP because I was the sole lawyer on the board of a small nonprofit organization, and a fellow board member suggested it might be a good place to volunteer. I met with them once and went to one legal seminar they gave. I got a bad, bad vibe off at both meetings, so I did some research. When the CCLP asked my organization to act as a fiduciary agent, I presented my research to the board and we voted unanimously to have nothing to do with CCLP.

That was the last I heard from them until today, when I got a "Remember us?" call. I said I was not interested in further contact with them - something you'd think they'd have figured out from the five-year silence. Response: "Tell me why. It's not fair to say that without explaining. At least be fair." I said, "I believe most of what I've read about your organization and don't want anything to do with you." That produced a brief rant about the New York Times committing "hate crimes" by publishing "lies" about them. Fine, I said. Delete my name, delete my number, don't call me again. If I'm that easily swayed by lies, then why would they want to have anything to do with me?

If they call me again, I'm going to say I had a conversion experience and am now a Republican.

I totally agree with some of these comments. I volunteered at this place for a couple of weeks, and after a while, I felt that they were almost anti-government. I'm not sure how far back their research puts them, but I felt as though they weren't keeping up with the statistics or current laws being put into practice. Being a student in the law field, I continuously had to correct their thoughts and dated statistics of the legal system. I agree that the legal system in America is infallible, however, I felt as though they were trying to try to get me to have a somewhat of a hatred feeling towards it.

And for that person who commented about people being babies and that they need to stop whining, maybe you need to figure out how the legal system actually works before putting your thoughts out there. Besides, you should have at least tried to back up your cheapshots with more substantiated information with what was thrown out into this blog. I my opinion they are more of a marketing scheme than anything else. I did enough reception and customer service work back in my younger days before I went to college, I was not about to become a telemarketer for these people (especially if one isn't going to get paid). Nor was I going to go out on the streets and face to amount of rejection and looks they get just to bring back $12 and some change. I was there to volunteer, not to market their little club. They need full-time organizers who are able to get these things by themselves, I didn't feel like an advocate for individuals who were struggling (which is what I thought I would be helping out with), instead I was pushed in getting more hours in and sacrificing time which I was not going to give up during certain times of the day.

There is validity too much of what I have read. Overbearing, pushy, cultish, etc. Granted.

However... for those of you out there who have a backbone, its not that hard to go in and find out what initiatives are on the table for them, and completely disregard those initiatives that you have no interest in or tasks you have no interest in doing. You just have to be firm.

I was there in San Francisco when they opened up their new benefit office in Double Rock Baptist Church, and it was great. The head of the Public Defenders office was a keynote speaker.

Having been a part of their "Know Your Law" sessions, and having seen that they were able to bring in quality legal talent to discuss issues that effect the impoverished communities that they often work in, I was impressed with their dedication.

They also held many "Legal Advice" sessions where people without access to legal resources could speak with an attorney who could provide remedial guidance and refer their cases if necessary, to someone who might take it on pro-bono.

We also worked with attorneys in Vega v Mallory when they filed a lawsuit against the Office of Migrant Services for doubling the rents on migrant workers who were already living and working under very poor conditions, often without even potable water to use or drink.

We went to many farmlabor camps, and interviewed residents and their families, and I was doing much of the translating for the group. All on my own accord. No one twisted my arm. If I could not or simply chose not to go to a certain event or trip, it was as easy as me saying I cant make it.

Watching them take their case all the way to Sacramento, I also sat in a room with members of CCLP and Senator Joe Dunn, who opened up the matter in a subcommitte hearing, voicing his support for the wronged farmworkers. Eventually, the case ended in a settlement victory for nearly 12 thousand migrant farmworkers who had no other means of representation. The lead plaintiffs were heroes in my book.

Read below link:
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=5702

Anyway, if you are looking for a way to give back, with out dealing with a bunch of beaurocy, or are an aspiring law student looking to put some time in to help build your case for law school, all in all I would say consider volunteering for the CCLP, and you will find that if you are inquisitive you will find that there is always something interesting that you can do to help, and that if you are firm, you can dictate the time and extent of your participation.

As long as you stay in the drivers seat with regard to what you will and wont do, and how much time you will or wont spend doing it, you can find some satisfying experiences volunteering for CCLP.

I am graduating from law school this year, and am grateful for my experiences with CCLP, and plan on helping them further upon receipt of my bar card.

Thanks for listening.

I am an attorney in Illinois. From 1979-1994 I volunteered full-time with affiliated organization of CCLP, which are all front groups for the Provisional Communist Party. I was pulled in when I was 18 through a group called the Coalition of Concerned Medical Professionals that was providing some free health care for farm workers on Long Island.

The previous writer agrees that CCLP is “Overbearing, pushy, cultish”. If this was all there was to criticize about their recruitment policies and process I would agree that it might be worthwhile to volunteer with them. But, CCLP is a front group for the Provisional Communist Party or National Labor Federation (Natlfed) and they have a very deliberate, manipulative, and deceptive recruitment process for members.

When someone volunteers with CCLP or any of the Natlfed front groups, information about their background, interests, political views, arrests, etc. is solicited from them. Some of this is formal while filling out what’s called a Volunteer Information Sheet (VIS) and some is informal – their team member on a canvass may initiate a conversation. All of this information is reported back to the person in charge of recruitment and the volunteer’s next encounter is planned. If the volunteer has a disagreement with the group’s political position, a conversation on why they’re right is planned. It may be formal, it may be informal. For instance, if you think that legal service organizations are the best way to address the lack of affordable legal services, they will have someone talk about the failures of legal service organizations in the past and why what CCLP is supposedly doing is better.

The process has a deliberate progression. It is called TVTV for tab volunteer, viable volunteer, tab cadre, viable cadre. First they want to get your agreement that there is a problem and that you will be part of the solution by making a scheduled time commitment. Then they work on getting you to agree that all other efforts are doomed to failure and that the only way to solve the inequality of the legal system is through a revolution. At that point they tell you that that is their real goal and ask you to expand your schedule to learn more about this. Then they start teaching you their doctrine that in a nutshell is that socialist revolution is the answer. The way to make this revolution is to organize unrecognized workers in the US into mutual benefit associations. That a revolutionary situation will eventually arise in the US (like during the Vietnam War) and the communities will turn to them for leadership and they will take power. Eventually they ask you to cut all ties with everyone else to commit your whole life to making the revolution as the only solution to all the world’s problems.

Most people if presented this at the beginning would not voluntarily give their life up to the movement. But, when done as a process, with each encounter planned, with each objection worked on whenever they see you, some do. Most people are responding to emotional and social influences – not the rational basis for the group. People are befriended, they are told they’re special, there is an easy black and white answer for all the world’s problem, there is an us and them, there is a promise that they’ll end up someone important running the country. Then when you add in that their whole existence becomes centered in the group as well as their entire support system, the rational basis for the work doesn’t matter that much. The full-time organizers seem like dedicated sincere people, and for the most part they are.

Granted most people won’t become full-time. It is more a matter of where someone is in their life, rather than who they are or having backbone. What statistics there are seem to indicate that if anything, members of high demand groups like this are more intelligent than the average population. If someone begins going through a transition period, like finishing school and having to get a job, a divorce, or losing a job, they are much more vulnerable to groups like this. They are not grounded and having a support system and easy answers becomes very appealing. I saw part-time people who went through divorce, befriended by the organizers and recruited within a couple of weeks as full-time people.

Once a person is full-time they commit to a military discipline because they think this is necessary to build a revolution. The group is highly centralized and subordinates must follow orders of ordinates. People are regularly screamed at and demeaned and they feel they must take it to maintain discipline. At times there has been physical abuse and sexual abuse as well. The people are cut-off from any other support system and increased abuse becomes more and more possible and probable.

If CCLP was the only organization through which one could do pro-bono work I can see why someone would want to volunteer with them. But there are many groups that you can do this through. The vast majority are open with their finances and keep metrics on what benefit they provides per volunteer hour and donated dollar. CCLP does not. They will tell you they provide more benefit dollar for dollar and hour for hour, but they have no facts to back this up. I remember an ordinate saying this and everyone just accepted it and started saying it as well. They are secretive about their finances and you don’t know exactly how the money is spent. Attorneys do not run them. The leadership is not held to the same ethical standards that an attorney is. This is a group where they believe the end justifies the means. Those in charge do not have a license in jeopardy and they do not know the professional standards of the law profession.

Before volunteering with this group I would read the wikipedia article on National Labor Federation and an essay at:
http://www.internet-encyclopedia.org/index.php/Criticism_of_NATLFED

ok.... i have been reached out twice by these people and they seem weird and talk way too much. if you're into jehova's witnesses, you will like them - otherwise, don't give them your phone!

CCLP and its affiliates the National Labor Federation aka Natlfed, Eastern Farm Workers Association, California Homemakers Association, Coalition of Concerned Medical Professionals, etc., have been around for a long time, probably about 35 years. I worked with Sacramento and Oakland organizations that initiated CCLP's back in the 80's. I left after being full time for 5 years. I have been a lawyer for 20 years since them. I will certainly agree that CCLP and the affiliated organizations are involved in low income communities and that working with these organizations is an eye opener for the privileged in our society. Yet that is not a good enough reason to work with them.

Robin is correct in calling them a "cult." This is not obvious to most people who first meet them, and it is generally not obvious to the people who are in the middle of all of this. Yet the recruitment procedures and the control that the groups exercise over their cadre makes the "cult" description very apt. When one becomes involved with this group there is a constant push to obtain more and more involvement, commitment and agreement. The groups use a hidden cell structure to hide their relationships with other groups and to exercise control over the cadre. It is a little complicated to describe here but it is effective. Many intelligent, well educated and well meaning people get completely sucked up into this organization. It wastes there lives and probably leaves many of the scarred.

If you want to help poor people there are plenty of legitimate options. This is not a legitimate option and supporting them probably injures many more people than it helps.

I do want to thank Robin for her consistent efforts to spread the word about this organization. Reading her highly accurate comments have helped me to come to terms with my experiences the this organization.

Robin: Good luck with your legal career.

I'm very glad for the Internet. It got me away from this group. They approached me at an anti-war rally, and it sounded so good. Sounded like an opportunity for me, an attorney, to do pro-bono work for poor people. But, I was, like others, disturbed at the fact that they had no web-site, and they seemed to hustle me into an indoctrination, instead of an orientation.

I, nonetheless, decided to give them the benefit of the doubt, and, against my better judgment, I helped them man that stupid table a couple of times, and even went to one of their "Know your Law" sessions at Eastern Farm Workers Association. But, I became increasingly alarmed at the way they talked, and the demands that they wanted to make on my time. And,when one of their "staunchest supporting" legal professionals abruptly brushed me off when they asked me to call him, I decided to go to the Internet. And, suffice to say, I did not like what I saw.

The comments were similar to what I was feeling. They all had the same perceptions that I had. I had the sneaky suspicion that it was a cult, as well. And, when I saw the connection to the National Labor Federation, and its dubious history, I knew that I had to get out. AS FAST AS I COULD! The next time they called, I told them I would no longer be available to them for any help, whatsoever. The young lady wouldn't let me off the phone and persistently tried to engage me in colloquy; (which I was expecting, based on the blogs I had read) But, I remained firm and in control, and terminated the conversation. THEY HAVE NOT CALLED ME SINCE.

It's a lesson we must all learn. Be on your guard. Investigate before you invest. It sounded so nice, at first: the chance to help poor people; to join a cause that seems to be noble. But, since I am an attorney, I have a license, and a livelihood, to protect. And no one is going to sucker or cajole me into jeopardizing it. I thank the Lord for giving us the Internet, so we can learn about the nefarious influences that are out there.

It reminds me of an old TV show named "Racket Squad". "Racket Squad" ended with the quote: "There are people who will pat you on the back with one hand and pick your pocket with the other. And it could happen to you." Thank you.