What We Do

We are the Consumer Legal Education Advocacy Network (C.L.E.A.N.) and we know that in the 21st Century, equal access to credit is fundamental to the financial success and well-being of individuals and families.

The Need

Most people understand that our credit score has great effect on whether or not we are able to get and afford a loan but most don’t know is that our credit score determines our ability to:

• Get a job

• Rent a home

• Keep a security clearance

• Get insurance

• Get a passport or visa

• Pass a background check, and,

• Open a bank account

The accuracy of our credit and other personal information on file with the credit reporting agencies (Think: Equifax-Experian-TransUnion) is critical to our ability to have full and fair access to credit. Without accurate credit, we are prevented from living the American dream of owning a home, saving for retirement, living and working securely and enjoying all of the wonderful freedoms our country has to offer.

The Goal

To provide free access to timely and relevant consumer legal literacy in order to materially help those who are homeless, unbanked, or unemployed.

Our Approach

We partner with other non-profits to identify populations that are most likely to benefit from specific types of free consumer legal literacy and then match those efforts with pro-bono attorneys for whom service to others is a fundamental tenant of their practice.   We also publish content that is designed to engage and awaken at-risk consumers to the power that basic legal knowledge has to clear obstacles from the path to their life’s successful progress. We know that each of us, at some point in our lives, will need help. We exist to help now so that others can be helped in the future. A “Pay It Forward” philosophy is at the heart of who we are and what we do.