John Whitelaw is the Advocacy Director at Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. in Wilmington, Delaware. Founded in 1946, CLASI is a statewide nonprofit law firm whose mission is to combat injustice through creative and persistent civil legal advocacy on behalf of vulnerable and underserved Delawareans. CLASI is also Delaware's designated Protection and Advocacy agency for individuals with disabilities, one of only two such combined legal aid and P & A programs in the country. Previously John was Co-Director of the Aging and Disabilities unit at the North Philadelphia office of Community Legal Services, Inc of Philadelphia. He was with CLS for almost twenty years. For much of his career John has represented clients in matters involving the Department of Public Welfare and the Social Security Administration. John has represented claimants at all administrative levels and in federal and state court. John has been a presenter at many national and regional trainings. John previously worked for legal aid programs in Wilmington DE (1995—1997), Beckley WV (1990-1995) and Minneapolis MN (1987-90). He also worked for the Federal Public Defender Association in Philadelphia in the Capital Habeas Unit (1997-1998). John received his law degree from Stanford Law School in 1986. He graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1983 where he majored in History.