Congratulations to CLASI’s John Whitelaw on being recognized as one of Delaware’s “Most Influential & Inspiring in Law” for 2026 by The News Journal.

Over the course of his 40-year legal career, John has been a tireless advocate for the fundamental rights and dignity of low-income and vulnerable people, impacting thousands of lives through individual representation, systemic advocacy, training, and mentorship.

Since 2017, John has served as CLASI’s Advocacy Director, working with attorneys and advocates statewide to pursue creative strategies to address legal issues faced by our clients, including people with disabilities, older adults, families facing eviction and housing discrimination, public benefits recipients, and manufactured housing residents. He also serves as Managing Attorney of CLASI’s Public Benefits Unit and Elder Law Program.

For much of his career, John has helped clients access the benefits they need to live healthy, stable lives–including cash and food assistance, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security Disability and SSI benefits. He has represented claimants at all administrative levels and in federal and state court. Prior to joining CLASI, John was an attorney with Community Legal Services of Philadelphia for nearly 20 years, where he was Co-Director of the Aging and Disabilities Unit, and he also worked for legal aid programs in West Virginia and Minnesota. 

A nationally recognized expert in public benefits and Social Security law, John provides training and support to many legal aid and nonprofit organizations and serves as a trusted mentor to public interest attorneys and advocates across the country. He frequently partners with organizations including Justice in Aging, the National Consumer Law Center, the National Health Law Program, and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives in efforts to protect and advance the rights of older adults, people with disabilities, and people with low incomes.

Here in Delaware, John provides advice and technical assistance to community partners statewide, including the Delaware Continuum of Care, Housing Alliance Delaware, and the Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association.

John’s contributions to the legal profession have also earned significant recognition. In 2023, he was appointed by the Supreme Court of Delaware to the Board of Bar Examiners, which oversees the testing and procedures for admission to the Delaware Bar. That same year, he received the Kandler Award from the ACLU of Delaware for his commitment to civil liberties and economic justice and the Legal Aid Attorney Award from the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives in recognition of his extensive work supporting and advising attorneys across the country, particularly on issues affecting low-income people with disabilities.

In addition, John received the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Excellence Award in 2014, the Suzanne H. Kaye Award for Advocacy from the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation in 2013, and the Philadelphia Intelligencer Unsung Hero Award in 2012.

We are proud to have John’s expertise, dedication, and commitment to equal justice at CLASI, and are grateful for all he has done to strengthen the legal aid community and improve the lives of Delawareans over the course of his career.

Congratulations, John!