Dr. Amy Hirsch

Biography

Amy Hirsch is currently Counsel at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, where she documents CLS’ history in public benefits class actions and advises CLS attorneys on systemic public benefits advocacy. Previously, she served as Managing Attorney at CLS’ Health Independence Unit and at CLS’ North Philadelphia Law Center. CLS is a nationally recognized non-profit law firm providing high-quality free representation to low-income Philadelphians across a range of civil issues. Amy has led and participated in state and federal civil litigation and administrative policy advocacy, with a particular concentration on welfare, health, SNAP/food stamps, and the interactions between welfare and family law as well as criminal law. Her advocacy has resulted in significant systemic changes in the administration of cash assistance, Medicaid, and food assistance programs, improving access to public benefits for low-income families, seniors, and low-wage unemployed individuals. Notably, she played an instrumental role in developing policies to protect survivors of domestic violence in accessing public benefits. Amy co-counseled with colleagues at Morgan Lewis to challenge a Trump Administration policy denying SNAP/Food Stamp Emergency Allotments to the lowest income households in Pennsylvania during the pandemic. In the case Gilliam v. USDA, her team obtained a Preliminary Injunction, resulting in a settlement of $712 million in retroactive SNAP benefits for Pennsylvanians and a change in policy nationally that continues to provide ongoing SNAP Emergency Allotments.

Research Interests