Legal Aid Southeastern Pennsylvania Inc

TO PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AND VICTIMS OF DOMESTIIC VIOLENCE.

TOO MANY AMERICANS CANNOT AFFORD LEGAL HELP WHEN THEY FACE LIFE-CHANGING CHALLENGES IN COURT. LEGAL AID OF SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA (LASP) MEETS THIS NEED FOR THOUSANDS OF LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF BUCKS, CHESTER, DELAWARE, AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES. IT IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION SERVING THIS REGION WITH A FULL RANGE OF FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES. CIVIL LAW CASES HAVE PROFOUND AND POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING IMPACTS. FAMILIES CAN LOSE THEIR HOMES THROUGH EVICTION OR FORECLOSURE. PARENTS CAN LOSE CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN. FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS CAN LOSE SAFETY NET BENEFITS THAT PROVIDE FOOD, HOUSING AND MEDICAL CARE. UNLIKE CRIMINAL CASES, NO PUBLICLY FUNDED ATTORNEYS ARE PROVIDED FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE LEGAL HELP. THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY FACE LIFE-CHANGING HEARINGS ON THEIR OWN UNLESS THEY RECEIVE HELP FROM A LEGAL AID ORGANIZATION LIKE LASP. LASP UPHOLDS FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS IN OUR CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING SKILLED LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO THOSE WHO HAVE NO OTHER SOURCE OF HELP. LASP ATTORNEYS REPRESENT LOW-WAGE WORKERS, OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS, VETERANS, AND OTHER LOW-INCOME PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY. LASP'S PRIORITY IS TO PROTECT ACCESS TO BASIC NECESSITIES SUCH AS SHELTER, FOOD, MEDICAL CARE, PERSONAL SAFETY, AND FAMILY STABILITY. DURING ITS 2020-21 FISCAL YEAR, LASP ADVOCATES HANDLED MORE THAN 10,000 CASES THAT IMPACTED THE LIVES OF ALMOST 23,000 ADULTS AND CHILDREN. THE PANDEMIC GREATLY INCREASED THE NEED FOR LASP'S SERVICES. LASP NEVER SHUT DOWN ITS ADVOCATES REMAINED AVAILABLE FOR NEW AND ONGOING CLIENTS. EVICTIONS AND UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION CASES INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. LASP ATTORNEYS ENFORCED TENANTS' RIGHTS UNDER LOCAL AND FEDERAL EVICTION MORATORIA, COLLABORATED WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO CONNECT TENANTS TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE, HELPED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FILE CORRECT CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION, AND CONTINUED TO HANDLE MANY OTHER VITALLY IMPORTANT LEGAL PROBLEMS FOR CLIENTS. IN ADDITION TO REPRESENTING INDIVIDUALS, LASP WORKS WITH THE COURT SYSTEM TO CHANGE OR IMPROVE RULES AND PRACTICES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE TO HAVE A FAIR DAY IN COURT. PRO BONO VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS AND PARALEGALS MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR LASP TO SERVE LARGER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE. LASP DELIVERS ITS SERVICES THROUGH LOCAL OFFICES AND INNOVATIVE REGIONAL PROGRAMS. LASP HAS LOCAL OFFICES IN 7 COMMUNITIES. ADVOCATES IN THESE OFFICES HAVE VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. COLLECTIVELY, THEY EFFECTIVELY HANDLE THOUSANDS OF CASES EACH YEAR. THEY ALSO COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS TO HOST LEGAL CLINICS AND PROVIDE HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION SESSIONS. LASP'S REGIONAL UNITS PROVIDE SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE ACROSS LASP'S 2,177 SQUARE MILE SERVICE AREA. THE REGIONAL LEGAL HELPLINE IS A PRIMARY GATEWAY TO LASP SERVICES. TRAINED PARALEGALS AND ATTORNEYS LISTEN TO CALLERS' LEGAL CONCERNS ANDOPEN CASES FOR THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE. POTENTIAL CLIENTS CAN ALSO APPLY ONLINE THROUGH A LINK ON LASP'S WEBSITE. LASP ALSO PROVIDES SPECIALIZED LEGAL HELPLINES FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS AND VETERANS, ENSURING THAT CALLERS QUICKLY REACH LEGAL STAFF WITH SPECIAL TRAINING ON THESE SENSITIVE ISSUES. THE VETERANS ADVOCACY PROJECT (VAP) PROVIDES TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES TO MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY. VAP ATTORNEYS HANDLE A WIDE RANGE OF LEGAL PROBLEMS AND ARE ACCREDITED TO REPRESENT CLIENTS BEFORE THE VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION ON ISSUES SUCH AS VETERANS BENEFITS AND DISCHARGE UPGRADES. REGIONAL HOUSING UNIT ATTORNEYS PREVENT EVICTIONS, ADDRESS LANDLORD-TENANT PROBLEMS AND HANDLE HOMEOWNERSHIP ISSUES, INCLUDING MORTGAGE FORECLOSURES AND TAX SALES. THEIR EXPERTISE HELPS RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS STAY IN THEIR HOMES. IN ADDITION TO FORMING AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, LASP'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UNIT (CEU) MOBILIZES PRO BONO VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENT INTERNS TO HELP HUNDREDS OF AREA RESIDENTS CLEAR CRIMINAL RECORDS AND IMPROVE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND HOUSING. LASP'S REGIONAL PROTECTION FROM ABUSE PROJECT HAS DEDICATED LAWYERS IN EACH COUNTY WHO ARE EXPERTS IN WORKING WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS. THESE ADVOCATES HELP VICTIMS OBTAIN PROTECTION ORDERS AND RESOLVE OTHER LEGAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS CHILD CUSTODY. LASP'S WORK IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF STEADFAST FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, UNITED WAYS, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CONGREGATIONS, AREA BAR ASSOCIATIONS AND BAR FOUNDATIONS, AND THE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS OF ATTORNEYS, LAW FIRMS, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO BELIEVE IN EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICEABILITY STANDARDS.