The Challenge Ahead: Access to Justice

Resources

1. Substantive Topics

   1. Immigration & Due Process:

      1. Take Action Philly

         • City of Philadelphia Immigration Action Guide
         • Congressional Outreach Tips
         • Immigration & Sanctuary Cities: City of Philadelphia Action Guide
         • Planning for Custody and Care of Children: An Informational Guide for Immigrant Families (PLA)
         • Nine Ways for Lawyers to Help
         • What if I'm Picked up by ICE - Preparing for the Possibility of Being Detained, Deported and Separated From Your Children
         • Click Here to Sign Up To Volunteer

      2. National and Local Resources

         1. National Resources
            • American Bar Association Commission on Immigration
            • American Immigration Lawyers Association
            • Immigrant Legal Resource Center
            • Immigration Advocates Network
            • National Immigrant Justice Center
            • National Immigration Law Center
         2. Local Resources
            • American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania (ACLU PA)
            • City of Philadelphia Office of Immigrant Affairs
            • Community Legal Services (CLS)
            • Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
            • Esperanza
            • Friends of Farmworkers
            • Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of Pennsylvania (HIAS PA)
            • Mazzoni Center
            • Nationalities Service Center (NSC)
            • The Public Interest Law Center

   2. Legal Services Corporation Funding:

      • Statement of Chancellor Deborah R. Gross Opposing Proposal to Eliminate Legal Services Funding
      • Bar Association Urges Support for Full Funding of Legal Services Corporation
      • ABA helplegalaid.org Advocacy Resource Page
      • ABA Registry to become a Legal Aid Defender
      • Defunding Legal Services Corp. Would Have 'Dramatic' Impact in Pa.
      • Proposed Cuts to Philadelphia Legal Assistance called 'Devastating'
      • CLS Webpage: Fight for Fairness: Take Action to Save PLA and Other Legal Aid Programs Webpage
      • Support Letter from Law Firm Leaders
      • Support Letter from Leaders of Corporate Legal Departments
      • Support Letter from 148 U.S. Representatives

   3. Medicaid & Health Care:

      • City of Philadelphia Affordable Care Act Action Guide
      • Proposed Medicare Changes Would Cut Health Benefits for Older Adults and People with Disabilities
      • Seven Great Things about Enrolling 700,000 Pennsylvanians in Medicaid Expansion

2. General Pro Bono Resources:

   Chief Justice Saylor Letter: Thanking Bar for Support of Legal Aid and Encouraging Additional Pro Bono and Financial Support

   1. Philadelphia Bar Association Resources

      • Philadelphia Pro Bono Opportunities Guide
      • Directory of Public Interest Legal Organizations
      • Pro Bono Spotlight Features
        • Covington & Burling, LLP partnered with the Public Interest Law Center to help students with disabilities and their families.
        • A Philadelphia VIP volunteer helped an elderly woman win back her home after she entered into a risky lease-purchase agreement.
        • Morgan Lewis and Bockius, LLP partnered with Legal Clinical for the Disabled to represent an individual with physical disabilities in securing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
        • Ciardi Ciardi & Astin highlight their work with Military Assistance Project, helping a veteran file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy with several adversarial actions contesting individual debts.
        • Galfand Berger, LLP, volunteer, raised awareness of housing rights and supported disenfranchised individuals in housing cases through Face to Face Legal Center.
        • Duane Morris, LLP pro bono attorneys provided legal representation to immigrants and individuals with disabilities in partnership with Community Legal Services.
        • Ballard Spahr, LLP attorney reflects on his pro bono experience with HIAS PA working on an asylum case.
        • Reed Smith, LLP partnered with the Homeless Advocacy Project to represent a homeless, abused, and elderly individual.
        • Pepper Hamilton, LLP worked with Support Center for Child Advocates to represent children involved with the Philadelphia child welfare system.
        • Earp Cohn, P.C. joined SeniorLAW Center to protect the rights of an indigent senior at risk of losing her home.
        • Fox Rothschild, LLP, in partnership with the Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project, provided free bankruptcy counsel to impoverished Philadelphians.
        • Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, P.C. volunteered with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project to represent wrongfully convicted individuals.
        • Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP partnered with Education Law Center to advocate on behalf of two brothers with special needs gain access to educational services they needed.
      • Philadelphia Bar Association Resolution Adopting the Recommendations of the Pro Bono Task Force to Adopt an Annual 50 Hour Aspirational Standard for Pro Bono
      • 2002 Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor's Pro Bono Task Force Report
      • 2017 Pro Bono Task Force Report

   2. National Resources

      • ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono & Public Service
      • Pro Bono Institute
      • Association of Pro Bono Counsel

   3. Other Pennsylvania Resources

      • PAProBono.net
      • PA Law Help

3. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

   • Click Here to Learn About Volunteer Opportunities

   • Click Here to Sign up to Volunteer

   • Click Here to Submit a Volunteer Opportunity