Legal aid organizations offer access to legal services and remedies to qualifying individuals, including the needy, victims of domestic violence, victims of child abuse and neglect, people with disabilities, members of the LGBT community, homeless individuals and their families, low-income Pennsylvanians living with HIV/AIDS, farmworkers, senior citizens, and other categories of individuals in need of legal help.  Through legal pro bono (Latin; literally “for the public good”) programs, qualifying needy clients may be able to get free legal assistance from volunteer lawyers. 
 
The Legal Aid Organizations below are listed alphabetically.
 
AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
Provides legal assistance to low-income Pennsylvanians living with HIV/AIDS with issues including AIDS discrimination, access to healthcare, wills, living wills, power of attorney, Social Security disability benefits, welfare benefits, insurance coverage, housing, financial issues and debt, and immigration.
 
American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania
Defends and protects individual rights and personal freedoms through advocacy, education and litigation, in the areas of freedom of speech, the right to privacy, reproductive freedom, and equal treatment under the law. 
 
Client Assistance Program of Center for Disability Law & Policy (Philadelphia and Harrisburg)
Client Assistance Program (CAP) is an advocacy program for people with disabilities administered by the Center for Disability Law & Policy. CAP provides free assistance to individuals in need of services from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Blindness and Visual Services, Centers for Independent Living and other programs funded under federal law. 
 
Community Impact Legal Services (Chester County)
Free civil legal services to needy individuals and groups requiring assistance with consumer and housing matters. Consumer issues handled include telephone solicitation, automobile transaction fraud, and credit card issues; housing matters include subsidized and public housing issues, predatory mortgage lending, mortgage foreclosure and other matters. 
 
Community Justice Project of Commonwealth Advocacy Project (statewide, except Philadelphia)
Specializes in class action litigation and advocacy in local communities, state government and the legislature. Does not provide services in Philadelphia. Those who live in Philadelphia and require services similar to CJP need to contact Community Legal Services, see below.
 
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS)
Provides legal assistance to low-income Philadelphians who cannot afford legal counsel. CLS consists of nine different legal units: Community Economic Development, including the Childcare Law Project; Consumer Law; Elderly Law; Employment; Energy; Family Advocacy; Housing; Language Access; and Public Benefits, including the Advocating on Behalf of Children project (ABC).
 
Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project  (Philadelphia)
Provides direct, pro bono legal representation to low income individuals seeking to obtain the protection of Bankruptcy Court.
 
Delaware County Legal Assistance
Serving Delaware County. Types of cases handled: Bankruptcy, Consumer, Custody, Domestic Violence, Education, Housing, Individual Rights, Public Benefits, Real Estate, Torts, Wills and Estates.
 
Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania (formerly Disabilities Law Project) (statewide)
Operates statewide; the federally-mandated organization to promote and protect the civil rights of adults and children with disabilities. Free legal services to qualifying individuals with disabilities.
  
Education Law Center-PA  (statewide)
Works on making quality public education a reality for Pennsylvania’s children from low-income families, children of color, children with disabilities, English language learners, children in foster homes and institutions, and others.
 
Equality Advocates Pennsylvania (formerly the Center for Lesbian & Gay Civil Rights) (statewide)
Offers direct legal services for the LGBT community, with a mission to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals in Pennsylvania through direct legal services, education and policy reform.
 
Face to Face Legal Center (Germantown)
Provides services, including legal assistance, to needy individuals in Germantown.
 
Friends of Farmworkers 
Free legal representation to qualifying low-income farmworkers, mushroom workers, food processing workers, and workers from immigrant and migrant communities.
 
Good Shepherd Mediation Program (Philadelphia)
A neighborhood justice center catering to the Greater Philadelphia Area. Offers Mediation Program to people in conflict, helping them resolve their disputes without going to court. 
 
HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia 
Provides law-related immigration services to foreign-born individuals who seek asylum, family reunification, permanent legal status and citizenship in the United States.
 
Homeless Advocacy Project (Philadelphia)
Provides free legal aid and counseling to homeless individuals and families.
 
Juvenile Law Center (nationwide)
Promotes juvenile justice and child welfare reform in Pennsylvania and nationally through policy initiatives and public education forums. Provides legal services, public education and training services free of charge. Ensures that the juvenile justice and child welfare systems help children and youth become productive adults, through access to education, housing, physical and behavioral healthcare, employment opportunities and other services.
 
 Laurel Legal Services (servicing Westmoreland, Indiana, Armstrong, Clarion, Cambria and Jefferson Counties)
 
Free legal services to low-income clients. Cases include family, consumer and housing law, and public benefits. Assists victims of domestic violence in Protection from Abuse actions regardless of income.
 
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (servicing Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties)
Free civil legal services to low-income individuals, victims of domestic abuse and the elderly. Cases include landlord/tenant disputes, public housing, utilities, foreclosures, bankruptcy, denial or termination of government benefits, protection from abuse, custody, child dependency, divorce, license suspension and elder law issues. 
 
Legal Clinic for the Disabled   (Philadelphia and surrounding counties)
Free legal services to low-income individuals with physical disabilities in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania.
 
MidPenn Legal Services (servicing 18 counties in Central Pennsylvania)
Free civil legal services to low-income residents and survivors of domestic violence.
 
National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women  (nationwide)
A resource and advocacy center for arrested, convicted, or incarcerated battered women charged with crimes related to their battering. Does not provide direct representation to battered women charged with crimes - provides information and resources to defense teams.
 
Nationalities Service Center (Greater Philadelphia area)
Provides legal, social, educational, senior, and translation/interpretation services to qualifying immigrants and refugees in the Greater Philadelphia area. 
 
Neighborhood Legal Services Association  (Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence Counties)
Legal assistance to low income residents of four Southwestern Pennsylvania counties.
 
 
 North Penn Legal Services (servicing Northeastern Pennsylvania)
Free civil legal services to low-income individuals. Offers assistance with issues including family, housing, elderly, employment, public benefits, domestic violence and other matters.
 
 
Northwestern Legal Services (servicing 10 counties in Northwestern Pennsylvania)
Free legal representation to low-income individuals in need of assistance with civil legal matters.
 
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence  (statewide)
Click on the Publications button on the left for a variety of resources for victims of domestic violence, including domestic violence programs across Pennsylvania.
 
Pennsylvania Health Law Project  (statewide)
Free legal services to low-income consumers, seniors, and persons with disabilities who are having trouble accessing publicly funded healthcare coverage or services.
 
 Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center  (York, PA) 
Offers legal and educational resources to detained unrepresented immigrants, helping them evaluate and voice their defenses against deportation from the United States.
 
Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project  (statewide)
Provides assistance, including legal representation, to qualifying incarcerated or institutionalized low-income individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated within the institution.
 
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (formerly Pennsylvania Legal Services)
Provides guidance and funding for legal aid for the needy and for victims of domestic violence in Pennsylvania.
 
Pennsylvania Utility Law Project  (statewide)
Assists Pennsylvania’s low-income residential utility and energy consumers with having affordable utility/ energy services within their homes.
 
Philadelphia Bar Association’s Directory of Public Interest Organizations
 
Philadelphia LawWorks 
A project of Philadelphia VIP, Philadelphia LawWorks assists homeowners, nonprofits and small business owners by addressing their legal needs and by educating clients and the community about how to prevent/avoid legal problems.
 
 Philadelphia Legal Assistance (Philadelphia)
Free civil legal services to Philadelphia's low-income community. Among the areas of specialization are: mortgage foreclosure, SSI disability, welfare, divorce, domestic violence, custody, medical assistance, unemployment compensation, farm workers, and community education.
 
Philadelphia VIP
Provides legal services for low-income residents and families facing civil legal problems that threaten their basic human needs – shelter, employment, financial stability, education and health.  VIP handles any civil matter that is non-fee generation and to which there is no right to counsel. Individuals must be referred by a public interest agency for pro bono services. Non-profits & small businesses should contact VIP directly.
 
Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts  (Philadelphia Region)

Offers free or low-cost legal services to assist artists and arts and cultural organizations solve their arts-related legal issues. Operates throughout the 11-county Greater Philadelphia Region (includes the City of Philadelphia, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Northern Delaware).
 
Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia 
Provides free legal representation to individuals and organizations in Philadelphia and throughout the nation in civil rights cases. Focuses efforts on delivery of health care services to children, education funding and quality, the rights of persons with disabilities, environmental health and justice, fair housing, equal employment discrimination and urban policing. 
 
Regional Housing Legal Services (statewide)
Provides legal expertise and technical assistance to community-based organizations, to stimulate affordable housing development, neighborhood revitalization, and economic development programs.
 
SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)

Offers free legal services to seniors. Clients must be 60 years old or older and residents of Philadelphia. Serves victims of elder abuse and financial exploitation, elders facing housing crises and homelessness, and grandparents raising grandchildren.
 
Society Created to Reduce Urban Blight (SCRUB) (Philadelphia)
Promotes “healthy, vibrant and beautiful public spaces” throughout Philadelphia through advocacy, public awareness and education, community mobilization and legal action.
 
Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services (servicing Washington, Greene, Fayette and Somerset Counties)
Free legal services to low-income residents. Client representation in family, housing, consumer and income-benefit cases.
  
Support Center for Child Advocates (Philadelphia)
Provides free legal assistance and social work services to victims of child abuse and neglect in Philadelphia County. Utilizes a “whole child” representation model to achieve its goal of securing a permanent, nurturing environment in which each child can thrive.
 
Women Against Abuse Legal Center (Philadelphia)
Offers free services to victims of domestic violence, through Emergency Housing, Legal Services, Hotline Counseling, Education & Training, and Advocacy.
 
Women’s Law Project (statewide)
Free legal services to low-income women clients. Engages in high-impact litigation, advocacy, and education programs promoting the rights and status of women. Areas of expertise: Family Law; Lesbian and Gay Rights; Reproductive Rights; Violence Against Women; Welfare; Equity in Athletics, Education, Employment, and Public Accommodations. Offers brochures about Pregnancy, Rape, Abortion, Insurance Discrimination Against Victims of Domestic Violence, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, Protection from Abuse, and LGBT Rights.
 
Disclaimer: PMC does not provide legal advice or represent clients in court or other legal proceedings. This guide is created solely to help individuals navigate the courts. It does not serve as a substitute for legal advice and should not be interpreted as such.
 
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