Providing free civil legal services to low-income residents of Philadelphia since 1996

Lit Brothers Building

Photo credit: Maureen Olives

Welcome to Philadelphia Legal Assistance

For more than 20 years, Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) has provided free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in Philadelphia.

About 30% of the people in Philadelphia live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level. For those who are low-income, elderly, or disabled, our legal assistance is often crucial for them to protect their homes, their children, their safety, and their livelihood. PLA is dedicated to helping those who cannot afford legal counsel navigate the legal system and understand and safeguard their rights.

On our web site you can learn about PLA, our advocates, our departments, the types of legal problems we handle, and how to get legal assistance.

COVID-19 Updates

Walk-in intake is closed because of the COVID-19 virus. PLA is continuing to provide services, but staff are working remotely. There are two ways you can apply for assistance:

Call us during our telephone intake hours; or
Fill out an on-line intake application.

Closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic are impacting access to unemployment compensation benefits. PLA is tracking developments in this area. Visit the Unemployment and COVID-19 page for more information.

Philadelphia’s Domestic Relations Court is physically closed, but filings can be made and proceedings are taking place remotely. Visit the Family Law during COVID-19 page for how to get help during court closures.

How do I apply for legal help?

Before you can become a client of PLA, you need to go through the "intake" process. Intake can take place in person or over the phone, during the designated intake hours. See our telephone intake hours for more information. You can also apply on-line using our on-line intake system:

News

White background and orange details reading "Philadelphia Legal Assistance Power Moves. Susan Pearlstein [named] Senior Attorney, Violence Prevention and Policy Strategist"

Tuesday, August 4, 2020 — Power Moves: Susan Pearlstein Named Senior Attorney, Violence Prevention and Policy Strategist

Monday, July 27, 2020 — PLA Wins Unemployment Benefits for UberX Driver in Lowman v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review

A graphic with a white background and orange details announces, "Philadelphia Legal Assistance Rising Leaders: Leslie Allen and Gabriela Rodriguez named new Supervising Attorneys of the Family Law Unit"

Thursday, July 23, 2020 — Rising Leaders: Gabriela Rodriguez and Leslie Allen Named New Supervising Attorneys of the Family Law Unit

Friday, July 17, 2020 — Make Sure Your Contact Information is Up to Date!

News from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network

News from PALawHelp.org

Resources from other web sites

General legal information is available from PALawHelp.org.

Information about Utilities, Landlord-Tenant law, Language Access, and other areas of law is available from Community Legal Services.

Donate Now

As a non-profit, we rely on grants and gifts to fund our work. There are several ways you can donate to PLA. To make a donation right now, click:

Medical-Legal-Community Partnership

Since 2013, PLA has operated a Medical-Legal-Community Partnership (MLCP) in collaboration with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. The MLCP is located at Health Center #3 and at Health Center #4 in West Philadelphia. The MLCP is an innovative service delivery model that brings together health care providers, legal advocates, social workers, and other healthcare staff to help individuals, families, and communities improve their health and quality of life. On the cutting edge of service delivery, the MLCP has many committed stakeholders across the City of Philadelphia, including leaders in the fields of public health, legal services, academia, and the private bar.

The MLCP is the recipient of grants from the Legal Services Corporation's Pro Bono Innovation Fund and the Philadelphia Health Partnership.

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