Pennsylvania Organizations that Help with the Law
- Many Pennsylvania organizations provide legal assistance.Legal Law Justice image by Stacey Alexander from Fotolia.com
Pennsylvania has legal organizations throughout its borders that provide free or low-cost legal assistance and education to people in need. In addition to attorney groups that serve residents statewide, many cities have local organizations, law practices and individual attorneys that provide support. These groups and individuals not only protect individual rights, they often challenge laws and policies they feel are discriminatory against certain groups. - The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network helps provide free legal services to low-income residents by developing strategies and coordinating the efforts of 10 regional legal aid programs and six specialized legal resource programs. Together, the organizations represent more than 100,000 low-income clients in a given year and provide community education services to more than 400,000 people throughout the state. PLAN was founded in 1973 and, although it has undergone several name changes and revisions, it has maintained its primary mission to “support to improve the availability and quality of civil legal aid and direct legal services for low income people and victims of domestic violence in Pennsylvania.”
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Inc.
The Louise Brookins Building
118 Locust St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1414
717-236-9486
palegalaid.net - The national chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920. In Pennsylvania, the organization has regional headquarters in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. It has additional chapters throughout the state. The nonprofit state organization defines its mission as defending and advocating individual rights in Pennsylvania, especially those outlined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The ACLU provides education in addition to taking legal action on issues involving personal rights. (Reference 2)
American Civil Liberties Union
Harrisburg Office
P.O. Box 11761
Harrisburg, PA 17108
717-238-2258
aclupa.org - PAProbono.net is a resource for attorneys, public defenders and other legal advocates. It brings together legal aid programs, bar associations, referral programs and law firms specifically for those individual attorneys and practices that represent the indigent Pennsylvania. The site compiles news, litigation updates, research, opinions and other resources for those who offer pro bono legal aid.
PAProbono
paprobono.net - The Women's Law Project’s mission is “to create a more just and equitable society by advancing the rights and status of all women throughout their lives.” The organization was founded in 1974 by three feminist attorneys and has been involved in three U.S. Supreme Court cases on reproductive rights. It has challenged sex discrimination in the workplace and education as well as fought for the rights of gay and impoverished women.
Women's Law Project
125 S. 9th St., Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-928-9801
womenslawproject.org - The Community Justice Project bills itself as an "unrestricted" legal aid service. This means that it can provide assistance for most types of hardships, challenges and policies that discriminate against low-income residents of Pennsylvania. The group has offices in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Reading and Hazleton and serves residents throughout the state, except Philadelphia. Founded in 1997, CJP initially focused on housing and public benefits but has expanded into litigation areas such as education and employment.
Community Justice Project
Harrisburg Office
118 Locust St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-236-9486
communityjusticeproject.org
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
American Civil Liberties Union
PAProbono.net
Women’s Law Project
Community Justice Project
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