Finding a lawyer in our city as a low income resident can be extremely difficult; But what if we told you that most residents that make less than 27,000 a year as an individual could potentially be qualified for free legal help?
Our latest workshop is with Philadelphia Legal Assistance (or PLA), where Philadelphia residents can receive legal help from experienced lawyers, upon qualification. For so many residents in our city, the prospect of being able to talk to and afford quality legal help might seem just out of reach. That’s why PLA exists; they’re the only federally funded legal assistance program in Philly – and they can help with a wide range of legal questions. Community Engagement Associate Tessa Hannigan explains that “PLA can help people with a wide variety of issues including consumer housing, family law, unemployment compensation, IRS disputes, bankruptcy, and more.” Tessa also added that “We’re also connectors and if for some reason we cannot help you, the paralegals who answer our hotlines are often able to connect you with someone who can.”
At the workshop, we’ll go over what PLA is and the work that they do. We’ll talk about the intake system and how to contact them so attendees know how to get the ball rolling. After that, we’ll look at some of the areas of law in which they practice and provide some background on how participants can learn more and contact somebody who can potentially help them out. In talking about the workshop, Tessa remarks that “I think you should attend because although we can only assist people who are financially eligible, for those people, PLA’s services are free.” Tessa also explains that “Being armed with legal information and the knowledge of who to turn to can turn panic to empowerment and help you be a resource for your community.”
So, if you or someone in your household or community could benefit from PLA’s services and you’re wondering about the program and whether you’re qualified, join our workshop on May 25th, 2023 via Zoom to have your questions answered!
(Note: This session will NOT include legal advice nor is it a guarantee of eligibility.)
