As a community of lawyers, a community of Philadelphians and as part of our global community, we have a responsibility to look out for each other and to offer help when and however we can.

“The Young Lawyers Division will hold its mid-year service project this summer. Our project will be cleaning up Philadelphia and making its green spaces more beautiful…. It’s an open invitation to save the world.”

One of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation’s core functions is engaging the community in support of legal aid. Our annual awards are one of the many ways we do that; by recognizing attorneys doing outstanding legal work in support of legal aid.

Although Law Week occurs only once every year, it serves as a good reminder for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association, as well as all lawyers, attorneys, and Judges, that the ultimate goal of the legal profession is to help people, especially those who may not have the opportunity to obtain legal advice or receive education about the legal system.

Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts recently joined with Common Cause Pennsylvania, PA Budget and Policy Center and The New Pennsylvania Project to hold a program on “Threats to Pennsylvania’s Constitution.”

Every legal professional and/or their family members are impacted by mental health or substance use challenges, either directly or indirectly. Every article or presentation involving Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers helps to break down the stigma surrounding these difficulties

HAP has successfully represented more than 2,800 disabled individuals – homeless people or at risk of becoming homeless -- on their claims for federal SSI benefits. HAP has maintained a 98% success rate with an average processing time of approximately 58 days from application filing to decision. This sharply contrasts to claims filed outside of HAP’s SOAR Project, which can take 18-24 months from application until administrative hearing decision and are often denied. 

Although we each had experience litigating large commercial disputes, this slip and fall case was a bit outside our comfort zone. Relying on teamwork and the countless resources provided by VIP, we offered our help.