Resources
Legal Resources
The fastest way to speak with an advocate is to call the Family Law Hotline at 215-981-3838 between 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Many organizations offer free or low-cost help with your legal matters, proving that Philadelphia really is “The City That Loves You Back.” Most of these organizations are located in the 19102 and 19107 ZIP codes, so they’re accessible by public transportation and close to City Hall, The Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice and other Philadelphia courthouses.
This list of resources below will help you find someone to represent you or access information and/or additional services.
- Find someone to represent you
- get information or
- find other possible resources.
Find Someone To Represent You
- Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (C.L.S.)
1424 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.981.3700
C.L.S. (North Philly Office)
1410 W. Erie Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19140
215.227.2400
C.L.S. helps clients who have lower incomes with a variety of issues, including benefits, criminal records, disability, domestic violence, employment, housing, and more. C.L.S. provides free interpreters in Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Arabic, Korean, Bengal, Traditional Chinese, and several other languages.
- Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA)
42 S. 15th Street, Suite 500
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.981.3800
PLA provides help to clients with incomes at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. PLA provides a chart to determine if you are eligible for free assistance. If you qualify, PLA may be able to represent you through its: (1) Pennsylvania Farmworker Project; (2) Public Benefit Unit; (3) Consumer Housing Unit; or (4) Family Law Unit. Call ahead of time, and PLA will provide an interpreter for you.
- Philadelphia VIP
1500 Walnut Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.523.9550
Philadelphia VIP accepts cases that have been referred by Community Legal Services, Philadelphia Legal Assistance, and other service organizations. VIP handles a range of cases, including child support, employment, tax, disability, housing, child custody, special education, immigration, and more. VIP clients must have an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Defender Association of Philadelphia
1441 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.568.3190
The Defender Association of Philadelphia is a collection of attorneys that represent people who cannot afford an attorney in their criminal and mental health proceedings. They are sometimes known as Public Defenders. This organization is different from other free legal service providers, since only the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court may appoint counsel. For more information on how a Public Defender may be able to help you, call the office or check their list of clients’ frequently asked questions.
Specialized Legal Help
- Disability Rights Network of PA
1315 Walnut Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19107
800.692.7443
- Women Against Abuse Legal Center
100 South Broad Street, Suite 1341
Philadelphia, PA 19110
215.686.7082
Hotline: 866.723.3014
- Homeless Advocacy Project
42 S. 15th Street, 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.523.9595
- SeniorLAW Center
100 South Broad Street, Eighteenth Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19110
215.988.1244
Helpline: (877) PASRLAW
- Equality Advocates Pennsylvania (LGBT Rights)
1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 605
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215.731.1447
- AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania
1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215.587.9377
- Pennsylvania Health Law Project
123 Chestnut Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215.587.9377
- American Civil Liberties Union of PA
P.O. Box 40008
Philadelphia, PA 19106
800.745.2258
- Juvenile Law Center
1315 Walnut Street, 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215.625.0551
- Legal Clinic for the Disabled
1513 Race Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.587.3350
Philadelphia Family Legal Aide & Pro Bono Services
- Congreso de Latinos Unidos
216 West Somerset Street
Philadelphia, PA 19133
215.763.8870
Family, Domestic Violence, Health Care and Juvenile
Expungement Issues
An expungement is a way to clear your criminal record. It’s a legal order that requires the prosecutors, police, and other criminal justice agencies to erase something from a record. Under Pennsylvania law, any charges that did not result in conviction are eligible to be expunged.
- Chosen 300 Ministries, Inc.
3959 Lancaster Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215.243.0300
Chosen 300 Ministries, Inc. offers a free expungement services clinic every Monday from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Center City Outreach Center.
- Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS)
1424 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.981.3700
CLS helps people to clear their records through the expungement, sealing, and pardon processes. CLS also offers expertise on whether individuals have or will benefit from automated record sealing.
- Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE)
230 S. Broad Street, Suite 1102
Philadelphia, PA 19102
267.519.5323
To date, PLSE has filed several thousand expungement petitions in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Over 95% of those petitions have been granted.
- Defender Association of Philadelphia
1441 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.568.3190
The Defender Association of Philadelphia
- RecordGone
501 Cambria Avenue, Mailbox #332
Bensalem, PA 19020
412.568.1432
RecordGone offers a free Pennsylvania expungement test on its website to see if you are eligible for expungement.
- The Reawakening Agency
1338 Pennington Road
Philadelphia PA, 19151
267.241.7319
The Reawakening Agency supports people who are transitioning after experiencing incarceration or homelessness.
Financial Literacy
Ms. Karen James
Senior Vice President
Citizens Bank
1501 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.561.9813
GED Courses-Free
While most GED classes require payment of a registration fee, there are a few websites that offer free online GED classes and other online programs. Read below for a small sampling of free online GED courses.
- 5 Free GED Classes for Adults | Thoughtco.com
- Free Online GED Classes: 2021 Courses | Test Prep Toolkit
- Free Online GED Classes | Study.com
- Free GED Classes Online | GED® and HiSet® Preparation
Employment
James (Jim) Caldwell
Employment Navigator
Health Promotion Council – Focus on Fathers
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
267.879.5734
Housing
Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program
Habitat for Humanity Resources for Homeowners
Emergency Rental Assistance
Philadelphia Eviction Protection Project
COVID-19 resources
Testing Sites – some of these are FREE of cost
Cap4Kids – List of resources from where to get tested, how to apply for rental assistance or eviction protection, locate food banks, find essential job listings etc.
Vaccine sign-up list – Find information on how you get vaccinated and reserve your spot in line.
Stimulus Check Issues
Employees Affected by Covid-19/Unemployment
Child care for essential employees
Free meals and safe play spaces while schools are closed
Coats and Clothing
Our Closet – Powered by JFCS
2100 Arch Street, 5th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
267.670.0249
267.256.2179
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