how to find a pro bono lawyer in pa

by Dr. Elna Bartoletti Jr. 9 min read

How do you find a pro bono attorney?

You can directly contact those lawyer volunteers who publicize their participation in the pro bono program in their local communities. Complete the PBA Pro Bono Program Legal Assistance Request Form. The office will assess the request and refer it to a volunteer lawyer. Visit Pennsylvania Free Legal Answers.

What to know before hiring a pro bono family lawyer?

PAProbono.net is an online legal community that provides information and resources for pro bono attorneys, legal aid attorneys, public defenders, and other legal advocates interested in increasing access to justice. This site contains resources to assist in your representation of low income or disadvantaged clients.

How to find legal aid and pro bono lawyers?

You can also go to the main PBA pro bono site for lawyers, and check out and sign up on paprobono.net. Check out the https://www.paprobono.net/program-directory/ The Pro Bono Program Directory is a searchable database of organizations that are seeking the assistance of volunteer pro bono advocates.

What does pro bono really mean?

Are you searching for a top legal aid & pro bono lawyer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania? Through the Super Lawyers directory, we index attorneys who practice quality and excellence in their work. It is easy to browse legal aid & pro bono attorney listings in your immediate area, search for a specific individual referred by a friend, or start narrowing your search by practice area.

Who was awarded the Pro Bono Award 2015?

Read more about the award. Meg Groff was awarded a 2015 Pro Bono Award on during the Bucks County Pro Bono Reception, Oct. 28, for her support of the needs of the indigent for most of her 31-year professional career, beginning in the early 1980's.

Who is the lawyer for Bucks County?

As part of the celebration of the 12th National Pro Bono Week, Bucks County lawyer Ronald J. Smolow of Newtown was recognized with a 2020 PBA Pro Bono Award on Oct. 27 for his support of low-income tenants facing eviction.

What is pro bono in law?

Pro bono is a Latin term that refers to work a lawyer does for free. All lawyers are encouraged to devote some of their time to volunteer representation of those who otherwise would lack access to justice. These cases are taken "pro bono.".

What is legal aid?

"Legal aid" refers to a group of lawyers who work exclusively for the clients who qualify for their services—poor clients. These attorneys are expert in matters of landlord-tenant law, consumer law, welfare matters, and other areas of law that many poor people encounter. In keeping with the origins of the concept of legal aid (see "Where Did Legal Aid Come From?"), they are on the lookout for cases that can result in legal reform, not just a victory for a solitary litigant.

When did legal aid start?

American legal aid began in the late 19th century as the Legal Aid Society of New York, which sought to protect German immigrants from predatory lenders, unscrupulous landlords, and greedy merchants.

Is the internet secure?

The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties. A legal aid or legal services office is a group of lawyers who represent people who cannot afford to pay a lawyer.

What is a pro bono lawyer?

The basic idea is that an attorney offers free legal services to those who cannot pay for them. But it actually means far more than that. A pro bono attorney isn’t really any different from a regular attorney. They just offer their services for free or a discounted rate ...

What is pro bono legal services?

2. Delivery of legal services at substantially reduced fee to persons of limited means; or. 3. Participation in activities for improving the law, the legal system or the legal profession. Essentially, using pro bono legal services is how to get a lawyer with no money. But not everyone qualifies for a pro bono attorney.

How many hours of pro bono do lawyers have?

Do lawyers have to provide pro bono legal services? Each licensed attorney is supposed to provide approximately 50 hours of pro bono legal work each year. This is not monitored by the American Bar Association. Rather, it is an ideal to which lawyers should aspire.

How many hours of pro bono publico should a lawyer render per year?

A lawyer should aspire to render at least (50) hours of pro bono publico legal services per year.

What is pro bono assistance?

Pro bono assistance is available in civil justice instances for those who cannot afford legal representation — the typical cutoff is those whose income is less than 125% of the federal poverty level. Enjuris tip: There are also specific programs for the elderly, the disabled, veterans and victims of domestic abuse.

What is the legal services corporation?

There is also the Legal Services Corporation, established by Congress in 1974, which can help you find a legal aid firm near you. The Corporation provides funding to 133 clinics all over the country. If you just have a legal-related question, you can also try ABA Free Legal Answers.

What is limited means?

2. Charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational organizations in matters that are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means; and. b. Provide any additional services through: 1.