Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP)

?? Spring Break with a Purpose!? NORRISTOWN - Shoutout to Melissa Bredbenner & Emily Hellwig, students at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. They spent their break giving back through #probono service at LASP in Norristown. From March 12-14, 2025, they worked with Community Engagement Unit Staff Attorneys Laurel Anderson and Megan Reinprecht, who provided training in record clearing, including expungement, limited access, and pardons. The students drafted and filed petitions with LASP attorneys. At lunch-and-learns, Staff Attorneys Michelle R. Dempsky presented on landlord-tenant work, and Staff Attorney Victoria LeCates presented on dependency. Pictured (from left): Laurel Anderson, CEU Staff Attorney; Melissa Bredbenner, Penn Carey Law 3L student; Megan Reinprecht, CEU Staff Attorney; and Emily Hellwig, Penn Law 2L student.

Congratulations to Richard A.J. Prebil, Esq. and all Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. Excellence Awards recipients. We look forward to honoring your achievements on March 27!

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA will host a virtual CLE, “Fair Credit Reporting Act Primer for the Legal Services Attorney,” for LASP staff and other attorneys Monday, March 31, 2025 from 3-4 p.m. EDT. Cary L. Flitter and Andrew M. Milz of Flitter Milz, P.C. will present the CLE, which is designed to help attorneys develop their understanding of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and how it can help low-income clients. The CLE will focus on: * Understanding how the credit reporting industry works and how to read a typical credit report; * The fundamental duties of a consumer reporting agency and furnisher of credit information; and * Permissible reasons to obtain and use credit reports. LASP is an accredited CLE provider for Pennsylvania attorneys only. Participants can earn one substantive CLE credit. Register in advance: https://lnkd.in/eMiX6Kas The session is free for LASP staff and other attorneys who are willing to accept a #probono case referral for LASP clients. Attorneys who do not wish to volunteer are asked to make a $20 donation to LASP. bit.ly/cle-donation

PHILADELPHIA - Shining a spotlight on domestic violence, LASP attorney Kimberly Hollenback noted that nationally, one in three women and one in four men are victims. In a conversation at the International Women’s Day Festival in Philadelphia March 8, 2025, she emphasized the importance of awareness, collaboration and community partnerships to address domestic violence and shared the challenges and requirements of obtaining Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders in Pennsylvania. "A lot of domestic violence is just being aware of it, so that you can recognize it and get people sort of the help that they need," she said. The festival was held at Christ Church Neighborhood House in Old City. Née Danse/Theatre Company hosted the event. Kim is VOCA Supervising Attorney & Media Office Managing Attorney. She works with survivors of domestic violence to secure Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders and other critical legal protections in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. She bases her practice in Delaware County and supervises LASP's work related to domestic violence in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. #InternationalWomensDay?#IWD2025

Pro bono opportunity for Montgomery County attorneys! ?? LASP is seeing an increase in low-income clients seeking help with divorces in Montgomery County. Pro bono attorneys are needed to represent clients in simple, no fault, no asset divorces. The divorces LASP handles are either by consent or one-year separation. The divorces do not involve equitable distribution, custody, support, or fault grounds. Typically, a #probono volunteer will not need to appear at a court proceeding in these cases. The work can have a significant impact on helping LASP clients move on with their lives. Interested attorneys, please contact Melina Dixon, LASP Staff Attorney & Montgomery County Pro Bono Coordinator, at [email protected]. Additional volunteer opportunities are available. Please visit our #probono webpage (link in comments). #volunteertuesday MONTGOMERY BAR ASSOCIATION

Join Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP) for a free legal outreach March 20-April 28, 2025. We are working with local legislators and community partners. See our website events page for registration details & other information. (link in comments) IN-PERSON ~ Expungement Clinic in Upper Moreland - March 20 (with Rep. Nancy Guenst & Sen. Maria Collett, at Upper Moreland Free Public Library) ~ Legal Outreach in Lansdale - March 27 & April 24* (at Manna on Main Street / North Penn Commons) ~ Landlord-Tenant Forum in Chester City - April 2 (with Sen. John Kane) ~ 13th annual Chester County Single Mothers' Conference in West Chester - April 5 ~ Legal Aid Outreach in Upper Darby - April 5 (with Breaking Bread Community Shelter & Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law) ~ Legal Clinic in Exton - April 9 (at Chester County United Way & in partnership with PA CareerLink? Chester County) ~ Legal Aid Clinic in Norristown - April 10 (at Norristown Hospitality Center) ~ Expungement Clinic in Bristol - April 26 (at Bucks County Community College, Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks) ~ Senior Wills Clinic in Chester City - April 28* with Rep. Leanne Krueger & Senator John Kane VIRTUAL ~ Pardon Clinic - April 9 *volunteer opportunity (see our pro bono page ~ link in comments)

Join Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP) for a free legal outreach March 20-April 28, 2025. We are working with local legislators and community partners. See our website events page for registration details & other information. (link in comments) IN-PERSON ~ Expungement Clinic in Upper Moreland - March 20 (with Rep. Nancy Guenst & Sen. Maria Collett, at Upper Moreland Free Public Library) ~ Legal Outreach in Lansdale - March 27 & April 24* (at Manna on Main Street / North Penn Commons) ~ Landlord-Tenant Forum in Chester City - April 2 (with Sen. John Kane) ~ 13th annual Chester County Single Mothers' Conference in West Chester - April 5 ~ Legal Aid Outreach in Upper Darby - April 5 (with Breaking Bread Community Shelter & Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law) ~ Legal Clinic in Exton - April 9 (at Chester County United Way & in partnership with PA CareerLink? Chester County) ~ Legal Aid Clinic in Norristown - April 10 (at Norristown Hospitality Center) ~ Expungement Clinic in Bristol - April 26 (at Bucks County Community College Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks) ~ Senior Wills Clinic in Chester City - April 28* with Rep. Leanne Krueger & Senator John Kane VIRTUAL ~ Pardon Clinic - April 9 *volunteer opportunity (see our pro bono page ~ link in comments)

CHESTER City - Please join Rep. Leanne Krueger & Sen. John Kane for a Senior Legal Clinic Monday, April 28, 2025, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The free clinic will take place at Wilson Center, Chester Township Building, 1150 Engle St., Chester, PA 19013. Seniors (60+) who qualify for LASP services can get help with simple wills, durable powers of attorney and healthcare directives. Sign up & questions: Contact Cassidy Heiserman at [email protected] or 610-230-6074. #Probono volunteers also can contact Cassidy to learn more about this event.

Join us in Upper Darby Saturday, April 5, 2025! Breaking Bread Community Shelter will host Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP) and Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law for a free legal outreach, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at 7200 Chestnut St., Upper Darby, PA 19082. (Long Lane entrance) The clinic is designed to help people experiencing homelessness / low incomes. Thanks to Troutman Pepper Locke LLP for providing hashtag#probono support! Legal issues the clinic may be able to address include custody & family, consumer / debt relief, Social Security, Unemployment Compensation, expungements & Clean Slate 3.0, Medicaid, SNAP, housing, landlord-tenant, Veterans benefits, domestic violence, utilities (gas, electric, water), legal problems caused by Hurricane Ida and more. Questions? Contact Charles Burrows at [email protected] or 484-209-0885. LASP serves Delaware, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties.

WEST CHESTER - The 13th annual Chester County Single Mothers Conference will be Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Oscar Lasko YMCA, 1 E. Chestnut St., West Chester, PA 19380. The theme is “Strength in Your Story.” Free registration is through Eventbrite. (See link in comments.) Presented by the Chester County Community Collaborative, the free event will offer community connections, childcare, workshops, pampering, lunch, snacks and more. Stop by Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP)’s table at this event, or sign up to meet individually with an attorney. The conference provides an opportunity for single mothers to gain support, resources and empowerment through various activities and networking.