If you live in Philadelphia and can’t afford a private lawyer, you’re not alone. Many residents rely on free or low-cost legal aid every day. This guide shows where to turn — quickly — for legal help in Philly, what problems legal aid can help with, and what to expect when you call.
Major Legal Aid Organizations in Philadelphia
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS)
- Who they help: Low-income residents of Philadelphia County.
- What cases they take: Housing and tenant issues (evictions, unsafe housing, utility shut-offs, landlord/tenant disputes), public benefits, debt & consumer issues, utilities, family law, senior issues, and help with criminal-record related civil problems.
- How to contact: Call 215-981-3700. Intake is by phone. CLS serves clients across multiple offices.
- Eligibility: Generally low income. CLS usually helps people whose income is at or below ~125% of the federal poverty line.
Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA)
- Who they help: Low-income Philadelphians who can’t afford private legal services.
- What cases they take: Civil-law matters including housing, family law, public benefits, and other issues depending on eligibility and program capacity.
- How to contact: Intake via phone or online application. PLA operates a general intake hotline.
- Eligibility: Based on financial need and type of legal issue. Contact PLA to confirm.
Philadelphia VIP (Volunteer & Pro Bono Lawyers Network)
VIP coordinates volunteer attorneys to represent low-income residents of Philadelphia when they cannot afford a lawyer — especially for civil matters affecting basic needs.
- Who they help: Eligible low-income individuals and families who lack resources for private representation.
- What cases they handle: Civil legal issues including housing, family law, debt/consumer problems, and other matters depending on volunteer availability.
- How to contact: Apply through the VIP website for matching with a volunteer attorney.
- Notes on eligibility: Even if you qualify financially, representation depends on whether a volunteer attorney takes your case. VIP often helps when other legal-aid providers are full.
Free or Low-Cost Clinics & Hotlines in Philadelphia
- Philly Tenant Hotline — For renters facing eviction or housing crises. Call 267-443-2500 to get free legal help or referral.
- Public Interest Law Center — Works on civil-rights and public-interest issues including housing rights, discrimination, environmental justice, and access to services. May take broader-impact cases in the Philadelphia region.
- Law-school legal clinics (e.g., Temple Legal Aid Office) — Offers legal representation in civil-law matters to qualifying low-income residents, often via clinics like Family Justice Clinic or Community Lawyering Clinic. Contact at (215) 204-1800.
What Legal Aid in Philadelphia Usually Doesn’t Handle
- Many legal aid providers focus on **civil matters** — not criminal defense. If you face criminal charges, you’d need a public defender or private lawyer. (Criminal-defense agencies like the public-defender office handle those.)
- Complex commercial litigation, business disputes, or high-value corporate cases — these are generally outside the scope of free legal-aid organizations in Philadelphia, which focus on individuals, families, and low-income clients.
- Even for civil issues, resources are limited. Some eligible requests receive only limited help (advice, paperwork assistance, referrals) rather than full representation when demand is high.
Emergency Legal Help in Philadelphia
If you’re facing an urgent problem — eviction, unsafe housing, threat to stability or benefits — these resources may provide faster help:
- Call the Philly Tenant Hotline (267-443-2500) immediately if you got an eviction notice or fear eviction — especially if you live in neighborhoods covered by the city’s “Right to Counsel” program.
- Check with CLS — many housing-related emergencies (eviction, utilities, unsafe housing) are within their housing services.
- Apply to VIP for volunteer-lawyer help — some urgent civil matters may qualify for pro bono representation when volunteers are available.
How to Prepare Before You Call
Having information and documents ready helps legal-aid offices decide quickly whether they can help you. Before contacting any organization, try to gather:
- Proof of income or public benefits (pay stubs, unemployment, benefit statements) — many providers screen based on income eligibility.
- Housing or tenancy documents if your issue is about housing — lease agreements, eviction notices, rent receipts, utility shut-off or code-violation letters, landlord communications.
- Any court or legal paperwork you have (notices, summons, court dates, benefit denial letters, debt/collection notices).
- Your contact information, address, and household details (who lives with you, income sources, dependents).
- If you have upcoming deadlines (eviction hearing, court date, benefit expiration) — note them before calling. This may affect urgency and priority.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Volunteer-lawyer & pro bono networks like VIP — if you don’t qualify for legal aid, you may still get help if a volunteer attorney accepts your case.
- Law-school clinics (e.g. Temple Legal Aid Office) — sometimes they take cases for low or no cost under supervision of licensed attorneys.
- Self-help resources and referrals via the statewide Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) — helpful if you need legal information, forms, or referral to other aid organizations.
- Public-interest organizations working on systemic issues (like Public Interest Law Center) — if your case involves discrimination, housing-policy issues, or community-wide problems, these organizations may accept it even if you don’t meet typical eligibility thresholds.
Key Takeaways
- Philadelphia has multiple nonprofit legal-aid providers and pro bono networks that help low-income people — including CLS, PLA, and VIP — plus hotlines and law-school clinics for specific needs.
- Many civil-legal issues — housing, evictions, benefits, debt, family law — may qualify for free or low-cost help in Philadelphia.
- Emergency problems like eviction or unsafe housing often get priority, but it helps to call early and have all your documents ready.
- Even if you don’t qualify for full legal aid — there are still options: volunteer lawyers, clinics, self-help resources, and referral programs.