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- Sponsorships: Fête for Justice! 4 Freedoms, 4 Counties, 4 Justice!
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PA Supreme Court approves CLE credit for pro bono service
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Veterans: Nationwide settlement for post-9/11 veterans
- Chester Co. Mobile Home Project volunteer trainings
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CLE: What can a lawyer do in a disaster? Hurricane Ida response
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CLE: Language Access to Pennsylvania Courts
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Child Tax Credit & tax resources
- Hurricane Ida: How to appeal a FEMA decision
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Reentry, Resetting & Redemption: LASP & Safe Corridors Pardon Symposium with Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry's + reentry leaders
- March-April outreach | Resources | New jobs | & more
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Sponsorship opportunities: LASP 20+ Fête for Justice! |
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Join Legal Aid of Southeastern PA in celebrating 20+ years as a regional legal aid program serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. Sponsorships are available!
As a sponsor, you are recognizing 20+ years of advocacy that has impacted hundreds of thousands of people, and are propelling LASP forward to meet new challenges. With your sponsorship, you enjoy all the fun of the Fête, plus recognition tailored to your sponsorship level.
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New PA Supreme Court ruling for CLEs |
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Get CLE credit for your pro bono service! |
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The Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board has formally approved CLE credit for pro bono service. The Board also announced changes in rules that offer lawyers the option of completing a portion of their CLE requirement with credits earned through pro bono service.
The PA Supreme Court issued an Order (click image at right for one-page PDF) on Jan. 31, 2022. Pa.R.C.L.E. Rule 108 (e) and related CLE Regulations have been updated to reflect this change.
The new amendments allow lawyers to earn one (1) CLE credit for every five (5) hours of pro bono service completed through an Accredited Provider of Pro Bono CLE. A maximum of three (3) credit hours earned in this manner may be applied towards the annual CLE requirement. Work is required to be completed through legal service providers accredited by the CLE Board and performed for a person of limited means or charitable organization.
Note: Legal Aid of Southeastern PA is already an accredited CLE provider through this program. Visit our Pro Bono webpage at lasp.org/pro-bono to learn more, sign up to volunteer, and/or connect with one of our Pro Bono coordinators.
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2022 Chester County Mobile Home project |
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Volunteer training: Join us March 4 or 17 to learn how YOU can help with this year's tax reassessment project |
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**Stay tuned to lasp.org/events or lasp.org/pro-bono. Zoom registration links will be added soon!. Until the links are posted, sign up by emailing Brian Doyle at bdoyle@lasp.org.
The 2022 Chester County Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Project is starting! Join us for a free volunteer training on Friday, March 4 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. or Thursday, March 17 from 2-3 p.m. Volunteers will help mobile home owners fill out paperwork needed for tax reassessments.
From 2019-2021, this project has helped 756 mobile home owners save an average of $883 per year in taxes, or $6.7 million over 10 years. LASP and United Way of Chester County are partners in the project.
Questions? Contact Brian Doyle, LASP Staff Attorney & Chester County Pro Bono Coordinator, at bdoyle@lasp.org.
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Bar association CLEs & events |
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Montgomery Bar Association |
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March 17 CLE: What Can Lawyers Do in a Disaster (virtual), in response to Hurricane Ida
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Speakers:
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Shrushti Kothari, Esq., Disaster Grants Program Counsel II at Legal Services Corp. & ABA YLD Disaster Legal Services Team Lead for Hurricane Ida in PA
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Sara Planthaber, Esq., LASP Staff Attorney
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Moderator: Kathryn M. Palladino, Esq., LASP Staff Attorney
This CLE will offer an overview of the federal law related to disasters and a local perspective focused on helping victims of Hurricane Ida. Attorneys from any county with an interest in disaster legal aid are encouraged to attend!
Attorneys serve as second responders in times of disaster and can help disaster survivors recover and navigate their legal issues. Learn how various disaster benefits and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs can help your client, how to navigate the disaster cycle, what the new changes in disaster law are, how to draft a compelling FEMA appeal, and more!
CLE fee: $35 Montgomery Bar Association member or $50 non-member. Any attorney who attends the seminar and agrees to take a case through Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, or volunteers at a LASP event, will have their CLE cost refunded! A post-seminar survey with more details will follow the seminar.
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March 24 CLE: Language Access to Pennsylvania Courts (virtual)
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Thursday, March 24 from 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. (free webinar)
- 1 CLE credit substantive, 0.5 credit for ethics
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Register at PLAN: https://bit.ly/33NfceV
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN) is hosting a webinar, Language Access to Pennsylvania Courts, to provide an overview of current policy governing language access to the courts, as well as enforcement tools.
Topics will include:
- The right to a qualified interpreter at no cost
- Right to translation of vital documents
- Advance notice of the right to an interpreter and how to request one
- Interpretation for conducting general business with the court and for services outside the courtroom
- Complaint process
- Ethical duty to communicate with clients
- Examples of non-compliance with language rights
- Time permitting: How PLAN advocates can work together to ensure that clients who do not speak English and clients who are deaf/hard of hearing are provided with the language services to which they are entitled.
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Veterans Advocacy Project |
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Nationwide settlement secures relief for post-9/11 Navy & Marine Corps veterans |
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NEW HAVEN, CT – The Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic announced Feb. 16 that a nationwide settlement was reached related to post-9/11 veterans. The press release states, "The U.S. Navy will review the discharges of thousands of veterans affected by behavioral or mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and experiences of military sexual trauma (MST). The Navy will also implement administrative reforms for individuals who apply to have their discharge statuses upgraded in the future. These reforms follow a settlement reached in the nationwide class action Manker v. Del Toro, brought by Afghanistan veteran Tyson Manker and the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress (NVCLR). A federal court granted final approval of the settlement on Feb. 15, 2022." Click here, or image above, for the two-page press release. The webpage related to the case is at: http://mankersettlement.com.
How LASP may be able to help
Legal Aid of Southeastern PA's Veterans Advocacy Project helps with discharge upgrades, along with VA benefits and other civil legal needs. Visit lasp.org/veterans or call LASP's Veterans Advocacy Project at 610-283-0884.
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LASP & Safe Corridors present: Pardon Symposium |
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Reentry, Resetting, & Redemption: Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry's; Celeste Trusty, Board of Pardons Secretary & other pardon leaders offer inspiration on second chances
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CHESTER city - LASP and Safe Corridors hosted "Reentry, Resetting and Redemption: Pardon Symposium: Part III" virtually on Jan. 27. Originally planned to take place in-person in Chester city, Delaware County, the event focused on stories of inspiration and reentry success, plus specifics on how to navigate Pennsylvania's pardon process and how Legal Aid of Southeastern PA may be able to help Delaware, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery county residents. Speakers included Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s; Celeste Trusty, Pennsylvania Board of Pardons Secretary; and Saad Soliman, National Reentry Systems Subject Matter Expert.
John Linder, former mayor of Chester city, Delaware County, moderated. Jonathan Abdur-Rahim King, Reentry Professional, was the event organizer and also provided words of hope, while explaining the mission of Reentry, Resetting, and Redemption.
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PLAN reception at PA Bar Leaders Conference |
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From left: Matt Creme, former PA Bar President from Lancaster; Shawn Boehringer, LASP Executive Director; and Sam Milkes, former PA Legal Aid Network (PLAN) Executive Director, at the PLAN reception held Feb. 24 in conjunction with the PA Conference of County Bar Leaders in Lancaster. |
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The story discusses the Chester County Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Project and the partnership between LASP and United Way of Chester County.
LASP Staff Attorney Annie Williams-Neamand discussed the new Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF) program.
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Hurricane Ida impact continues in Chester and Montgomery counties.
"New report shows a surging rental market, starkly divided by race and renter incomes"
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File your 2021 taxes, even if you had $0 in income |
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It's tax time, and it's especially important to file your 2021 tax return, even if you had $0 in income.
Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon held a press conference Feb. 11 at the Delaware County Courthouse in Media to encourage Pennsylvanians to complete a tax return this year in order to receive their full Child Tax Credit benefits. Providing brief remarks were (pictured from left) Rep. Scanlon; Jonathan Barnes, Campaign for Working Families Director of Volunteer Engagement; Edward Coleman, Community Action Agency of Delaware County (CAADC) CEO; Frances Sheehan (at podium), Foundation for Delaware County President; Elisha Arnold Coffey, Voices for Children Coalition Advocacy Director; and Dr. Monica Taylor, Delaware County Council Chair. A 17-minute video of the press conference is on Delaware County's YouTube page.
The American Rescue Plan, which became law in March 2021, provided a third stimulus check and three major tax cuts for working families, including transformational changes to the Child Tax Credit. It increased the maximum credit amount to $3,600 per child for kids ages 0-5 and $3,000 per child for kids ages 6-17. The economic relief bill also made the Child Tax Credit fully refundable for 2021 — meaning even families with $0 in income last year can claim the Child Tax Credit if they have children who qualify
Improvements made to the Child Tax Credit under the American Rescue Plan are currently only valid for tax year 2021, so it is more important than ever for families to claim the benefits they are entitled to.
Resources for families to find free help for taxes
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New help for homeowners impacted by COVID-19 |
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Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF) applications opened Feb. 1 |
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A new homeowner assistance program, the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF), opened Feb. 1. It will provide financial assistance to help low-income Pennsylvania homeowners pay mortgage and housing-related expenses to avoid delinquency, default, foreclosure, or displacement.
Specifically, the program will assist Pennsylvania homeowners facing financial hardship due to COVID-19, whose household income is at or below 150% of the area median income (AMI).
Eligibility information, including income guidelines, are at LASP's website News story. Click here, or image at right, for one-page flyer.
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Apply now for rental assistance! |
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Are you behind on rent or utility payments due to COVID-19? Apply NOW for help through your county. LASP's News webpage, bit.ly/rent-utility-help, has links and flyers for programs WITH EXISTING FUNDING in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
Landlords and utility companies get paid through this funding, and tenants avoid eviction. Live elsewhere in PA? Find the program in your county. bit.ly/rent-utility-help
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Help with water and heating |
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Water assistance program (LIHWAP) & winter heating flyers |
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The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps families living on low incomes pay their heating bills in the form of a cash grant. The 2021-22 program opened Oct. 18, 2021, and will close May 6, 2022. For eligibility and how to apply, including in-person locations in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, see the article and downloadable flyer on LASP's website News page
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In-person: Monthly Legal Clinic in Exton March 8-June 14
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EXTON - A free legal clinic will be held monthly at PA CareerLink of Chester County. The spring 2022 clinics will be the second Tuesday through June: March 8, April 12, May 10 and June 14. Each clinic will be from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at PA CareerLink, 479 Thomas Jones Way, Suite 500, Exton, PA 19380.
To schedule a 30-minute appointment with a Legal Aid of Southeastern PA attorney, contact Valerie at 610-429-9400, ext. 4116 or vconnors@uwchestercounty.org.
The clinics are a partnership between LASP, United Way of Chester County's Financial Stability Center, and PA CareerLink of Chester County.
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In-person: PA Clean Slate Workshop March 17 in Exton
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EXTON - LASP Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will hold a free, in-person workshop on PA Clean Slate and expungements Thursday, March 17 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at PA CareerLink, 479 Thomas Jones Way, Suite 500, Exton, PA 19380.
The workshop is open to the public. It is held in partnership with United Way of Chester County and PA CareerLink of Chester County.
Record-clearing paves the way for improved job opportunities and increased access to education and housing.
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In-person: Expungement Clinic March 26 at DCCC in Media
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MEDIA - The Delaware County Community College Paralegal Studies FREE Criminal Expungement Clinic is back! It will be held Saturday, March 26, 2022 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Marple Campus, Academic Building Cafe, 901 S. Media Line Road, Media, PA 19063.
Paralegal students, under supervision of Legal Aid of Southeastern PA attorneys, will assist individuals from the Greater Philadelphia area to determine if they are eligible to have certain prior arrests or convictions expunged or sealed from their record.
The deadline to register is March 1. While the clinic will try to accommodate walk-ins, registration is preferred. For more information email Nilufar A. Jamir, Director of Paralegal Studies, at paralegalstudies@dccc.edu or leave a message at 610-359-5263.
Notes about the clinic:
DISCLAIMER: The Delaware County Community College Expungement Clinic does not handle cases for arrests/convictions that happened in Philadelphia or outside of Pennsylvania.
Next Steps: After receiving this application form, we will confirm your time slot the week of March 14.
COVID-19 Notice: Please upload proof of vaccinations to enter the College at dccc.edu/uploadvaccine. Visitors will need to use a personal email address and then follow the prompts to upload proof of vaccination. Wearing a mask is required. Please enter through the STEM Building entrance. (Click here, or image above, for one-page flyer.)
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Virtual: Montgomery County Custody Clinic April 12
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Legal Aid of Southeastern PA will hold a Montgomery County Virtual Custody Clinic on Tuesday, April 12 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Who we can help at the FREE clinic:
- Parents only (no grandparents or extended family members). Assistance is for Montgomery County cases only.. Provide a copy of the most recent custody order, if there is one.
- Parents must meet financial eligibility for LASP. Please register first (details below).
- The clinic is open to 20 parents.
How to register
Sign up at this Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/custody-clinic-4-12-2022. After registration, a link will be e-mailed with forms to complete. Fill out the needed information and a legal aid advocate will contact you with next steps. To register by phone or ask a question about the clinic, please contact Kathryn Palladino, Staff Attorney, at 484-209-0892 or kpalladino@lasp.org.
What to expect
Parents will meet with an attorney in a private Zoom breakout room for 20 minutes.The attorney will give brief legal advice regarding custody. After the clinic, a LASP advocate will follow up with you. Participants will receive documents and directions on how to file with the court on their own. Click here, or image above, for one-page flyer.
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with Montgomery County Public Defender's Office
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The weekly clinic hours are intended to be a virtual version of the “walk-in” intake hours LASP offered before COVID-19. People can log onto Zoom and talk individually with Lily, one-on-one.
When: Wednesdays from 3-5 p.m.
Who: Montgomery County Public Defender clients
Where: Virtual
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From the Zoom app: Click join meeting, enter Meeting ID: 874 9396 5977
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Call in: Dial 929-205-6099 on your phone, and enter the Meeting ID above.
- Computer: https://tinyurl.com/LASPandPD. (If you enter this URL on your smartphone, you will be be asked to download the zoom app.)
NOTE: Montgomery County Public Defender clients also can call LASP's Helpline for civil legal issues (housing, family, public benefits, employment issues, and more), especially if they have a pressing deadline of seven days or less from any Wednesday. The Helpline, 877-429-5994, is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Questions? Contact Lily Austin, Esq., Independence Fellow, at laustin@lasp.org.
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Sharing information about legal aid in Delco |
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MEDIA - Staff Attorney Kimberly Hollenback (at right) provided information about LASP services at the Delaware County Courthouse on Feb. 11. She is shown with Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, who was in Media to encourage Pennsylvanians to complete a tax return this year in order to receive their full Child Tax Credit benefits (for story, scroll up). Scanlon also co-chairs the Congressional Access to Legal Aid Caucus with U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.
Kim is based in LASP's Media office, which provides domestic violence legal services including Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders. To learn more about how LASP may be able to help victims of domestic violence in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, please visit lasp.org/domestic-violence.
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Current openings
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Regional Pro Bono Paralegal - Norristown
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Veterans Advocacy Project Paralegal/Administrative Support Staff - Chester city/Delaware County
- West Chester VOCA Staff Attorney
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Supervising Attorney - VOCA Program Services
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Regional Housing Unit Staff Attorney – Chester city/Delaware County
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Helpline Paralegal/Administrative Support Staff – Norristown (Montgomery County)
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If you received e-news as a forward or found it on social media, please subscribe at lasp.org/enews or email Marion Hoffman Fraley, Communications Director, at mfraley@lasp.org.
E-news is published 11-12 times per year.
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Legal Aid of Southeastern PA
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Copyright ©2022. All Rights Reserved. |
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