Serving Low-Income Members of the Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender-Nonconforming Community: Legal Name Change in Philadelphia

Hosted by the LGBT Rights Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association

February 1, 2020
10:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Continental breakfast and registration begin at 9:30 AM. Materials will be provided electronically prior to the program.

Community College of Philadelphia
Center for Business & Industry
1751 Callowhill St.
Philadelphia, PA 19130

This CLE is being offered in association with the name change clinic being held later in the afternoon this day.

For many members of the transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming community, a legal name change is not merely a choice, it’s a necessity. Presenting identification documents that do not match an individual’s identity can lead to confusion, discrimination, harassment, and even violence. Some individuals proceed through the legal name change process pro se, and some have the means to hire an attorney; however, court fees, out of pocket costs, and other issues faced by individuals seeking a name change relating to their gender identity present barriers that have the effect of limiting access to a name change and the benefits that come with it.

This CLE, geared toward attorneys interested in providing pro bono representation to low-income residents of Philadelphia who are seeking a legal name change relating to gender identity,  will cover the following topics, among others:

• Culturally competent representation of transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming clients.
• The nuts & bolts of the adult name change process in Pennsylvania, with a focus on the process in Philadelphia County. This will include a discussion of the publication requirement and under what circumstances this requirement may be waived. Issues unique to minor will be discussed, but this program will focus on the process for adults.
• The cost of being trans: ethically seeking waivers of court fees for low-income name change clients.

This CLE is being offered in association with a name change being held later in the afternoon. This CLE program is Free of charge ONLY to any attorney who commits to volunteer for clinic being held immediately following a break after the CLE  program.

Name Change Clinic:

The clinic, organized by the LGBT Rights Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association in association with the Community College of Philadelphia, will begin at 1:00 p.m. Attorneys interested in volunteering for the clinic should register for the CLE as a volunteer and then contact Ian Evans at ianevans151@gmail.com or Andrew Slom at andrew@slomlegal.com, and copy Tara Phoenix at tphoenix@philabar.org.

Those who do not wish to volunteer may attend the CLE program and pay the appropriate fee to obtain CLE credit.

Featured Speakers:

• Brenda J. Klitsch, Esq.
  Staff Attorney, Mazzoni Center Legal Services
  pronouns: she/her/they/them

• Thomas W. Ude, Jr., Esq.
  Legal and Public Policy Director, Mazzoni Center Legal Services
  pronouns: he/him