Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP) will develop a Pro Bono Debt Counseling & Bankruptcy Project to expand access to legal aid for low-income people struggling with debt. The project will be funded through a Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF) grant from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in the amount of $324,559.

LASP’s centralized intake Helpline will build a pipeline to connect clients to virtual clinics staffed by pro bono attorneys. Clients will gain rapid access to legal advice and brief legal services, and connection to pro bono attorneys or LASP staff attorneys for extended representation. Law student externs will help clients overcome barriers to successfully filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Michael Kaliner, Helpline Staff Attorney who is lead attorney for the project, outlined how the new program will unfold. “The first phase, which is in progress, is to pair volunteer experienced bankruptcy practitioners with eligible clients in order to provide them with the relief intended by the Bankruptcy Code.”

Phase 2 offers opportunities for attorneys who do not specialize in bankruptcy. Michael stated, “For other attorneys who would be willing to satisfy their pro bono ethical requirements at the same time as acquiring a working knowledge of bankruptcy law, the next phase will provide attorneys with the necessary training, support, software access, assistance with Court admissions and appearances, oversight and legal advice. We encourage the private bar to take advantage of this program to add another area of law to their practices.”

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who represents Bucks County and a portion of Montgomery County and is Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Access to Legal Aid Caucus, commented on the project in LSC's press release and a Law 360 article.

“Equal justice is one of America’s most fundamental promises, but too often families struggling with debt are left without the help they need,” Rep. Fitzpatrick stated in the LSC news release. “That’s why the Legal Services Corporation and Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania have been such vital partners in this work, and why this new Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant matters so deeply to PA-1. By supporting LASP’s debt counseling and bankruptcy project, LSC is ensuring families can eliminate crushing debt, access pro bono attorneys, and rebuild their lives with dignity. As Co-Chair of the Access to Legal Aid Caucus, I am grateful for this investment and look forward to continuing our work together to expand access to justice and deliver lasting results for families across PA-1.”

LASP’s project will serve Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. To learn more, contact Erika Becker, Pro Bono Director, at ebecker@lasp.org or 484-245-2183.