An introduction to Penn Legal Services
A distinguished part of the Pennsylvania legal landscape is Penn Legal Services. Their mission is straightforward: to educate, inform, and assist the public to avoid problems through promotional work and education. They are in partnership with the York County Bar Foundation (61). As their mission states, "Our mission [is] to be a valuable community partner by serving and promoting the legal profession, while serving the public by addressing the legal needs of the disadvantaged within the fourteen-county jurisdiction of the York County Bar Association." The foundation itself , through their own website, describes that "Today, more than 800 volunteer lawyers provide over $250,000 in free legal services to indigent clients with management and consumer cases, domestic relations, family law, estates and juvenile cases."
As for where the Penn Legal Services is located, it is on the ground floor of the Lycoming County Courthouse in Williamsport, their Library Street address at the moment is: 204 Court Street, Suite 12, Williamsport, PA 17701.
What legal services are available?
Penn Legal Services offers a range of legal assistance to those who qualify for their services. These include family law representation, including divorce and custody cases, housing issues such as evictions and landlord-tenant disputes, consumer law such as identity theft, collection harassment, security deposit issues, mortgage foreclosure, and bankruptcy, and benefits advocacy, including Social Security and Medicare eligibility. All services help ensure that vulnerable populations receive basic civil legal service. The organization does not, however, provide criminal law services, nor do they offer assistance in matters where private counsel is appropriate.
In certain counties, including Columbia and Northumberland, they offer limited services under their Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) with the Geisinger Health System. They also participate in Communities in Schools, which helps children navigate the complex system of benefits so they can focus on school, and SNAP Outreach, which helps clients apply for food stamps.
Who can receive legal aid?
Penn Legal Services provides legal assistance to eligible people in need of general civil law advice, through our Delaware Valley Service Area. As part of the national Legal Services Corporation ("LSC") network, we can see all eligible LSC recipients for local service, so long as they are not already on file with another LSC program. To be eligible, clients must meet the federal income guidelines for LSC. Currently the income eligibility is 125% or less of the 2009 federal poverty guidelines:
Family Size 125%
1 $13,537
2 $18,213
3 $22,889
4 $27,565
5 $32,241
6 $36,902
7 $41,520
8 $46,241
For each additional person add $4,721
Non-LSC clients and those seeking services in areas not covered by us may be eligible for legal assistance outside the LSC system.
The method of accessing legal services
Those who seek to apply for services at Penn Legal Services in Williamsport, PA, must meet income eligibility requirements. If eligibility is confirmed, a law student is then assigned to their case. For applicants who are not eligible for services, the staff can recommend private attorneys who may be able to assist. Eligibility is based on income, regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity. Although married persons can apply together, single persons must apply for services separately. Counseling and advice is available through a 15-minute consultation, at which point applicants will determine if they wish to pursue legal help from an attorney. During the consultation, the attorney explains fees, how long the process may take, and the kind of service that can be provided. Staff works to keep the process as fast and efficient as possible, and spends an average of three hours on each case .
Penn Legal Services accepts payment for services through a free will contribution or by offering legal assistance in return for the opportunity to meet law school requirements. If the firm has accepted your case, they will file a Poverty Guideline form requesting financial information. The firm will then perform an in-depth assessment to determine eligibility within the guidelines set forth by the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The firm also uses the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts to provide statistics for cases that have been closed. This is to ensure that applicants are receiving effective service. Penn Legal Services accepts cases in Lycoming County that involve landlord-tenant disputes, an ancillary state court matter, real estate transactions, a limited family law matter, adoption proceedings, bankruptcy proceedings, and Social Security hearings.
Impact on the community and benefits
Penn Legal Services has had a profound impact on the greater Williamsport community. Through their legal services, they have helped many individuals who thought they were beyond hope. One such case is that of Sarah, a single mother of two, who came to them desperate for help after being denied Social Security Disability. Penn Legal was able to assist in gathering the necessary medical records and provided advice on how to best present her case to the judge. A few months later, she won her appeal. "I would like to take a moment to express my thanks and gratitude to Penn Legal and all its staff," Sarah said in a testimonial. "After years of confusion and unnecessary heartache I finally got the help I needed. I cannot thank Penn Legal enough for their assistance." Another success story is that of Joe, a veteran of the Gulf War. After a workplace accident left him unable to work, he sought help from Penn Legal. They assisted Joe in applying for unemployment benefits and walking him through the process until he was able to secure a settlement with his employer. Joe credits Penn Legal with giving him the confidence to continue his education and search for a new job. These stories are just two of the many success stories that Penn Legal has had in the Williamsport area. Their efforts have helped countless families and veterans achieve a better quality of life.
Contact information and office location
Penn Legal Services can be reached by phone at (570) 980-6375. You may also contact them via email at [email protected]. Currently, they do not have a dedicated email address for inquiries to specific attorneys such as Tamara Pomerantz or those based on area of law. While they may address inquiries relating to particular matters with specific attorneys, they prefer that inquiries be directed to the "info" email address so that they can be properly vetted as to whether they can be referred to a volunteer or attorney familiar with the specific practice area and whether the request can be accommodated .
Their office is located at 328 E Canal Street, Williamsport, PA 17701 in the "Gateway" at the corner of Edison Avenue and Canal Street. This location has been described as convenient to access and highly visible from Route 15. The office is situated along the Susquehanna River and within close proximity to the Woodlands Bank, Dunns Mountain Bakery, and Gov. W. Tom Corbett’s Residence (also known as the "Governor’s Residence" or "Executive Mansion"). Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday), however, virtual consultations are available during evenings and weekends.