Since 1969, the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia has been the law firm to which individuals and organizations turn to address local and national policies that perpetuate discrimination, inequality and poverty. We were founded as one of the original Lawyers Committees for Civil Rights Under Law in the midst of the civil rights movement, then incorporated by five Chancellors of the Philadelphia Bar Association to secure the future of this firm of skilled attorneys, expert in high-impact legal strategies. Our attorneys and staff use high-impact legal strategies – including class action lawsuits, policy advocacy, community organizing and education – to secure significant, long-lasting change for our clients.
Our clients are people with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, low-income individuals and communities, formerly incarcerated people , and the advocacy organizations that represent them. Living with discrimination and poverty, they are denied access to vital resources that every person needs in order to enjoy even the rudiments of equal citizenship – an education, health care, a home, a healthy environment, a job, and the unencumbered right to vote.
Throughout our history, the Law Center has been able to drive meaningful change in Philadelphia and across the country far disproportionate to the modest size of our organization. We partner with community groups, leading local and national advocacy organizations, and private law firms to expand our capacity, and we extend our reach by training community members and advocates to effectively protect their rights.
The Law Center is also grateful for the leadership provided by our Board of Directors and Advisory Board, and for the immeasurable contributions provided by our interns and volunteers. We do not charge our clients, so our work is funded through grants, court-awarded attorney’s fees, and your generous donations. The Law Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, so your donation is tax-deductible.
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