A Message from Our Executive Director | | |
I can hardly believe it’s been a year since I’ve returned to PLSE as Executive Director. It has been one of hard growth, deep challenge, and gratitude. Leading PLSE has stretched me in new ways. But it has also reminded me why I care so deeply about this work.
Supporting second chances has always been at the heart of my career, and coming back to PLSE has felt like coming home. Every day, I’m inspired by the resilience of our clients and by the dedication of our staff and volunteers who show up to make second chances possible. Whether we’re helping someone clear their record, advocating for fairer policies, or simply listening to someone’s story, we’re working toward the same goal: a Philadelphia where everyone has the opportunity to move forward.
This first year hasn’t been easy. We have faced funding challenges, capacity struggles, and transitional difficulties, and keeping up with the growing demand for our services has tested us all. But it’s also been full of moments that remind me why the struggle is worth it: a client’s palpable joy after learning their pardon was granted, a mother who throws her arms around me in relief after learning that her son’s expungement will be free, a team member finding new energy in the mission, a community partner reaching out with fresh ideas.
I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished together, excited for what comes next, and so glad to be back doing the work that matters most. Because at PLSE, we know that people can change. We will keep making sure that records do too.
Taylor Pacheco, Esq.
Executive Director
| | Welcoming New Staff and Interns! | | (Jackie Newsome, Esq., Managing Attorney) | |
Jackie Newsome, Esq., Managing Attorney
A very warm welcome to our new Managing Attorney, Jackie. Jacqueline (Jackie) Newsome, Esq., moved to Philadelphia in 2019 after earning her Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. Prior to attending Emory University, Jacqueline earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Politics from New York University and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from The University of Chicago Law School. Jacqueline clerked on the Minnesota Supreme Court for Justices Alan C. Page and Natalie E. Hudson during the 2015–2016 term. After spending five years at the Defender Association of Philadelphia as an assistant public defender, Jacqueline served as a full-time assistant pastor in the Germantown area of the city. A native of Evanston, Illinois, Jacqueline is barred in Georgia, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. We are very excited to welcome Jackie to our team!
| | |
Moriah Daniels, Staff Attorney
Moriah Daniels joined the Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE) in October 2025 as a Staff Attorney. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Moriah earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication, with a minor in Environmental Studies, from the State University of New York College at Geneseo. She later moved to Portland, Oregon, to pursue her Juris Doctor (J.D.) at Lewis & Clark Law School, where she specialized in environmental and natural resources law. During law school, Moriah focused on public-interest advocacy across criminal legal reform, civil rights, environmental justice, and public health. She gained experience through internships and advocacy projects, deepening her commitment to community-centered justice. Pending admission to the Pennsylvania bar, Moriah is also barred in Oregon.
| | | | (Sam Bailey, Law Student Intern) | |
Sam Bailey, Law Student Intern
Sam grew up outside Seattle, Washington, and earned their degree in Government and the College of Social Studies at Wesleyan University. During their 1L summer, Sam interned with the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Through morning and afternoon advocacy in arraignment court, conducting intake interviews, and assisting attorneys throughout case prep, hearings, and trials, this experience could not have affirmed Sam’s passion for public defense more. In their free time, Sam loves cooking, is trying to learn Spanish, and enjoys exploring the local restaurant scene.
| | |
Emily Conrad, Social Work Intern
Emily Conrad is a Master of Social Work student at the University of Pennsylvania, currently focusing on criminal justice social work. She previously interned with the Goldring Reentry Initiative (GRI), where she enjoyed assisting clients as they transitioned from incarceration back into their communities. Alongside her academic work, Emily works on a farm caring for horses. In her free time, she enjoys horseback riding, taking her dog Atlas on adventures, and spending time at the gym. She is thrilled to be working with PLSE and to explore the justice system from a new perspective.
| | (Emily Conrad, Social Work Intern) | | | (Leah Dunbar, Law Student Intern) | |
Leah Dunbar, Law Student Intern
Leah Dunbar was born and raised in the Philadelphia suburbs and is now a 2L at Penn Law where she is involved in the Decarceration Advocacy Project, the Pardon Project, and the Student Public Interest Network. She interned at the Federal Community Defender Office this past summer in the Capital Habeas Unit and plans to work as a public defender after graduating from law school. Leah is thrilled to be working with PLSE this semester and to contribute to increasing individuals’ access to employment, educational opportunities, housing, and public benefits through pardons and expungements.
| | |
Julianna Minus, Law Student Intern
Julianna Minus (Rutgers Law '26) is originally from Virginia and received her undergraduate degree from Fordham University in English. Before starting law school, Julianna worked at a nonprofit organization in New York City focused on older adult services. She is actively involved at Rutgers through her extensive pro bono work with Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE) and the Christian Legal Clinic of Philadelphia (CLCP). Julianna serves as Senior Managing Editor of Rutgers Race and the Law Review and works as a Research Assistant for Professor Sarah Ricks. She previously interned with Philadelphia VIP, the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, and the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project. She is devoted to prison abolition advocacy.
| | (Julianna Minus, Law Student Intern) | | | (Trinity Tull, Law Student Intern) | |
Trinity Tull, Law Student Intern
Trinity Tull is a 2L at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. She is from Lancaster, PA, and aspires to be a public defender once she graduates from law school. Before PLSE, she worked at the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania and the Defender Association. At PLSE, she is a legal intern, assisting with submitting pardon and expungement applications. Outside of school, she enjoys going for walks around the city and playing trivia with her friends.
| | | |
We are sad to announce the departure of our former Managing Attorney Sarah Coyle, Esq. Sarah is now the Chief Legal Specialist for the State of New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.
Sarah joined PLSE in 2019 at a time when PLSE was just a handful of employees sharing space in the Friends’ Center. As PLSE expanded, she stepped into the role of Managing Attorney with her characteristic integrity, competence, and efficiency, while always being attuned to the humanity behind the law. As Managing Attorney, Sarah also guided PLSE through some of its most complex transitions—expanding partnerships, adapting our services in response to an evolving legal landscape and new legislation. There is no doubt that Sarah left an indelible mark on the many law students and interns she supervised and mentored while at PLSE and their careers will forever be enriched because of her mentorship. One of Sarah’s many gifts is her ability to hold people accountable without ever making them feel diminished. Her guidance was steady, precise, and generous. She had a remarkable instinct for finding the lesson in each challenge, and for turning moments of uncertainty into opportunities for growth. Those of us who worked alongside her learned not just how to be better advocates and lawyers, but how to be kinder, braver, and more patient humans.
On behalf of the entire PLSE community: thank you. Thank you for your years of service, for your competence, for your humor, and for the indelible mark you’ve left on this organization. You have shown us that justice, at its best, is an act of love—and that love, when practiced with discipline and courage, can transform not only lives but entire systems. We will miss you dearly.
| | | Rasa's Record Sealing Eligibility Tool Now Available | | |
Our friends at Rasa are excited to share that its new record clearing tool is now available in Pennsylvania that can help you learn more about your record and get connected to free or low cost legal services that can help you get it cleared. This may be a great option for folks who have cases outside of Philadelphia County that are not eligible for clearing with PLSE.
The tool has been developed by Rasa Legal, a mission-driven legal services organization that has been delivering services in Utah and Arizona, and is now expanding to Pennsylvania. Rasa has developed a platform that allows a person to see what is on their record and whether those records are eligible for automatic or court-based sealing under Pennsylvania law.
Rasa is looking for justice-impacted people who are willing to test the tool and give them some feedback on the experience. Rasa typically charges $15 for use of their platform, but is willing to provide it FREE of charge for anyone who would like to test it out. Everyone who uses the tool can create a free account, see their results, and meet for free with Rasa's legal team to discuss questions and next steps.
Rasa has helped over 24,000 people with records in Utah and Arizona, and we're excited for them to join our legal services ecosystem here in Pennsylvania.
Click the button below to sign up for free access to the tool.
| | College Unbound Offering New Program for Justice-impacted Individuals | | |
College Unbound is offering an opportunity for individuals to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership and Change with significant cost deductions. The program is for individuals who have been justice-impacted, both directly and indirectly. The program cohort will begin with 10 individuals starting in January 2026.
If you, or someone you know is interested, please see the information below to attend one of our upcoming info sessions:
| | | | |
College Unbound is offering an opportunity for individuals to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership and Change with significant cost deductions. The program is for individuals who have been justice-impacted, both directly and indirectly. The program cohort will begin with 10 individuals starting in January 2026.
If you, or someone you know is interested, please see the information below to attend one of our upcoming info sessions:
| | |
Virtual Info Session:
Monday, November 3, 2025 at 2pm
Via Google Meet:
https://meet.google.com/zeb-kmzw-fby
Or Join by phone:
1-252-501-3110
Pin: 564 984 794#
| | |
In-Person Session:
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 11am
Division of Reentry (Formerly Office of Reentry Partnerships)
1425 Arch Street, 1st Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
**Select the November 5th Info Session
| | PLSE holds multiple record clearing clinics per month where you can complete an intake to determine if you are eligible for our services. For a schedule of upcoming clinics, please visit our website or click the button below. | | Three things you can do to support our work: | |
-
Now more than ever, PLSE needs your financial support to continue our vital work transforming lives. Please consider donating what you can in order to ensure all Philadelphians get a shot at a second chance.
-
Sign this letter to your elected representatives in Harrisburg urging the BoP to increase its number of public hearings so that more Pennsylvanians can access better jobs, housing, and opportunities.
-
Are you a legal professional or have experience working in social services? Assist at one of our intake clinics! If you are interested in being trained as a volunteer, email PLSE Program Director Patrick Jackson Keough at keough@plsephilly.org
-
Share our newsletter with your friends and family so they can stay informed about the work we do. Subscribe here!
Because Social Justice Requires Social Action
| | |
Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity
230 S. Broad Street, Suite 1102,
Philadelphia PA 19102
(267) 519-5323
Email Us
| | | | | |
