On Jan. 1, 2021, LASP celebrated 20 years as a regional program, serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. Based in local offices in Norristown, Pottstown, Chester city, Media, West Chester, Doylestown and Bristol, our attorneys and staff are "masked up" and continue bringing access to justice during COVID-19 and beyond.

LASP welcomes you to share your "masked up for justice" photo, and/or share your story about how legal aid has impacted you. Email Marion Fraley, Communications Director, at [email protected] or snail-mail her at 625 Swede St., Norristown, PA 19401.

Visit the photo gallery at lasp.org/mask-up-for-justice.

"Chester County officials offer assistance to those facing eviction"

by Bill Rettew | West Chester Daily Local News | Jan. 13, 2021

"Could 2021 Be The Year Of Civil Justice Reform?"

by Cara Bayles

The PA Dept. of Labor & Industry has restarted the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) programs. Both PEUC and PUA expired at the end of December 2020, and both recently resumed as part of the new federal CARES Act extensions.

Congratulations and thank you to long-serving LASP staff, who were recognized for 5-40 years of service at the Virtual Staff Retreat in late 2020:

DOYLESTOWN - Kasey R. Daniel joined LASP as the Doylestown Office Managing Attorney. Jennifer Pierce, who previously served as Doylestown Managing Attorney, has transitioned to a new role with LASP as VOCA Supervising Attorney. 

An experienced manager and legal services attorney, Kasey worked at New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) for several years, serving most recently as Managing Attorney for the Albuquerque Office, while also handling cases for the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic and Foreclosure Defense Unit. Earlier at NMLA, she was Domestic Violence Helpline Coordinator and Coordinator for the Justice for Families Pro Bono Initiative Project.

Prior to her relocation to southeastern PA in October, Kasey served as the Court Executive Officer for the Eighth Judicial District in Taos, New Mexico where she supervised the district’s 56 employees and oversaw all non-judicial operations of the magistrate and district courts. Other roles were at Disability Law Colorado, New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, and Law Access New Mexico, and in private practice in Littleton, Colorado. A former special education teacher, Kasey holds a B.A. in Education from Baylor University and a J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law.

Kasey is based at LASP's Almshouse site. She can be reached at 267-488-1862 or [email protected]. 

Sixth annual MLK Day of Service Expungement Clinic

LASP partnered with PA Rep. Joanna McClinton and Sen. Anthony Williams for the sixth annual Expungement Clinic to provide legal resources, information and advice to the community. Due to COVID-19, the Jan. 18 clinic was virtual this year. Of about 40 participants, 20 are working with LASP to have their criminal records cleared.

Erica Briant, LASP Supervising Attorney for the Community Engagement Unit, noted, "Many people with criminal records don't know the expungement, Clean Slate or pardon laws or where to turn, leaving them feeling trapped. Besides being complex, the laws have seen significant changes in recent years. I'm proud to partner with Rep. McClinton and Sen. Williams for events like this because it helps the community learn about their options and reminds people that assistance is available."

Note: The Community Engagement Unit's next Virtual Expungement Clinic will be Saturday, Feb. 20 from 1-3 p.m., in partnership with PA Rep. David Delloso and Sen. Tim Kearney. Register at this Zoom link: http://bit.ly/3qWgr17.

If you need help paying your heating bills, or have a heating emergency, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may be able to help.

The program is administered by the PA Dept. of Human Services. Applications will be accepted through April 9, 2021.

Visit the state website at https://bit.ly/32v9gmN for income eligibility guidelines, how to apply, telephone helplines, and brochures in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Cambodian, Russian and Vietnamese.

Attorneys, paralegals, law students, and other legal professionals are needed to help with workshops from February through July. Attorneys are needed for hearings beginning mid to late summer. To learn more or to volunteer, please contact Brian Doyle, Staff Attorney and Chester County Pro Bono Coordinator, at 610-436-4510 x211 or [email protected].

The Eviction Prevention & Intervention Coalition (EPIC) has expanded to seven courtrooms across Montgomery County, including two courtrooms in Norristown, two in Pottstown, one in East Norriton, one in Jenkintown, and one in Lansdale. Staff Attorney Michelle Dempsky is LASP's lead attorney for EPIC, and CARES Attorney Fellow Anthony Richardson also is working on EPIC. Pro bono attorneys are needed to represent renters at eviction hearings in all seven of these courts.

To learn more about volunteering for the EPIC program, please contact Michael E. Kelley, LASP Norristown Managing Attorney, at 610-275-5400 x125, or [email protected].

DOYLESTOWN - Protection from Abuse (PFA) hearings take place Wednesdays at the Bucks County Justice Center at 100 N. Main St., Doylestown 18901.

To volunteer with LASP's Bucks County Division on one or more of these dates, please contact Randi Riefner, Paralegal and Bucks County Assistant Pro Bono Coordinator, at [email protected] or 215-781-1111 x203:

Each judge may have specific procedures in their courtroom; their staff should be consulted to confirm if parties may be excused.

New procedures include:

JUST ADDED: Virtual Roundtable: Partnering with Community Resources with Rep. Shusterman on Feb. 4

Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will discuss legal aid services at a Virtual Roundtable on community resources hosted by PA Rep. Melissa Shusterman. The free event will be Thursday, Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m. Tune in live at pahouse.com/Shusterman.

Whether you are in need of assistance, or you are looking to volunteer and get involved, join multiple community partners to discuss the services offered in our area. https://www.facebook.com/events/969657926775014

JUST ADDED: Virtual Expungement Clinic with Rep. Delloso & Sen. Kearney Feb. 20

LASP, in partnership with PA Rep. David Delloso and Sen. Tim Kearney, will hold a Virtual Expungement Clinic Saturday, Feb. 20, from 1-3 p.m. Register at this Zoom link: http://bit.ly/3qWgr17. After registration, participants will receive a confirmation email with a link to fill out LASP's application form online (it's a fillable PDF). 

If you haven't already made a contribution to support LASP's work, you can donate directly to LASP at https://bit.ly/LegalAidHelps.

If you received e-news as a forwarded email, or if you found it on social media, please subscribe at lasp.org/enews or email Marion Hoffman Fraley, Communications Director, at [email protected].

Past issues are at lasp.org/enews.