Members of Pennsylvania’s civil legal aid community gathered last month for our annual MLK, Jr. Reception, where we were pleased to recognize the students who spent the summer contributing their time, energy, and talents to programs across the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network.

The PA Legal Aid Network (PLAN) celebrated 13 law students who gained impactful experience in legal aids this summer as Martin Luther King, Jr. interns. The MLK Reception, July 23, 2026 at the Civic Club of Harrisburg, featured keynote speaker Sen. Art Haywood. @palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social

Join us this month as we recognize the 2026 MLK, Jr. Summer Internship Program cohort, hear from keynote speaker Senator Art Haywood, and celebrate the impact of their work throughout our civil legal aid network. Registration closes in two weeks! RSVP today: bit.ly/3SWP625

Thank you to Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C. for directing more than $91,000 in cy pres funding to our network! This support will help more Pennsylvanians access free legal help from attorneys when facing serious problems impacting housing, safety, utilities, and other essentials of daily life.

Today is Pennsylvania’s 2026 primary election. If you are registered to vote, make a plan to cast your ballot today. Voters who are not affiliated with a major party can still vote on local ballot initiatives. Polls are open until 8 PM across Pennsylvania.

We’re grateful to Chief Justice Debra Todd for highlighting our statewide network of legal aid organizations in her 2026 Law Day message. At a time when many Pennsylvanians are carrying heavy burdens, civil legal aid and pro bono service make a real difference in people’s lives.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been extended through May 8! Need help affording your utilities? Eligible homeowners and renters can apply to LIHEAP for cash and crisis grants. Online: www.compass.dhs.pa.gov Paper: www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs... Crisis Line: 1-866-857-7095

Last call! Nominations for the 2026 Excellence Awards close at midnight. Help us honor the advocates, partners, and community leaders who strengthen civil legal aid across Pennsylvania. Submit here: bit.ly/2026Excellen...

How many counties rely on the programs in the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network for help resolving civil legal issues? All 67. We help people in every county of Pennsylvania address civil legal problems that put their housing, health, finances, and family stability at risk.

Throwback Thursday to past Statewide Training Conferences, where advocates from across Pennsylvania came together to learn, collaborate, and show their passion for civil legal aid. Just over six months to go until the 2026 conference! We can’t wait to see everyone again.

There’s still time to nominate someone for the 2026 Excellence Awards — our annual event honoring professionals across Pennsylvania whose work on behalf of civil legal aid improves lives in their communities. Nominations close Monday, March 16, 2026. Learn more: bit.ly/2026Excellen...

Every $1 invested in civil legal aid returns $12 to Pennsylvania’s economy. That means last year’s $6.7 million state investment generated an estimated $79.9 million for the Commonwealth through cost savings, increased stability, and economic gains.

With 14 organizations and nearly 70 offices statewide, our network is full of opportunities to make an impact! Learn why we love working for civil legal aid and join us in advancing access to justice for those who need it most. Start your search today: bit.ly/PLANjobs

Last year, nearly half of all cases across the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network involved children. In domestic abuse cases, that number was even higher. When families reach out for help, their kids are part of the story too — and they deserve a safe path forward. Civil legal aid makes that possible.

It was great to connect with colleagues from across the Commonwealth at our reception with the Pennsylvania Bar Association on the opening day of the Conference of County Bar Leaders in State College.

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Excellence Awards — and we need your help finding this year’s honorees! Know a professional from our network, private bar partner, or community leader whose civil legal work is improving lives across Pennsylvania? Tell us about them: bit.ly/2026Excellen...

Every day, civil legal aid helps survivors protect themselves and their children—creating a pathway toward stability, healing, and a safer future. Learn more about why access to civil legal aid matters: www.palegalaid.net

Access to justice starts with meaningful access to a lawyer. Last year, our network helped nearly 81,000 households access free legal counsel—serving 176,500 Pennsylvanians, including 75,000 children. Justice matters. Visit www.palegalaid.net to learn more.

Access to justice changes lives. Whether it’s preserving housing for a family with children, securing disability benefits for a veteran, or creating a safe way out of a domestic violence situation—the programs of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network provide free legal support when it matters most.

During #GivingTuesday we ask you to support the vital work of one the civil legal aid programs that make up the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. Your gift helps protect housing, safety, and financial stability for people facing critical legal challenges.

There’s still time to vote! 🗳️ Polls in Pennsylvania are open until 8 PM. For information about polling places, voting hours, election laws, and voter rights—including language assistance and accessibility services—visit: bit.ly/3YGnEpN

NLADA conference Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2025 has focused on emerging issues in civil legal aid, public defense & public interest law, & on strengthening strategies to meet legal needs of low-income individuals & families. #NLADA25 @nlada.bsky.social @clsphila.bsky.social @palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social

SNAP benefits are paused during the government shutdown until funding resumes in PA—leaving two million at risk of going without groceries in November. These resources can help you find food assistance: ✅ @feedingamerica.org: feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank ✅ PA211: search.pa211.org

We’re excited to share that April Frazier Camara, President & CEO of NLADA, will be speaking at the @palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social 2025 Statewide Training Conference on Tuesday, September 9. Learn more about the conference here: palegalaid.net/plan-confere...

HARRISBURG - Heading to the 2025 PLAN Training Conference? Join NLS & LASP for “Creating Impactful & Accessible Materials with Canva” 🗓️ Tue, Sept. 9 | 3:45-4:45pm Presenters: Giselle Martinez, Julia Marasco & Marion Fraley #LegalAidMatters @palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social @nlsapgh.bsky.social

HARRISBURG - LASP is part of the 2025 PLAN Statewide Training! 🗓️ Sept. 8: Erika Becker, Pro Bono Director | “Compliance Training Outcomes” 🗓️ Sept. 9: Mary Jacob, Staff Attorney | “Responding to the Growth of Non-Judicial Foreclosures" @palegalaidnetwork.bsky.social #LegalAidMatters

Our Statewide Training Conference kicks off next week! We’re excited to come together with colleagues from across Pennsylvania to share ideas, learn from one another, and strengthen our network’s collective impact as civil legal aid providers.

With 14 organizations and nearly 70 offices statewide, our network is full of opportunities to make an impact! Learn why we love working for civil legal aid and join us in advancing access to justice for those who need it most. Start your search today: bit.ly/PLANjobs

Every day, our civil legal aid programs help families, veterans, and seniors access justice, protect what matters most, and remove legal barriers that threaten wellbeing, opportunity, and economic stability. Learn more about our impact across Pennsylvania: www.palegalaid.net

What does justice look like in Pennsylvania? It looks like a statewide network of legal aid organizations—serving every county to ensure all Pennsylvanians have access to the civil legal support they deserve. Learn more about our work: www.palegalaid.net