Defender Association of Philadelphia

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is an independent, nonprofit corporation created in 1934 by a group of Philadelphia lawyers dedicated to the ideal of high-quality legal services for indigent criminal defendants. That ideal continues today as some 215 full-time assistant defenders represent adult and juvenile clients in state and federal court trial and appellate courts and at civil and criminal mental health hearings, as well as for state and county violations of probation/parole hearings. Association attorneys also serve as child advocates in neglect and dependency cases.