Philadelphia VIP

“Equal justice under the law” is, at once, one of America’s most firmly embedded and widely violated legal principles. Too often, a person’s ability to achieve a fair and just outcome in a legal matter depends not on the merits of the case, but on her or his ability to pay for a lawyer. Philadelphia is the poorest big city in the country, as a result of which far too many Philadelphians confront daunting legal matters that implicate basic needs and central relationships on their own and without counsel – all because they cannot afford to hire an attorney.

Philadelphia VIP (VIP) was founded in in 1981 as a joint venture between the Philadelphia Bar Association, public interest legal community, and private bar to help address this “civil justice gap” by unleashing volunteerism among attorneys. Then, as now, VIP fills an essential agency-of-last-resort role for low-income Philadelphians facing critical legal problems who are unable to receive legal assistance elsewhere.

VIP’s core activity is recruiting, training, and providing on-going support to its large, diverse community of volunteer attorneys who advise and represent VIP’s low-income clients pro bono (i.e., at no charge). Since 1981, VIP has connected tens of thousands of Philadelphians with volunteer attorneys who provide pro bono/no cost legal services to prevent homelessness, stabilize families, preserve income, and promote community economic development.