At times, client interests are best represented through advocacy before legislative or administrative agencies to improve the legal or legislative system the client faces.

Where appropriate, lawyers and paralegals of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network appear before these bodies, or before representatives of these bodies, to advocate for client interests.

An example of this kind of advocacy is where the legislature might consider making a change in Pennsylvania’s Protection from Abuse Act.

Because every year, PLAN programs represent about 15,000 clients confronting domestic violence, any changes in this law could dramatically affect client interests, to the good or the bad. Consequently, PLAN advocates have represented clients in this kind of activity.

This type of advocacy makes up an important part of the activity of the PLAN. Included in this function is responding to questions from legislators or administrative agency representatives when requested for opinions or expertise regarding specific issues relating to our client population.