The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN), the state’s coordinated system of civil legal aid organizations working to assure fairness for all in the civil justice system, thanks The General Assembly and the Governor for the approval and signing of a bill that will provide enhanced access to justice for low-income Pennsylvanians and victims of domestic violence who have nowhere to turn other than to PLAN programs for critical legal help when faced with urgent civil legal problems.

We offer our sincerest appreciation for eliminating the sunset on the Access to Justice Act and providing critical funding for civil legal aid. The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network has long enjoyed broad bipartisan support for a reason: Pennsylvanians believe in justice for all, not just for those who can afford it.

PLAN offers a continuum of critically needed legal information, legal advice and legal services through direct representation for low-income individuals and families who face urgent civil legal problems. These problems affect basic needs such as food, shelter, employment, consumer issues, health care, and family safety. Typical cases include protection against domestic violence, custody, mortgage foreclosures, evictions, access to public benefits, consumer problems, and many other areas of civil legal needs.