On Thursday, July 24, 2025, the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.) hosted its annual MLK, Jr. Summer Internship Closing Reception at the Hilton Harrisburg, celebrating fourteen rising second- and third-year law students who completed summer placements with civil legal aid organizations across our statewide network.

Over the past ten weeks, interns immersed themselves in the urgent and high-stakes work of civil legal aid—supporting clients facing eviction, domestic violence, loss of public benefits, and utility shut-offs. Under the close mentorship of experienced public interest attorneys, interns conducted client intakes, drafted motions and briefs, participated in hearings, and supported policy initiatives.

Beyond honing legal skills, interns witnessed firsthand the vital role legal aid plays in safeguarding housing stability, personal safety, and basic dignity. Many described how gratifying it was to see their efforts directly benefit clients—helping to reduce judgments in eviction cases, overturn wrongful benefit denials, file petitions that opened pathways to safety, and contribute to policy reforms that expanded utility assistance for thousands of low-income Pennsylvanians.

The evening included remarks from Regina M. Foley, Esq., President of PLAN, Inc.’s Board of Directors, who recognized the 2025 cohort and acknowledged alumni in attendance—including keynote speaker Sharon R. López, Esq., a former intern who later spent nine years as a staff attorney at Central Penn Legal Services (now MidPenn Legal Services) before founding her own firm, Triquetra Law. Also pictured are Meredith Rapkin, Esq. and Philip DeCicco of PLAN, Inc. 

Abbey-Gail Morris, a rising 3L at Widener University Commonwealth Law School and intern with Community Justice Project, spoke on behalf of this year’s cohort, “When I applied to law school, I knew I wanted to do more than just understand the law—I wanted to use it to fight injustice and make the system work better for those who are too often left behind. This summer gave me that opportunity.”

She closed with a call to future applicants, “To any student thinking about applying to this program next year: Do it. You won’t just gain legal experience—you’ll gain a purpose.”

For more than three decades, the MLK, Jr. Summer Internship Program has served as a gateway to public interest law for nearly 450 aspiring attorneys. The 2025 cohort now joins a growing legacy of legal professionals committed to advancing justice and opportunity throughout the Commonwealth.