Annual Reports
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.) administers public funding for a network of independent civil legal aid organizations that respond to the unique needs of their communities. Together, this structure ensures that residents in all 67 counties have access to essential legal services.
As nonpartisan stewards of public resources, we oversee grant distribution, compliance, data reporting, and performance monitoring to help ensure these services remain accessible, effective, and responsive to community needs.
In her welcome message for the 2025 Annual Report, PLAN, Inc. Executive Director Meredith Rapkin highlights why access to legal help matters when people are facing serious problems:
Civil legal aid is practical, results-oriented work. It keeps families housed. It helps veterans access benefits they have earned. It protects older adults from financial exploitation. It supports survivors of abuse as they secure protection orders and custody arrangements that keep children safe. When these kinds of serious problems go unresolved, the consequences ripple far beyond one household—affecting schools, employers, health systems, and local governments.
In 2025, our network provided a free lawyer to nearly 81,000 households across Pennsylvania, reaching a total of 176,500 people, including 75,000 children. We also provided legal advice to more than 56,000 additional people through community clinics, education sessions, and workshops. Because many clients face more than one challenge at a time, our advocates also help connect them to additional support. Last year, we facilitated 55,361 referrals to legal, social, and community‑based services—ensuring people have access the full range of resources they need to move toward stability.
Behind these statistics are real people with powerful stories. This year's report highlights how our advocates helped a homeless veteran restore his benefits so he could secure housing and regain long-term economic stability; protected access to life-sustaining utility service for an 86-year-old woman and her family; and prevented the foreclosure of a family's home after a medical crisis upended their finances.
View the 2025 Annual Report to explore these stories and learn more about the impact civil legal aid programs are having in communities throughout Pennsylvania.