Get Help | The Public Interest Law Center

The Public Interest Law Center provides free legal services in a limited number of subject areas in the Philadelphia region and Pennsylvania. The Law Center is not a general legal services organization and we rarely provide emergency services. Requests for legal assistance should be made over the phone, via fax or via the online form below. We do not accept walk-ins. Please note: we have a limited capacity and are unable to pursue every case that comes to our attention.

If you are in need of free legal support on one of the following issues, please contact us:

disability employment discrimination
special education and disability rights
problems in public and charter schools (for example, no nurses, no gifted curriculum, etc.)
employment discrimination because of a criminal record
affordable housing, housing discrimination or uninhabitable housing issues
securing legal access to vacant land or navigating laws related to community gardening and urban farming
ensuring development in your community is equitable
voting discrimination

To contact us by phone or fax:

For English:

215-627-7100 and leave a voice mail in our general mailbox; someone will get back to you, although it may take a few days

For Spanish, Mandarin and other languages:

215-627-7100. We can connect you with an interpreter or you can leave a voice mail message in our Spanish or Mandarin mailbox; someone will get back to you, although it may take a few days.

To submit a request online, please use this form:

First Name:
Last Name:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
Issue Area (check one or more of the following boxes) Disability employment discriminationSpecial educationDisability rightsEducationEmployment discrimination due to criminal recordHousingVacant land and/or community gardeningEquitable developmentVoting discriminationOther
Provide a brief description of your legal needs:

Request Representation from the Garden Justice Legal Initiative

To request representation for a community garden or urban farm issue from the Law Center’s Garden Justice Legal Initiative, download and follow the instructions on the form.

To complete the form:

Save the form to your computer or print it
Fill it out on the computer or by hand
If completed on the computer, email to gsnyder@pubintlaw.org
If completed by hand, mail to the Law Center’s address listed above, Attn: Garden Justice Legal Initiative

If you have questions, you contact the Law Center at (215) 627-7100 ext. 252 or gsnyder@pubintlaw.org .

NOTE: Requesting an appointment by phone or email will not establish an attorney client relationship. We are not agreeing to take your case. We do not represent you at this time. Therefore, you remain responsible for any and all deadlines.

Request a Special Education Consultation

The Law Center has assembled a network of participating lawyers who will consult with families seeking to defend their child’s rights under the IDEA. The lawyers will schedule a meeting with families and will provide information about next steps available. Following the initial appointment the lawyers will make a decision about whether to take your case. To request an appointment for consultation services, please complete this form.

Please also fill out this form, which allows us to release and exchange your information and records to the lawyer that may assist you.

To complete the forms:

Save the forms to your computer or print them
Fill them out on the computer or by hand
If completed on the computer, email to gsnyder@pubintlaw.org
If completed by hand, mail to the Law Center’s address listed above, Attn: Consultations

If you have questions, please contact the Law Center at (215) 627-7100 or gsnyder@pubintlaw.org.

NOTE: Requesting an appointment by phone or email will not establish an attorney client relationship. Neither we nor participating lawyers are agreeing to take your case. We do not represent you at this time. Due to the number of people requesting assistance, an appointment may not be available immediately. Therefore, you remain responsible for any and all deadlines. If we do not have your consultation questionnaire and records at least one week prior to your scheduled consult, your appointment will be canceled.

Si necesita este formulario en Español, haga clic aquí.

Other resources:

If you are in need of free legal help with issues we do not handle, here is a brief list of organizations that may be better suited to help you.

For general civil legal services in Philadelphia:

For general civil legal services elsewhere in Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network

For civil liberties violations in Pennsylvania:

ACLU of Pennsylvania

Additional Resources:

Visiting our office:

Please note: we do not accept walk-in appointments.

Our address:

Two Penn Center
1500 JFK Boulevard, Suite 802
Philadelphia PA 19102

Accessible Parking:

Handicap accessible parking spaces can be found near the 15th and JFK intersection as well as on 15th Street between JFK and the Parkway.

Standard Parking:

There are multiple parking garages and lots near the Law Center office. Parking rates can be found at Philadelphia.bestparking.com.

Standard Public Transportation:

Our office is conveniently located near multiple SEPTA stops and bus lines including the City Hall station and Suburban Station. To find the best route for you, use the SEPTA trip planner.

Accessible Public Transportation:

The closest accessible stop on the Market Frankfurt Line is the 15th Street stop. The closest accessible stops on the Broad Street line are the Walnut-Locust stop and the Race-Vine stop. The closest accessible regional rail line station is Suburban Station. All SEPTA buses are accessible. To review the status of an accessible elevator, visit the SEPTA website or call 1-877-737-8248.