Law Center Updates

Watch: Advancing Justice Together, our virtual 2020 Annual Celebration

On October 1, 2020, we held a virtual celebration of everyone who makes it possible for us to Advance Justice Together. The event featured inspiring stories from our work and performances from some of Philadelphia’s most exciting artists, including Amos Lee and BalletX. We honored our clients taking on gun violence in Philadelphia and the […]

Jennifer Clarke honored with the 2020 Bending the ARC Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association

On Friday, December 4, our Executive Director Jennifer Clarke was honored with the 2020 Bending the ARC Award from the Public Interest Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association, recognizing her 14 years of leadership and service to the Law Center, helping the organization achieve tremendously impactful victories for equal justice and civil rights. Each year, […]

Jennifer Clarke, our Executive Director, will step down after 14 years at the end of 2020

Jennifer Clarke, executive director of the Public Interest Law Center, has announced that she plans to step down at the end of 2020, after a 14-year tenure marked by landmark litigation achievements, expansion and increased diversity of the board and staff, and enhanced financial stability for the 50-year-old organization.

Remembering Thomas K. Gilhool

The Public Interest Law Center is sad to share that Thomas K. Gilhool, our former Chief Counsel and an inspiration throughout our history, died on August 22, 2020 at the age of 81. Tom helped bring about generational advances in the rights of people with disabilities nationwide, leading the first case establishing the right to […]

Our statement on the death of George Floyd

Today, full of pain, anger and sorrow, we mourn the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and all those who are victims of the violence of a racist system. They should be with us today. We watch in admiration demonstrators who put themselves on the line to make us face the reality of […]

What we’re doing during the COVID-19 crisis

COVID-19 has highlighted and exacerbated stark disparities within communities across the country. Our mission is to help people who face discrimination and poverty assert their right to access fundamental resources like housing, employment, education and more. We have continued this work during the present crisis. All Law Center staff continue to work remotely, supporting our […]

Remembering Bob Smith, a plaintiff in our case against partisan gerrymandering

We were sad to learn of the passing of Bob Smith, a lifelong supporter of service to the community and social justice who served as a voter plaintiff in our successful 2018 challenge to partisan gerrymandering. Bob died on April 4, 2020 in Wilkes-Barre at the age of 75. Bob played a pivotal role in […]

Law Center welcomes Zakia Elliott and Shauna Itri to the Board of Directors

The Law Center is excited to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors, Zakia Elliott and Shauna Itri. Both were elected at our March 2020 Board of Directors meeting. Zakia Elliott is a Program Manager at Philly Climate Works, a coalition of labor and environmental groups working to build a safe climate future […]

We are available to help as we take on COVID-19

Dear friends, This pandemic is revealing more plainly than ever the cracks in the system between the ‘have-nots’ and the ’haves,’ with the ‘have-nots,’ least able to provide the missing resources. The Public Interest Law Center remains open, with our dedicated staff working remotely, throughout the crisis to help Philadelphians access those resources.  See our […]

The Public Interest Law Center stands with the Montgomery County public defenders

March 4—On February 26, Montgomery County Commissioners fired the leaders of the County’s Public Defenders Office, Chief Dean Beer and Deputy Chief Keisha Hudson. The firing came shortly after the County forced the Defenders Office to withdraw an amicus brief that described in distressing detail the unfairness and harm caused by the County’s cash bail […]

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