Philadelphia VIP

At last week's Small Business Legal Clinic at Blank Rome LLP, our clients met with #probono lawyers for counsel on the issues affecting their livelihoods. These businesses, which range from a family-owned cleaning company to a florist to an interpretation service, now have the answers they need to grow and operate with security. Thanks to all our volunteers and to Blank Rome for hosting us! If you missed the clinic, you can still volunteer to represent a small business client here: https://lnkd.in/e3CWQs8x

Thank you to all the volunteer lawyers, paralegals, interpreters, and others who accepted a new VIP #probono case in June! Add your name to the list and sign up for a VIP matter here: https://lnkd.in/e4n_fHQ

Last week at our Summer Pro Bono Program, we invited summer associates from across Philly to a seminar on the profession’s highest calling: helping others who can’t afford a lawyer. The law students who joined us are the future of the city’s legal community and, hopefully, future VIP volunteers. They heard from outstanding VIP volunteers Kristine Calalang, Timothy Hoban, Robin Holts, and Kevin M. Levy about the benefits of having an active pro bono practice. Thanks to our panelists, judges, and students, to our keynote speaker Lou Rulli, and to Pennsylvania Bar Institute for hosting us.

VIP's Volunteer of the Month is John Morabito, a former in-house lawyer who has grown his #probono practice in tandem with his solo legal practice. “My father was a general practice attorney in a small town,” John recalls. “He was an integral part of the community and I remember seeing him help our neighbors. I wanted to develop that skillset and serve individuals in need.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gNtMHkqk

From Kelly Gastley, the managing attorney at Philadelphia VIP: "Tangled Titles, Leaky Roofs: Addressing a Service Gap for Homeowners Who Need Repairs" "Our community has taken admirable action on both tangled titles and home repairs in recent years by investing resources and raising community awareness," she writes. "But we should also create a path for homeowners to access much-needed repairs while in the process of obtaining title." https://lnkd.in/gN3TX5u4

We’re excited to have Nadav Carmel on the team as VIP’s new Director of Operations. Nadav’s job is to run the back-office systems that allow our legal team to focus on serving clients and volunteer attorneys. He is happy to work in a setting where his administrative expertise serves the public interest. Welcome aboard, Nadav!

Landlord/tenant volunteers: Please join us in welcoming Kate Pietragallo, VIP’s new staff attorney for our eviction project. Kate’s job is to support volunteer lawyers as they defend our clients in Municipal Court. Previously, she worked as a legal aid attorney for tenants in Delaware County. If you want to learn more about VIP’s landlord/tenant work, take an eviction case, or just say welcome, please contact Kate at kpietragallo@phillyvip.org.

CLE Training: Guardianship in 2024 on June 24 at 10:00 am. Join VIP and our trainers, Kathy Ochroch, Timothy J. Holman, and Daniel Boose, to learn about filing guardianship petitions in Orphans' Court. We will cover recent changes to the statute governing guardianship practice. Right now, four VIP clients are searching for a volunteer lawyer to help them become a loved one's legal guardian. To learn more about one of these matters in conjunction with the training, please contact Denise E. Lynch: dlynch@phillyvip.org. REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/eCYT3SAK

Happy National Homeownership Month! Each Thursday, join our staff attorneys Erin and Michael for virtual sessions covering VIP's #tangledtitle projects and #probono opportunities. Each half-hour session will introduce one area of our tangled title work. Afterwards, our staff attorneys will be available to answer questions, provide support for ongoing matters, or help you choose a new VIP case. Deeds and Deed Transfers June 13 at 12:00 ET Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eGRRs8KC Probate to Preserve Family Homes June 20 at 12:00 ET Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eQPanAK6 Litigation Opportunities June 27 at 12:00 ET Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eKbaDtKV