VIP offers the unique opportunity to positively affect the lives of low income Philadelphia residents. We provide resources to assist you throughout the case, including mentors, interpreters, law students and training materials. VIP has included potential core competencies that staff anticipate volunteer counsel would achieve by taking the case, but these experiences are not guaranteed. Every VIP case provides an opportunity for direct client contact and case management. Join the VIP team by taking a case!
If you are interested in taking one of the following cases, please click on the case number to send an email to the VIP staff. Thank you!
Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in 2007 in Morocco and separated in May 2011. Although the client has living in Philadelphia since the parties separated, OP still resides in Ohio. Client is not sure of any marital assets or debts that may have been in OP’s name. Client would like assistance with a divorce. No action has been started to date. Client’s primary language is Arabic. Interpreting assistance is available upon request.
Core Competencies: Draft Pleadings, Discovery Practice
Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in June 2006 and separated in July 2012. OP has recently filed for divorce. There is a modest marital estate which includes debts and the damage which OP allegedly caused to Client’s car. OP is represented by counsel.
Core Competencies: Negotiation Skills, Client Interviewing
Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in October 2009 and separated several weeks later. OP convinced Client to move from Mississippi to Philadelphia in May 2011; however, she has had limited contact with him since her move. OP’s last known address is in the Netherlands. Client would like assistance with a divorce.
Core Competencies: Draft Pleadings, Factual Development and Investigation.
Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in 2005 in Philadelphia County, PA and separated in April 2013. They do not have any children together. Client claims that she and OP hold no assets, nor liabilities. Client is seeking legal assistance in obtaining support for herself and a divorce. No divorce action has been filed yet. Client's primary language is Spanish. Interpreting assistance is available upon request.
Core Competencies: Draft Pleadings, Client Interviewing
Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in April 2012 and separated in November 2012. Client has a PFA against OP. Prior to the parties’ marriage, Client received a worker’s compensation settlement which client loans to OP for a deposit on the purchase of a home for the parties. OP never made the deposit for a house, but may have wrongfully taken the money for his own use. Client would like assistance in obtaining a divorce and spousal support. OP is employed; Client is not. Marital estate may include a business run by OP.
Core Competencies: Discovery Practice and Factual Development and Investigation
Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in 2006 and separated in 2009. The parties executed a pre-nuptial agreement, the validity of which was upheld by the Court. OP has asserted claims for economic relief that may not have been covered by the pre-nuptial agreement. OP is not currently represented by counsel. Client needs assistance to move divorce action to its completion.
Core Competencies: Factual Development and Investigation, Draft Pleadings
Client/Husband and OP/Wife were married in January 2003 and separated in July 2011. The parties are the parents of one minor child. The marital estate may include a house in OP’s sole name that was purchased during the parties’ marriage, a modest bank account, and OP’s retirement benefits. The client is a paraplegic resulting from being injured in a drive-by shooting. The former marital residence may have been lost in foreclosure proceedings. Client is currently receiving spousal support. OP is represented by counsel. The grounds for divorce have been approved and the matter is going to be referred to an Equitable Distribution Master for the resolution of the economic claims.
Core Competencies: Drafting Pleadings, Analysis of Statutes.
Client/Husband and OP/Wife were married in Philadelphia in 2008 and separated in 2012. The parties have no children together. According to Client, neither party has assets or liabilities, nor seeks support from the other. Client would like assistance in obtaining a divorce. No action has been filed yet.
Core Competencies: Draft Pleadings, Client Interviewing
Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in Liberia in 1970 and separated in 2008. OP spends most of his time in Liberia, but still lives in Client’s home when he is in Philadelphia. OP has had six children with five different women outside the marriage. The marital estate includes Client’s home (which is currently in foreclosure), jointly owned real estate in Liberia, some modest bank accounts, and the marital portion of OP’s retirement benefits. No divorce action has been started yet.
Core Competencies: Draft Pleadings, Factual Development and Investigation
Client is a small business start-up located in Philadelphia. The business will connect educational coaches to teachers by recording classroom sessions and allowing coaches to view them remotely and provide performance feedback via video chat. The founder and sole employee – a recent college graduate – is preparing to hire his first employee and needs the assistance of a volunteer attorney with this process. While the business is located in Philadelphia, it is incorporated in Delaware, will operate across state lines and the potential employee will be working remotely from North Carolina.
Core competencies: Analysis of Statutes, Factual Development and Investigation
