Available Cases

Client seeks representation at an eviction hearing scheduled for September 20, 2021 at 12:45pm in Municipal Court. Client moved into the property in August 2020. Client lost income due to the pandemic, but applied for rental assistance in August 2021. Due to recent flooding, client was evacuated for 4 days and incurred expenses. Landlord is suing for June and July […]

Client seeks representation at an eviction hearing scheduled for October 7, 2021 at 9:30 am in Municipal Court. Landlord is represented by Jonathan James. Case summary coming soon. Please “express interest” by clicking on the case number if you are available for representation and would like more information right away.

Client seeks representation at an eviction hearing scheduled for September 27, 2021 at 11:00 am in Municipal Court. Client began living in the property in December 2019 with her two young children. Client lost income due to the pandemic in March 2020. Client reports that landlord renewed her lease term to month-to-month over the phone in January 2021. Landlord is […]

Client seeks representation at a collections hearing in Municipal Court on September 28, 2021, at 1:45 pm. Client is being sued by a debt buyer for about $2000. Client had a store credit card but fell behind on payments due to losing his job. Client is willing to open a payment plan but hopes to be able to dispute the […]

Client, a homeowner, seeks representation at trial in a slip and fall matter in the September Trial Pool. Plaintiff claims she fell outside client’s house. Client did not have homeowners’ insurance and had no knowledge of anyone falling on her property. Plaintiff sued client and the City of Philadelphia and was awarded $36,000 during arbitration. Client has filed an appeal […]

Incorporation – Client is a newly incorporated nonprofit that is preparing to hire and train reading tutors who will spend one year serving Philadelphia elementary students. Client seeks counsel & advice on Philadelphia-specific requirements for starting a nonprofit, as well as general policies client should establish before hiring employees or collecting donations. This is a limited one-hour consultation opportunity.

Licenses – Client is an emerging tobacco retailer and nightclub establishment in Northeast Philadelphia. Client recently received assistance from a VIP volunteer to overcome a zoning issue that was preventing operation of the business. Client applied for a Specialty Tobacco Establishment Exception to obtain exemption from the Clean Indoor Air Worker Protection Law, and its application was denied on 8/23/21. […]

Incorporation (1 Hour Consult) – Client is an established small business that provides support to local Spanish-speaking women, including psychological services, a radio program, and immigration support. Client seeks advice on the process for converting the small business into a nonprofit entity. VIP can provide a Spanish-language interpreter if needed.

Real Property – Client is an established community development corporation in North Philadelphia. Client is launching a community wealth building program intended to rehabilitate properties into affordable homes that will be sold to qualifying low-income buyers. Client seeks an attorney to draft a restrictive deed covenant for buyers in the program to ensure that client will receive a share of […]

Incorporation – Client is an emerging organization founded to provide evidence-based medical information to the Black community through social media channels and online publications. Client also plans to create a paid internship for pre-med and medical students to expand its ability to disseminate information while supporting students from minority populations. Client seeks assistance with state incorporation and obtaining 501(c)(3) tax-exemption.

Client seeks representation for a custody modification hearing scheduled for October 15, 2021 at 9:00 am before Judge George Twardy. In 2013, a custody order was issued giving client and the child’s father shared legal and physical custody. Client’s daughter is now sixteen-years-old and no longer wants to spend whole weeks with her father. Client is concerned that if her […]

Incorporation – Client is a community group organized in June 2020 to collectively fight entrenched racism in Northeast Philadelphia and the Philadelphia suburbs. Client organizes rallies, facilitates community conversations with lawmakers & justices, and hosts food drives. Client seeks an attorney to assist with obtaining PA incorporation and 501(c)(3) tax exemption.

Client seeks representation for a custody hearing concerning his twelve-year-old daughter before Judge Elizabeth Jackson on October 12, 2021, at 1:00 pm. Opposing party is child’s mother. A custody order was entered in 2013, which gave parents shared legal custody, gave mother primary physical custody, and gave client partial custody every other weekend, plus additional time as agreed upon by […]

Client seeks title to her deceased mother’s home. Client’s mother and step-father are the record owners. Client’s step-father died in 1991 and client’s mother died in 2009, leaving client and client’s two siblings as heirs. Client’s brother and sister are the owner’s only other heirs, and they are willing to give client their interest in the property. A volunteer is […]

Client seeks assistance with estate planning. Client would like a will naming her sons as her beneficiaries. A volunteer is needed to draft this document for client and help her to get it properly executed.

Tax – Client is an established community garden that doubles as a neighborhood event space. Client also provides technical support to residents who are at risk of losing their homes. Client seeks assistance with filing for 501(c)(3) tax exemption. Client currently has a fiscal sponsor, and plans to end that relationship after becoming an independent 501(c)(3) entity.

Incorporation – Client is a faith-based organization providing worship services in Philadelphia and Maryland, and is interested in expanding its programming to include mental health support. Client seeks assistance with PA state incorporation as a church. Client also seeks assistance with filing for 501(c)(3) tax-exemption, which will include drafting bylaws.

Client seeks representation for a custody hearing scheduled December 1, 2021 before Judge Elizabeth Jackson at 9:00 am concerning her three daughters. There are three opposing parties. The children’s maternal grandmother, the youngest child’s father and the youngest child’s paternal aunt. Client became a mother at a young age and was homeless. The maternal grandmother obtained sole legal and sole […]

Conservatorship – Client is a newly established 501(c)(3) community development corporation in North Philadelphia focused on economic development and social service projects that benefit the community’s youth and senior populations. Client is planning to file a petition for conservatorship for a particular property that client intends to rehabilitate and use as a community arts center. A public hearing for this […]

Client seeks assistance with a deed transfer to obtain title to the home in which she lives. Father, who passed away in 2010, left the property to client in his will and appointed her executrix of his estate. Client has obtained letters testamentary. Client’s mother, who died in 1988, remains on the deed with father, but it was owned by […]

Tax – Client is an established 501(c)(3) consulting service that teaches, evaluates, and mentors teachers, children, and early childhood educators using the Montessori philosophy. Client seeks assistance with completing form REV-1220 to obtain PA sales tax exemption.

Client seeks assistance with estate planning. Client would like a will naming his wife and daughter as co-executors and beneficiaries. A volunteer is needed to counsel client on his plan, draft this document, and help him to properly execute it.

Incorporation – Client is a new organization that supports homeschooling families through evaluations, coaching, workshops, and free virtual resources. Client incorporated as a for-profit partnership in late 2020, and now seeks assistance with switching to a nonprofit entity. Client also seeks assistance with obtaining 501(c)(3) tax exemption.

Contracts – Client is an emerging digital marketing agency that provides services such as social media management and sales consulting. Client seeks an attorney to draft a template contract for its business clients as well as for its subcontractors. This case has a companion case, 21-0046847, relating to incorporation. VIP can find another volunteer to handle this matter separately if […]