Legal Aid in Berks County, PA: A Complete Overview

What is Legal Aid?

Legal aid refers to the provision of free or low-cost legal assistance to individuals who cannot afford private representation. This crucial service aims to ensure that everyone, regardless of financial background, has access to the legal assistance they need to navigate the complexities of the legal system. In Berks County, the Office of Legal Aid serves as a vital resource for those who are eligible for assistance. Their services are designed to address a wide range of civil legal matters, including family law, housing disputes, consumer issues, and more . By providing access to legal representation and advice, legal aid helps to level the playing field between clients and the often bewildering legal system. It protects the individuals, preserves their rights, and upholds their dignity. Legal aid is not an option that should be taken lightly. Individuals seeking assistance should understand the scope of the services provided and the eligibility requirements that must be met in order to qualify for support. In Berks County, the legal aid office determines the availability of funds and the nature of the legal aid plans on a yearly basis based on annual expenditures.

Who Qualifies for Legal Aid in Berks County?

As with most legal aid offices throughout the country, the Legal Aid Society of Berks County will not or cannot provide services to everyone. There will be some cases where a potential client simply earns too much money to qualify for the free legal aid that may be available. For instance, if you have a gross income of more than 125% of the federal poverty level per year, obtaining legal aid in Berks County closely resembles obtaining legal aid in Philadelphia. If your income is between 101% and 125% of the federal poverty level, you might be able to get some kind of assistance. However, it is going to be very limited. If your income is too high, then you will probably not be eligible for any legal aid at all. If your income is lower than the federal poverty level, then you might qualify to have an attorney work on your case pro bono.
The Legal Aid Society of Berks County has three different income calculators on their website that can help you to determine if you qualify for their assistance. Those calculators will also determine whether or not you are eligible for assistance at a reduced fee. The main eligibility requirements that the Legal Aid Society of Berks County has say that you must reside in Berks County and be at least 60 years old. You also need to have a net worth of $3,000 or less. This is true for single persons. If you have a spouse, then the combined net worth cannot be more than $6,000.
You will need to provide proof of your income, assets and living expenses to the Legal Aid Society of Berks County. Your income must be no more than the amount listed in the calculator that is in accordance with the type of assistance you are trying to obtain. Depending on the situation, you may need to provide additional information as well.

Which Case Types Legal Aid Does/Won’t Help With

Legal Aid in Berks County typically covers a range of civil cases, primarily focusing on family law issues. This includes assistance for child custody, spousal support, and divorce. The services may also involve cases where there are domestic violence allegations, although immediate family law issues such as custody, abuse, and even adoption may take a higher priority. Housing is an area where legal aid may provide services. This can include eviction proceedings, landlord/tenant law, and other housing concerns that may require representation. However, legal aid staff often urges individuals to pursue their own defense in evictions to avoid costs, but will tell individuals how to proceed. Wills, guardianship, and health care issues may also be covered by legal aid in a limited manner. Certain other civil matters may be handled as well. Legal aid in Berks County does not generally handle criminal matters or civil suits related to accidents, malpractice, or similar issues.

How You Can Get Legal Aid In Berks County

If you have determined that you are eligible for legal aid in Berks County, you will need to understand the steps involved in applying. You can both apply for and find legal aid through Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. Legal Aid is available at no-cost to qualified Pennsylvania residents for civil cases, including; housing, consumer, family law, education, health, or employment issues. However, there are certain restrictions on what Pennsylvania legal aid organizations cover. To obtain assistance, low-income residents should contact one of the following agencies or the regional office in Reading: The best way to contact each agency is by the following: Besides contacting an agency, there are also a variety of legal aid situations that require the filing of various forms. These forms include the following: – Fact Sheet for Legal Aid Applicants – Application Form for Legal Aid – Client Rights and Responsibilities – A Guide to Legal Aid – Application for Legal Aid to Sue in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – Application for Civil Legal Aid in Continuation of Prior Application to Access to Justice /Legal Aid Network – Authorization to Release Information – LAMP Workbook – Client Rights and Responsibilities – Application for Civil Legal Aid (Appendix A) in Continuation of Application for Access to Justice /Legal Aid Network (Appendix B) – Affidavit of Indigency – Application for Reimbursement for Out of Pocket Legal Expenses – Client Rights and Responsibilities and Program Information – Application for Civil Legal Aid in Continuation of Application for Access to Justice /Legal Aid Network – Application for Legal Aid (Online Application) – Financial Disclosure Statement (Income & Expenses) – Form for Individuals Submitting Financial Information Do not be alarmed if you find that your income is over the federal poverty guidelines. Legal aid agencies can sometimes provide pro bono services if you are deemed as having special circumstances.

Legal Aid in Your Area

Berks County is served by several legal aid organizations, reflective of the region and its needs.
Berks County Bar Association
The Berks County Bar Association does not offer free legal help. However, it does provide information on affordable legal services and a lawyer directory to find an attorney. There is also a lawyer referral service that can be reached at (610) 375-4591. The Bar Association also has resources and information available for pro bono services.
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania
The Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP) offers free legal representation and advice to low-income individuals and families who cannot afford an attorney. Through its New Beginnings Program, it provides efficient legal assistance for victims of domestic violence in property ownership matters (e.g., transfers, foreclosure, evictions) that arise from or are related to domestic abuse. It also hosts LegalAidLawHelp.org , an online portal where you can get answers legal questions and get the paperwork done. You can call them at (877) 429-5990.
Pennsylvania Health Law Project
The Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) is a statewide legal aid organization that represents people who are seeking or using publicly funded health coverage, including Medical Assistance and Medicare. They offer help with health coverage denials, termination, or other changes in coverage through administrative appeals and court actions. PHLP also helps consumers secure early intervention, special education and developmental disability services and housing. It provides help on home and community-based services such as Medicaid waivers, home modifications and assistive devices.
Berks Intercultural Alliance
The Berks Intercultural Alliance is a multicultural organization whose objective is to create and maintain a healthy multicultural community in Berks County. It provides legal assistance through their Legal Clinic that assists community members with appeals or denials of immigration services. Services include reference to agencies for financial assistance and services to victims of domestic violence. Individuals in need can call (610) 373-9911 to set up an appointment.

Legal Aid Success Stories

One cannot underestimate the profound difference that access to legal assistance can make in a person’s life. In Berks County, PA, the provision of legal aid has given many individuals and families the opportunity to overcome legal barriers and achieve a more stable future.
Consider the case of Julie, a single mother who faced eviction due to an unpaid rent dispute with her landlord. Facing potential homelessness with her young child, she turned to Berks County Legal Aid for support. The legal aid attorney was able to mediate a solution between Julie and her landlord, which involved reaching a settlement that allowed her to stay in her home while settling the debt over time. Thanks to legal aid, Julie avoided homelessness and had the stability necessary to keep her job and provide a safe environment for her daughter.
Or take the case of Samuel, a retired veteran who found himself in a legal battle for custody of his grandchildren. An unexpected death in his family left the children orphaned, and as their only living relative, he wanted to care for them. However, with a limited income and living on a pension, he couldn’t afford the legal fees to initiate a guardianship proceeding. Legal aid provided pro bono services that not only guided Samuel through the legal process but also helped him secure the guardianship he sought. Today, Samuel is a happy grandfather, grateful for the chance to raise his grandchildren.
Finally, consider those who benefit from legal aid services even if they do not have any direct legal issue. Many people in the Berks County community support legal aid because they believe in the right to counsel and the fundamental fairness it provides to vulnerable populations.
Legal aid agencies often conduct outreach programs aimed at educating the public about common legal issues and how to handle them. Their ability to provide community flyers and pamphlets detailing legal aid’s services and assist low-income individuals in navigating the court system help break down legal barriers for those who may not even know they exist.
While stories of individual success are powerful, it is also important to highlight the broader impact of legal aid. By helping people with low and moderate incomes navigate complex legal systems, legal aid helps to level the playing field. Understanding the impact of legal aid in Berks County ensures that this positive difference can continue long into the future.

Legal Aid Challenges and the Road Ahead

Current Challenges:
Despite the incredible work these organizations do to meet the legal needs of our communities, there are challenges they continue to face on a daily basis. As populations grow, cases become even more difficult and expensive. For instance, domestic violence cases are notoriously expensive, as there are often many court appearances just for the Emergency Protection Order alone. Not only do these cases involve multiple appearances, they have the possibility of criminal implications, implicating child custody issues, and even run the risk of requiring a forensic evaluation. All of these things take not only a toll on people’s pocketbooks but on their time, time many low-income clients don’t have to give up. This is just one example, used to illustrate the point, that as the population grows, more and more cases are brought before the courts. That means that the existing legal aide services are stretched thin and can’t buy the extra time and resources they and their clients need.
Another challenge to legal aid services in Pennsylvania is funding. The state budget in Harrisburg is tight, so funding for legal aid services is consistently cut. On the most recent ballot , voters were asked to approve a $25 fee from all court filings in civil cases, with proceeds supporting legal services for low-income residents. While recent polling shows that Pennsylvanians support such an approach, it has yet to be signed into law.
Future Developments:
Despite these challenges, the future looks bright! First, funding for domestic violence programs has recently received a boost in funding. An additional $2 million to domestic violence programs was added to the state budget despite the overall lack of funding. This is the first increase to the domestic violence program line item in the budget in more than a decade! Secondly, the federal government just sharply increased federal funding for public defenders nationwide. While not publically defense, this increase could have a "trickle-down" effect on legal services in our state and across the nation. The problem this raises, of course, is that if public defenders in urban areas are now able to hire additional staff members, what is the incentive to fund legal aid services? That remains to be seen, but it’s clear that we need more lawyers entering the field to tackle the growing legal issues we face.