Every day, low-income Philadelphians are faced with the daunting reality of protecting their homes, deciding whether to sign binding contracts and navigating the court system without the benefit of knowing the law. Unable to afford a lawyer, they have no choice but to handle complicated legal matters on their own. They are forced to become “experts” in response to threats to their basic human needs: housing, family, income and community.

As lawyers, we have a professional and moral obligation to handle pro bono work. As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, the need has never been greater. Philadelphia’s legal services community is struggling to find volunteers to meet the rising demand. This same challenge is also happening nationally. The president of the American Bar Association, Reggie Turner, recently called on lawyers across the country to commit to contributing 10 hours of pro bono service over the rest of 2021 to help address an “extraordinary need for pro bono on multiple fronts, including evictions, refugee assistance and disaster relief.”