Learn how the Philadelphia Bar Association is making a difference in Philadelphia with the Equal Justice Center

The Philadelphia Bar Association received $25,000 in grant funding from the Eagles Social Justice Fund in 2019 to help build the Equal Justice Center. Groundbreaking at the site was slated for July 2020, but the pandemic prevented the Bar Foundation from moving into the building at 8th and Race Streets.

While the Bar Foundation remains committed to securing a physical location in the future, it pivoted to more programmatic virtual work. According to the Foundation's 2021 initiatives, it will do so by actively pursuing four initiatives:

1. Assessing the data processes (and related technologies) of the current legal aid and social service providers to identify areas of improvement and to be able to move forward collaboratively to develop a virtual centralized intake and referral network.

2. Exploring the development and deployment of community-based justice navigators (volunteers or para-professionals trained by legal aid and social service practitioners) who can assist members of the community in accessing resources and accurate, up-to-date information. If necessary, they will refer visitors to appropriate service providers of social, legal, or health services.

3. Partnering with area law schools and funders to launch a legal incubator that would accept an annual cohort of new lawyers and train them in the practice of law. Initially, such incubator lawyers might focus on serving the needs of small/micro businesses in Philadelphia (the majority of whom are immigrant and/or minority-owned). Ultimately, the more general goal is to have the incubator lawyers supplement civil legal aid partners' work and improve access to justice for low- and lower-middle-income Philadelphians.

4. Examining the feasibility, design, and launch of mobile units to bring social and legal services (and internet connectivity) into neighborhoods – much like book- and bloodmobiles.