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Welcome to the 2020 PLAN Virtual Statewide Conference

All workshops will be presented virtually by webinar on the Zoom platform. You must register for individual workshop webinars by clicking the Register for the Webinar button appearing in the workshop description and completing the registration information to be admitted into the webinar.

Pennsylvania CLE credits will be available to attorneys who actively participate in webinars and indicate their participation through polls displayed periodically during the webinars.

Sign up or log in to bookmark your favorites and sync them to your phone or calendar.

Thursday, September 10
 

10:00am EDT

Major Changes in the Health Insurance Marketplace: Understanding Pennie, the New State Health Insurance Exchange
Obamacare is changing in Pennsylvania! Pennsylvania is leaving the federal health insurance marketplace and creating it's own state marketplace starting this November.

This session will explain what changes are being made and what to expect during open enrollment 2020 and beyond.
Speakers
avatar for Laval Miller-Wilson

Laval Miller-Wilson

Executive Director, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Laval Miller-Wilson has been the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) since 2009. PHLP is the designated state-wide health advocacy project of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. PHLP focuses on protecting and advancing the health rights of low-income and... Read More →
MP

Maripat Pileggi

Staff Attorney, Health and Independence Unit, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Maripat Pileggi joined Community Legal Services Inc. in 2007 as an attorney in the Health and Independence Unit. She works with clients to resolve legal problems that arise in many different government benefit programs run by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and the... Read More →

Second Handout Pennie Summary Sheet pdf
Third Handout One Pager on Pennie pdf
First Handout PPT Presentation pdf
Fourth Handout Employability Assessment Form pdf
Thursday September 10, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Zoom .
  Health Law

12:15pm EDT

A Conversation with DHS Secretary Teresa Miller
This is an keynote address from Pennsylvania Secretary of Human Services Teresa Miller which will open the 2020 PA Legal Aid Network Virtual Conference. Click on the Video Stream button above to view this session which will be presented via Zoom. The video stream is also available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/WZZ2d3U4Zc0
Speakers
avatar for Teresa Miller

Teresa Miller

Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Teresa Miller has served as Secretary of the Department of Human Services (DHS) since August 2017. In her time at DHS, Miller has focused on collaborating across agencies to advance Governor Wolf's health innovation and workforce development agendas, overseeing the successful launch... Read More →

Thursday September 10, 2020 12:15pm - 1:45pm EDT
Zoom .
  Keynote
  • Host Organization PLAN

2:00pm EDT

Utility Law Review and Update: Utility Advocacy for Assistance in the COVID-19 Era
This interactive session for new and seasoned advocates will cover the latest changes in utility assistance programs and energy advocacy in Pennsylvania.

Participants will learn about the current regulations governing billing. collections, and terminations, including a real-time update on shut off moratorium defense and policy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants will also receive a refresher on regulatory protections, available assistance programs, and other critical issues faced by low income utility consumers.
Speakers
GB

Giovanna Brackbill

Legal Fellow, Pennsylvania Utility Law Project
Giovanna Brackbill is a temporary part-time Legal Fellow, working under the supervision of PULP’s staff attorneys, while she studies for the PA bar exam. She serves individuals calling PULP’s utility hotline and works on COVID moratorium defense & post-moratorium policy advocacy... Read More →
RP

Ria Pereira

Staff Attorney, Pennsylvania Utility Law Project
Ria Pereira is a staff attorney at the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project (PULP) where she provides legal representation, training, consultation, and support services in utility and energy matters affecting low-income residents and community organizations in Pennsylvania.
avatar for Josie Pickens

Josie Pickens

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, Co-Director Energy Unit
Josie B.H. Pickens is a supervising attorney and co-director of the Energy Unit at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS). She represents low-income residential utility consumers in disputes to access and afford utility service. Her practice includes systemic advocacy and... Read More →

Utility Law Updates PPT Sept 2020 Final pptx
Utility Law Updates PPT Sept 2020 Slides pdf
Thursday September 10, 2020 2:00pm - 3:15pm EDT
Zoom .
  Utililty Law
 
Friday, September 11
 

10:00am EDT

PA’s New Occupational Licensing Reforms: How They Will Affect Your Clients’ Chances at Employment
Presenters will discuss recent reforms to consideration of criminal records in licensing for many Pennsylvania occupations and how they affect the likelihood of obtaining a license.

Attendees will learn which professions are affected, what legal standards will apply to consideration of criminal records, and what guidance will be available to help clients make career and educational plans.
Speakers
avatar for Sharon M. Dietrich

Sharon M. Dietrich

Litigation Director, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Sharon M. Dietrich has been an attorney with the Employment Law Project of Community Legal Services (CLS), Philadelphia, since 1987. She was CLS’ Managing Attorney for Public Benefits and Employment from 1997 until she became its Litigation Director in 2014. She represents low-income... Read More →
BL

Brendan Lynch

Staff Attorney, Community Legal Services
Brendan Lynch started at Community Legal Services in 1998 as an Independence Foundation fellow in the Public Benefits unit. From 2000 – 2001, he clerked for the Honorable Petrese B. Tucker of the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Following his... Read More →

Occupational licensing reform ppt slides pdf
Friday September 11, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Zoom .
  Employment Law
 
Monday, September 14
 

10:00am EDT

Mobile Home Ownership Issues
Affordable homeownership is one benefit offered to residents of mobile homes, but owning a mobile home comes with many issues of its own.

This session will discuss titling issues, problems with financing, purchase agreements or "rent-to-own" scheme, paying property taxes and dealing with tax sales, and the loss of the home through reposession or abandonment proceedings.
Speakers
BD

Brian Doyle

Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Brian Doyle has served Legal Aid of Southeastern PA as Staff Attorney since May 2016 and Pro Bono Coordinator for Chester County since 2017. He represents clients through trial in child custody, protection from abuse, protection from sexual violence and intimidation, unemployment... Read More →
DV

Dan Vitek

Staff Attorney, Community Justice Project
Dan Vitek is a staff attorney in CJP’s Pittsburgh Office where he practices in the areas of housing, utilities, civil rights, and consumer rights. Before joining CJP, Dan spent 9 years as the Senior Housing Attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services Association. Dan is an active member... Read More →

Monday September 14, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Zoom .
  Homeownership & Consumer Rights

2:00pm EDT

UCCJEA Basics
The UCCJEA (Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act), enacted in Pennsylvania in 2004, provides the statutory framework for courts to use to determine both interstate and intrastate jurisdictional disputes in child custody matters.

Join us to learn more about the UCCJEA: how to effectively analyze cases involving jurisdictional disputes and how to incorporate the guidance provided under the UCCJEA into your child custody practice.
Speakers
avatar for Susan Abramowich

Susan Abramowich

Managing Attorney, Neighborhood Legal Services
Susan Abramowich is currently a Managing Attorney handling cases involving domestic violence and complex custody matters. As an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh, Susan also teaches classes regarding general law and ethics. Prior to joining NLS, Susan served as a child... Read More →
avatar for Nikki Christopher

Nikki Christopher

Managing Attorney, Neighborhood Legal Services
Nikki Christopher has been employed with Neighborhood Legal Services since 2010. Prior to NLS, Attorney Christopher was a law clerk for the Honorable Thomas M. Piccione and the Honorable John W. Hodge, of the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas. She previously worked as an Associate... Read More →

FAM3 UCCJEA Basics Flow Chart Starting Point pdf
FAM3 UCCJEA Basics PA UCCJEA pdf
FAM3 UCCJEA Basics Flow Chart Initial Orders pdf
FAM3 UCCJEA Basics Presentation Slides pdf
FAM3 UCCJEA Basics Flow Chart Modification pdf
FAM3 UCCJEA Basics UCCJEA Guide for Court Personnel and Judges pdf
Monday September 14, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  Family Law
 
Tuesday, September 15
 

10:00am EDT

Health-Related COVID Updates
Even with all of Pennsylvania now in the "green" re-opening phase, new COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the Commonwealth.

Join us to discuss changes the Medicaid program has made - and continues to make - in response to the ongoing public health emergency.

Among other things, we will cover the new self-attestation rules and moratorium on MA closures, the temporary protections in place for shift nursing for kids and waiver services for adults, and lessons learned regarding whether and how marginalized populations are getting tested and treated.
Speakers
avatar for Marissa LaWall

Marissa LaWall

Supervising Attorney, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Marissa LaWall is a Supervising Attorney at PHLP. She began her tenure at PHLP as a Martin Luther King Jr. Fellow in 2018. Ms. LaWall received her J.D. from the Penn State Dickinson School of Law and graduated with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and minor in psychology from Cedar Crest... Read More →
avatar for Callie Perrone

Callie Perrone

Outreach and Community Navigator, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Callie Perrone is an Outreach and Community Navigator based in the Philadelphia office of the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP.)Callie is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her Master’s in Social Work and Social Policy, and deepened her commitment... Read More →
avatar for Kyle Fisher

Kyle Fisher

Managing Attorney, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Kyle Fisher is a Managing Attorney with the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, where he focuses on improving access to care through Medicaid. He represents individual clients in a wide range of publicly funded insurance matters. He also conducts policy advocacy as legal counsel to the... Read More →

Tuesday September 15, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Zoom .
  Health Law

2:00pm EDT

Digital and Remote Client Outreach and Community Education During the Pandemic
How do you use Facebook live to reach clients? How do you avoid getting "Zoom bombed" during a presentation? How do you effectively use social media to reach your clients?

This session will discuss ways to conduct community education and provide clients with know-your-rights information during the pandemic. We will discuss tips and best practices for zoom webinars and Facebook lives, telephone town halls with elected officials, virtual legal clinics, creating animated explainer videos, designing flyers and graphics, and finding other creative ways to reach our clients while they cannot come to our offices for intake.

We will discuss best practices for setting up live community education sessions, including which security measures to take. We will also talk about content creation best practices, and how to share materials, so legal advocates can use digital and remote tools to help clients understand their rights and the resources available to them.

Speakers
avatar for Caitlin Brown

Caitlin Brown

Director of Advancement and Communications, Community Legal Services
Caitlin Brown is the Director of Advancement & Communications for Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), where she has worked since 2012. Ms. Brown oversees CLS’s communications and individual giving fundraising programs, supervising a team to advance CLS’s mission. In... Read More →
avatar for Kadeem Morris

Kadeem Morris

Staff Attorney, Housing Unit, Community Legal Services
Kadeem Morris is a Staff Attorney in the Housing Unit at Community Legal Services. He primarily provides same day representation to tenants in Municipal Court through the Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project’s Lawyer of the Day Program. Prior to joining Community Legal Services... Read More →

Zoom Meetings Best Practices pdf
PLAN 2020 Digital Client Outreach Slides pdf
DRAFT Creating Effective Flyers for Our Clients (1) pdf
Tuesday September 15, 2020 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Zoom .
  Communications
 
Wednesday, September 16
 

10:00am EDT

Pro Bono in the Age of COVID-19: Conducting a Virtual Legal Clinic
The session will model a virtual law clinic, showcasing how the Dauphin County Bar Association (DCBA) partnered with MidPenn Legal Services and the PA CareerLink Capitol Region to hold an online clinic via Zoom to assist members of the community with driver's license issues.

The purpose of this clinic was to see what community members need to do to have their driver's licenses reinstated. This clinic took place with the assistance of students, paralegals, and volunteer lawyers.

In a private Zoom room, each community member was partnered with one volunteer lawyer, with the possiblity of a student, to remotely access their PennDOT driving records. Once there, the volunteer lawyer was able to highlight the steps needed to reinstate each driver's license. After the volunteer lawyer reviewed the steps, an expert in handling driver's licenses cases also joined the Zoom room to offer any additional suggestions.
Speakers
WG

Winnie Gunther

University of California, Berkley
Winnie Gunther is a junior at UC Berkeley, double majoring in Legal Studies and Theater Performance with a minor in Human Rights. She is interested in the intersection between law and social change, specifically in strategic impact litigation regarding gender-based violence. Aside... Read More →
avatar for David Trevaskis

David Trevaskis

Pro Bono Coordinator for Legal Services, Pennsylvania Bar Association
David Keller Trevaskis, Esquire, is an attorney and former third grade teacher with a Master’s Degree in Education. Trevaskis is the Pro Bono Coordinator for Legal Services for the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA), responsible for helping local bar associations, legal aid programs... Read More →
avatar for Sandy Ballard

Sandy Ballard

Public Services Coordinator, Dauphin County Bar Association
Sandra Ann Ballard is a 1988 graduate of the Harvard Law School (no, she did not have any classes with President Obama) and the Kennedy School of Government with a Masters in Public Policy. Since January 2003, Sandy has happily served as the Dauphin County Bar Association Public Services... Read More →

Writeup on DCBA Zoom Clinics pdf
DL Clinic Summary pdf
Zoom Breakout Room Tutorial mov
Zoom Screen Sharing Tutorial mov
Driver's License Clinic Flyer pdf
Example Pre Clinic Emails pdf
Pro Bono in the Age of Covid 19 PLAN 9 16 Slides pdf
Wednesday September 16, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Zoom .
  Pro Bono

2:00pm EDT

The Value of Really Working with Community Groups
The tools we lawyers use often fail to provide the help our clients need. It is incumbant upon us to identify and engage with the partners in our communities whose work can amplify our own.

In this workshop, community stakeholders and PLAN lawyers who coordinated to provide resource navigation and legal assistance during the pandemic will share their lived experiences.
Speakers
avatar for Eileen Yacknin

Eileen Yacknin

Director of Litigation, Neighborhood Legal Services
Eileen Yacknin is the director of litigation at Neighborhood Legal Services. Her duties include client advocacy, representation and litigation in all areas of poverty law (housing, consumer, family, unemployment, public benefits); supervision of staff attorneys, law students and... Read More →
avatar for Catherine T. Martin

Catherine T. Martin

Director of Advocacy, Neighborhood Legal Services
Catherine T. Martin has been a Managing Attorney in the central Pittsburgh office of Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) since 1995. At all times she has maintained an active legal practice in Consumer law, focusing on foreclosure issues and bankruptcy law. In 2018, Catherine was appointed... Read More →
CH

Carol Hardeman

Executive Director, Hill District Consensus Group
Carol Hardeman is the Executive Director of the Hill District Consensus Group. Carol is a dedicated community activist with more than 20 years of experience in managing public and community affairs. Carol’s professional background includes: program development, stakeholder relations... Read More →
avatar for Guillermo Velazquez

Guillermo Velazquez

Executive Director, Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation (PHDC)
Guillermo Velazquez is the Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation (PHDC). As Executive Director, Mr. Velazquez is responsible for the operations of PHDC and for implementing its mission in economic and community development. A Business Incubator, Housing... Read More →
avatar for Crystal Jennings

Crystal Jennings

Stewardship & Community Engagement Manager, City of Bridges Community Land Trust
As a core organizer with the Penn Plaza Support and Action Coalition, Crystal Jennings has worked tirelessly to mobilize displaced residents. Seeing the crisis of displacement firsthand as the daughter of a long time resident of Penn Plaza Apartments, where hundreds were displaced... Read More →
avatar for Anne Wright

Anne Wright

Director of Operations, Bodytrack, CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University
Anne Wright works on demographic mapping and community engagement as part of the EarthTime team at the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University. She works with people and communities of practice, such as housing and environmental advocates and advocacy groups, to support their work... Read More →
AR

Abby Rae LaCombe

RentHelpPGH
Abby Rae LaCombe leads process innovation, cross-organizational collaborations, training, and the Resource Navigators and Help Desk providers for RentHelpPGH. She has been a key figure in evolving better processes for assisting clients in applying for the Allegheny County PA-CARES... Read More →
SU

Swain Uber

KQ

Kevin Quisenberry

Litigation Director, Community Justice Project
Kevin Quisenberry is the Litigation Director of the Community Justice Project (CJP), a statewide law firm within the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. CJP engages in class action litigation and other forms of impact advocacy to help create positive change for low-income residents of... Read More →

Wednesday September 16, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  General Session
 
Thursday, September 17
 

10:00am EDT

Representing Nursing Home Residents in Involuntary Nursing Home Discharges and COVID-related Transfers
Involuntary discharges are one of the most common legal problems faced by nursing home residents. Nursing facilities initiate these discharges when residents have behavioral health issues they find difficult to address, when payment disputes arise, and sometimes simply because they would rather have residents with a better-paying source of coverage.

And it's not uncommon for nursing facilities to try to discharge these residents to homeless shelters, motels or other places where their care needs will not be met. Fortunately, strong legal protections are available to prevent these outcomes.

Join us to learn how to represent these very vulnerable clients and about partnering with the long term care ombudsman program. We will also discuss transfers related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the protections available to nursing home residents in these situations.
Speakers
MA

Mary Ann May

EB

Eileen Barlow

PW

Pam Walz

Supervising Attorney, Health and Independence Unit, Community Legal Services
Pamela Walz is a Supervising Attorney in the Health and Independence Unit at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), where she represents low-income older adults and younger adults with disabilities in matters involving access to publicly funded long term services and supports... Read More →

Thursday September 17, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  Elder Law

2:00pm EDT

How to Use Chapter 13 to Help Tenants and Homeowners
You can do things in Chapter 13 you cannot do in the real world. A review is provided of all the options available to keep your clients in their housing, whether they rent or are buying.

In the fast changing landscape of CARES Funding/Rental Assistance/Foreclosure moratorium etc., bankruptcy is probably the best venue to protect consumer rights.
Speakers
AM

Alfonso Madrid

Senior Staff Attorney, Community Legal Services
Alfonso Madrid is a Senior Staff Attorney at Community Legal Services in the Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit, where he focuses his practice on representing low-income homeowners in a variety of home ownership issues, including mortgage foreclosure, enforcement of installment... Read More →
avatar for Catherine T. Martin

Catherine T. Martin

Director of Advocacy, Neighborhood Legal Services
Catherine T. Martin has been a Managing Attorney in the central Pittsburgh office of Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) since 1995. At all times she has maintained an active legal practice in Consumer law, focusing on foreclosure issues and bankruptcy law. In 2018, Catherine was appointed... Read More →
avatar for Eileen Yacknin

Eileen Yacknin

Director of Litigation, Neighborhood Legal Services
Eileen Yacknin is the director of litigation at Neighborhood Legal Services. Her duties include client advocacy, representation and litigation in all areas of poverty law (housing, consumer, family, unemployment, public benefits); supervision of staff attorneys, law students and... Read More →

Plan calculator xls
ED plan form pdf
WD plan form pdf
MD plan form pdf
Ch 13 save housing Fall 2020 Slides pdf
Thursday September 17, 2020 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Zoom .
  Bankruptcy
 
Friday, September 18
 

2:00pm EDT

Immigrant Access to Public Benefits
This workshop will provide an overview of immigrant eligibility for major public benefits programs and will provide the latest updates on recent proposals to restrict immigrant access to public benefits, including recent changes to public charge and sponsor deeming policies.
Speakers
MP

Maripat Pileggi

Staff Attorney, Health and Independence Unit, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Maripat Pileggi joined Community Legal Services Inc. in 2007 as an attorney in the Health and Independence Unit. She works with clients to resolve legal problems that arise in many different government benefit programs run by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and the... Read More →

Many immigrants can receive public benefits without public charge risk pdf
immigrant eligibility for benefits slides pdf
EMA form pdf
immigrant eligibility for health insurance flowchart pdf
Friday September 18, 2020 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Zoom .
  Public Benefits
 
Monday, September 21
 

10:00am EDT

Eviction Diversion Programs
Communities across Pennsylvania are exploring third-party mediation programs as part of a broader eviction prevention strategies. Some of these programs elsewhere in the country have been very successful in preserving the tenancy, resolving habitability issues and repairing a strained landlord-tenant relationship.

This workshop will cover the elements of a successful diversion program in Lansing, Michigan; the steps that advocates took to create a mandatory pre-filing diversion program in Philadelphia; and initial results of a voluntary pre-filing diversion program in Allegheny County.
Speakers
GS

Gale Schwartz

Associate Director of Policy & Strategic Initiatives, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania
Gale Schwartz is the Associate Director of Policy & Strategic Initiatives at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. Joining the Housing Alliance in 2013, she primarily works with the diverse membership of the Housing Alliance to address pressing housing and community problems across... Read More →
avatar for Megan Stanley

Megan Stanley

Executive Director, Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations
Megan Stanley serves as the Executive Director for the City of Pittsburgh's Commission on Human Relations. She joined the Commission in 2018 with over 10 years of progressive experience in social policy and housing, working specifically with vulnerable populations. Prior to working... Read More →
RG

Rachel Garland

Managing Attorney, Housing Unit, Community Legal Services
Rachel Garland began her career at Community Legal Services as an Equal Justice Works fellow in 2008. She is currently serving as the Managing Attorney of the Housing Unit.
ER

Elizabeth Rios

Managing Attorney, Michigan Advocacy Program, LSSCM
Liza is the Managing Attorney for the Lansing Office of Legal Services of South Central Michigan and has been with the program for 10 years, specializing in housing law. Liza graduated from The University of Michigan with a BA in political science in 2001 and received her J.D. from... Read More →

Monday September 21, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  Housing Law

2:00pm EDT

Recovery Dialects: The Words we Use Matter
Stigma is both a label and a stereotype and contributes to active discrimination against an individual or population. Terms like addict and abuse universally evoke a negative response that can lead to and reinforce stigma.

Learn positive language to effectively communicate with your client to gain their trust and defend them before judges to get the best possible outcome.
Speakers
BG

Brian Gorman

Executive Director, Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid
Brian Gorman has been the Executive Director of Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid (SPLA) since 2015. Prior to that, Brian served as assistant public defender in Crawford County and assistant and deputy public defender in Washington County for a total of 12 years, and he was a staff... Read More →
avatar for Melissa Ruggiero

Melissa Ruggiero

Staff Attorney, Neighborhood Legal Services
Melissa Ruggiero is currently a Staff Attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services in Pittsburgh. She provides legal services for the elder law program and represents clients denied Social Security disability benefits.Prior to joining NLS in 2020, she worked for five years as Associate... Read More →
avatar for Adam Sledd

Adam Sledd

Recovery Support Services Director, Unity Recovery
Adam Sledd is the Recovery Support Services Director at Unity Recovery in Philadelphia. Adam is a person in recovery since 2011. He began his career in social services two decades ago as a special education teacher. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Special Education in 1998... Read More →

DDAP Language Matters pdf
Recovery Dialects Ashford pdf
Practices Of Stigmatization pdf
PLAN Presentation Slides pdf
PersonFirst Pledge pdf
Monday September 21, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  General Session
 
Tuesday, September 22
 

10:00am EDT

Bankruptcy Boot-Camp: Introduction to the Concepts and the Practice of Consumer Bankruptcy
Transform yourself from a bankruptcyphobe into a bankruptcy guru in 90 minutes!

Bankryptcy is a useful and underutilized tool for low income clients. There's a reason rich people and businesses file bankruptcy - it can improve their financial situation. That is true for legal services clients too.

Find out when bankruptcy can help your clients, and how you can start handling bankruptcy cases.
Speakers
AD

Adam DiBuo

Neighborhood Legal Services
avatar for Catherine T. Martin

Catherine T. Martin

Director of Advocacy, Neighborhood Legal Services
Catherine T. Martin has been a Managing Attorney in the central Pittsburgh office of Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) since 1995. At all times she has maintained an active legal practice in Consumer law, focusing on foreclosure issues and bankruptcy law. In 2018, Catherine was appointed... Read More →
avatar for Eileen Yacknin

Eileen Yacknin

Director of Litigation, Neighborhood Legal Services
Eileen Yacknin is the director of litigation at Neighborhood Legal Services. Her duties include client advocacy, representation and litigation in all areas of poverty law (housing, consumer, family, unemployment, public benefits); supervision of staff attorneys, law students and... Read More →

Plan calculator xls
Bankruptcy Handbook pdf
Presentation Slides pdf
Tuesday September 22, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  Bankruptcy

2:00pm EDT

Messaging to Policy Makers Without Running Afoul of LSC Restrictions
Register for the Webinar
Participants will learn how to explain legal as constituent sevices to legislators and their staff.

Now that many LSC-funded programs and other legal aid programs have begun to develop relationships with their federal and state legislators and staff, we want to indentify ways to build on and expand those connections my messaging to different audiences.

One way to do that is to coordinate legislative and media outreach efforts, and focus on the issues of local concern. The workshop will also address compliance with LSC lobbying restrictions applicable to LSC grantees in communicating with legislators.
Speakers
avatar for Brianna Bosak

Brianna Bosak

Communications Officer, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
Brianna Bosak is the Communications Officer for the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc., where she leads the communications activities of the organization and its advocacy efforts, including building a strong statewide identity for its network of civil legal aid providers. Brianna... Read More →
avatar for Carol Bergman

Carol Bergman

Vice President for Government Relations & Public Affairs, Legal Services Corporation
Carol Bergman is the vice president for government relations and public affairs at the Legal Services Corporation, where she has worked since March 2012, and is responsible for managing LSC’s communications and relationships with Congress, the executive branch, the media, and the... Read More →
avatar for Marion Fraley

Marion Fraley

Communications Director, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA
Marion Hoffman Fraley is Communications Director for Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP). She joined LASP in September 2017 as Communications Manager and was named director in January 2021. She coordinates media relations, manages the website, maintains LASP social media, writes and... Read More →
avatar for Christine Kirby

Christine Kirby

Director of Development, Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Christine Kirby serves as the Director of Development and Communications at Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) where she has been successful in requesting and receiving private gifts for a number of civil legal aid initiatives, as well as increased the number of grant proposals submitted... Read More →
CR

Carl Rauscher

Director of Communications and Media Relations, Legal Services Corporation
Carl Rauscher had a long career in print and broadcast journalism before becoming the Legal Services Corporation’s Director of Communications and Media Relations eight years ago. He was political editor and Washington bureau managing editor for Cox Newspapers; Washington editor... Read More →

2020 07 24 LSC Survey on the impact of COVID 19 on Legal Aid pdf
LSC Messaging to Policy Makers Without Running Afoul of LSC Restrictions pptx
Tuesday September 22, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  Communications
 
Wednesday, September 23
 

2:00pm EDT

Health Care for Kids 101
No child in Pennsylvania should go without health insurance coverage. This session will provide advocates with a primer on health insurance options for kids in Pennsylvania, with a focus on Medicaid.

The session will offer an opportunity to learn about the following topics: Medicaid eligibility; how to apply for coverage; available services for kids on Medicaid including an overview of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit which provides comprehensive health care services for kids; and what to do if a client's application or service is denied.

While Medicaid will be the focus of this presentation, we will also touch briefly on other health insurance options available to kids who do not qualify for Medicaid, such as Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Speakers
avatar for Danna Casserly

Danna Casserly

Supervising Attorney, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Danna Casserly is a Supervising Attorney with the Pennsylania Health Law Project. Ms. Casserly has advocated for health care access for lower-income consumers since she began her legal career as a Staff Attorney with PHLP in 2013. Her work focuses on representing children with complex... Read More →
avatar for Marissa LaWall

Marissa LaWall

Supervising Attorney, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Marissa LaWall is a Supervising Attorney at PHLP. She began her tenure at PHLP as a Martin Luther King Jr. Fellow in 2018. Ms. LaWall received her J.D. from the Penn State Dickinson School of Law and graduated with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and minor in psychology from Cedar Crest... Read More →

Presentation Slides pdf
Wednesday September 23, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  Health Law
 
Thursday, September 24
 

10:00am EDT

Navigating Disability Benefits for Veterans: Initial Application Through Appeals
Benefits available to veterans from VA can be extremely helpful. However, the process of applying for, and appealing denials of, these benefits, is a daunting administrative process. During this training, we will address how to navigate VA processes, elements of a claim, medical evidence, and best, practical strategies to advocate for and represent veterans.
Speakers
avatar for Richard Prebil

Richard Prebil

Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Richard Prebil is a Staff Attorney in (and helped establish) the Veterans Advocacy Project (VAP) at Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP). VAP, through a client-centered, culturally-competent, dignity-focused, trauma-informed legal practice, provides specialized assistance... Read More →

VA21a ApplicationForVAAccreditation pdf
NavigatingDisabilityBenefitsforVeterans Slides pdf
Thursday September 24, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  Public Benefits

2:00pm EDT

Water Affordability and Dealing with Unregulated Utilities
Most Pennsylvanians are provided water and sewer service by municipal authorities that are unregulated by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). The limited statutory requirements that apply to them are limited and not well-known.

This interactive session for new and seasoned advocates will cover how to handle cases dealing with unregulated utilities, including: the difference between regulated and unregulated utilities, long term consequences of water privatization, consumer protections, due process issues around appealing grounds for termination, how to obtain documentation, and how to advocate with a local municipal authority on behalf of your clients.

We will also discuss emerging trends in water and wastewater assistance programs at regulated and unregulated water companies across the state.
Speakers
DV

Dan Vitek

Staff Attorney, Community Justice Project
Dan Vitek is a staff attorney in CJP’s Pittsburgh Office where he practices in the areas of housing, utilities, civil rights, and consumer rights. Before joining CJP, Dan spent 9 years as the Senior Housing Attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services Association. Dan is an active member... Read More →
RB

Robert Ballenger

Co-Director – Energy Unit, Community Legal Services
Robert Ballenger is an attorney for CLS’s Energy Unit, where he works to restore and maintain clients’ access to essential utilities. Mr. Ballenger has been admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania since 2004, in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania... Read More →
avatar for John Sweet

John Sweet

Senior Attorney, Pennsylvania Utility Law Project
John Sweet serves as a Senior Attorney at Pennsylvania Utility Law Project, where he provides legal representation, advocacy, training, consultation and support services in energy and utility matters affecting low-income residents of Pennsylvania.

PLAN 2020 Water Affordability and Unregulated Utilities Final pptx
USTRA One Pager rp062220js pdf
SAMPLE USTRA Complaint and Injunction FINAL docx
Recommended Reforms 10192018 pdf
SAMPLE USTRA Complaint and Injunction FINAL pdf
PLAN 2020 Water Affordability and Unregulated Utilities Presentation Slides pdf
Thursday September 24, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  Utililty Law
 
Friday, September 25
 

2:00pm EDT

Low Income Housing Tax Credits 101 for Housing Advocates
The Low Income Housing Tax credit is the primary tool used to facilitate the development and preservation of affordable housing. It is administered jointly by the IRS and in PA, the PA Housing Finance Agency.

This session will explain the basics of LIHTC, and what is important for legal services staff and their client to know.
Speakers
avatar for Mark Schwartz

Mark Schwartz

Of Counsel, Regional Housing Legal Services
Mark Schwartz is currently Of Counsel to Regional Housing Legal Services (RHLS), which is a nonprofit law firm with expertise in affordable, sustainable housing and its related components-community and economic development, utility matters and preservation of homeownership. RHLS provides... Read More →
DS

Dina Schlossberg

Deputy Director, Regional Housing Legal Services

Friday September 25, 2020 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Zoom .
  Housing Law
 
Monday, September 28
 

10:00am EDT

TANF and SNAP Employment and Training Program Revamp
DHS spent over a year working on a redesign of its TANF and SNAP E & T programs. Basically, these changes abandon the "work first" approach, and it's emphasis on rapid attachment to the work force, and instead focus on assessment, barrier removal, and education/training. Most of these changes are being implemented through modifications to the contracts with EARN programs. In addition, the Work Ready program has been repurposed to focus solely on Extended TANF families. These changes went into effect on July 1, 2020. In this session we will talk in more detail about the programmatic changes as well as various E & T policy changes intended to facilitate the revamp. The COVID pandemic has impacted both the ability of clients to participate in E & T activities and the manner in which they participate. E & T providers are attempting to serve clients remotely, which raises numerous issues that we will explore in the session.
Speakers
avatar for Louise Hayes

Louise Hayes

Supervising Attorney, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Louise Hayes has been an attorney at CLS’s North Philadelphia Law Center since 1997, when she joined CLS as an Independence Foundation Fellow.  While helping CLS clients get and keep a range of public benefits, her expertise is in SNAP and cash assistance programs, including programs... Read More →
avatar for Peter Zurflieh

Peter Zurflieh

Attorney, Community Justice Project
Peter Zurflieh, Esq., is an attorney with the Community Justice Project (CJP) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Part of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, CJP provides back-up to the regional legal services programs, doing impact litigation, as well as legislative and administrative... Read More →

2020.5.26 SPALs for Lap Top purchase pdf
2020.9.11 Ops Memo Second and Subsequent Training Policy pdf
2020.9.14 OPS Memo New Work Expense Deduction pdf
SPALs for SNAP only 7 4 13 pdf
2020.5.28 Child Care for Remote Participation and Distance Learning pdf
2020.8.11 Ops Memo Changes to Education Policy pdf
Employment and Training Program Redesign Presentation Slides pdf
Monday September 28, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  Public Benefits
 
Tuesday, September 29
 

10:00am EDT

Everything You Ever wanted to Know about the Economic Impact Payment and Why Your Client Hasn’t Gotten it (Yet)
Under the CARES Act, the IRS was tasked with issuing the $1200, plus $500 per qualifying child, stimulus payment known as the Economic Impact Payment (EIP). Months later, many people who should have received the payment have not.

Hear from a panel of Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) practitioners about common problem scenarios including cases of social security benefit and SSI recipients and other non-filers, separated spouses, identify theft, and dependents potential solutions, litigation, and about the anticipated second round of payments.
Speakers
AM

Anthony Marqusee

Paralegal, Philadelphia Legal Assistance
Anthony Marqusee is a paralegal at Philadelphia Legal Assistance, where he has served clients in the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic since 2017. He would describe taxes as "surprisingly interesting." Anthony is a graduate of Haverford College.
RS

Rebecca Stavish

Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Managing Attorney, MidPenn Legal Services
Rebecca Stavish is the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Managing Attorney at MidPenn Legal Services. She has served in that role since 2017. The clinic helps clients with various IRS, and PA DOR, controversy, and collection matters. Attorney Stavish earned her B.S from Carnegie Mellon University... Read More →
avatar for Christine Speidel

Christine Speidel

Director of Federal Tax Clinic, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
Christine Speidel directs the Federal Tax Clinic at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. In the Clinic, she supervises law students as they represent individuals in a wide variety of IRS controversy and collection matters. Her research interests lie in the intersection... Read More →

Tuesday September 29, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  General Session
 
Wednesday, September 30
 

10:00am EDT

New Advocate Trial Advocacy Skills Training Session 1: Effective Advocacy and Practical Lawyering Skills
This session is designed to provide advocates with less than five years of practical legal experience guidance on how to be an effective advocate for clients inside and outside of the courtroom.
Speakers
avatar for Erica LeMon

Erica LeMon

Director of Advocacy for Children's Rights, Maryland Legal Aid
I am very excited to present at the 2020 Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Statewide Virtual Training. Please feel free to ask me about any general litigation questions and family law or child advocacy questions. 
avatar for Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Administrative Officer, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith, Esquire, is the Administrative Officer of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.) where she oversees the Martin Luther King, Jr. Internship and Fellowship Programs, conducts regular contract compliance monitoring of PLAN programs, disseminates... Read More →
NM

Nick Matash

Managing Attorney, MidPenn Legal Services
Nick Matash joined MidPenn Legal Services in 2002; he is the Managing Attorney of the MidPenn Legal Services’ office in Harrisburg, and co-chairs MidPenn’s employment law unit. MidPenn Legal Services provides free legal services on civil law cases to low-income individuals. Prior... Read More →
RD

Rebecca Dempsey

MidPenn Legal Services

Effective Advocacy PowerPoint pptx
Effective Advocacy PowerPoint Slides pdf
Wednesday September 30, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
  Trial Advocacy Skills

2:00pm EDT

New Advocate Trial Advocacy Skills Training Session 2: An Overview of Select Ethical Issues Before and After Trial
Register for the Webinar
This session is designed to provide advocates with less than five years of practical legal experience guidance on how to handle select ethical issues before and after their client's trial.

Video in this presentation:
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
Speakers
avatar for Erica LeMon

Erica LeMon

Director of Advocacy for Children's Rights, Maryland Legal Aid
I am very excited to present at the 2020 Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Statewide Virtual Training. Please feel free to ask me about any general litigation questions and family law or child advocacy questions. 
avatar for Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Administrative Officer, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith, Esquire, is the Administrative Officer of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.) where she oversees the Martin Luther King, Jr. Internship and Fellowship Programs, conducts regular contract compliance monitoring of PLAN programs, disseminates... Read More →
NM

Nick Matash

Managing Attorney, MidPenn Legal Services
Nick Matash joined MidPenn Legal Services in 2002; he is the Managing Attorney of the MidPenn Legal Services’ office in Harrisburg, and co-chairs MidPenn’s employment law unit. MidPenn Legal Services provides free legal services on civil law cases to low-income individuals. Prior... Read More →
RD

Rebecca Dempsey

MidPenn Legal Services

Ethics PowerPoint pptx
Ethics PowerPoint Slides pdf
Wednesday September 30, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
  Trial Advocacy Skills
 
Thursday, October 1
 

10:00am EDT

Representing Clients in Medicaid Managed Care Appeals
Nearly all Pennsylvanians enrolled in Medicaid are in managed care. Medicaid managed care plans are the gatekeepers for health care services; making the crucial decisions to approve or deny services.

For decades we have observed managed care plans limit services (e.g., home health care) to medically fragile children. Now we are seeing older adults and people with disabilities enrolled in Community HealthChoices (CHC) whose managed care plans are denying them the level of home and community-based waiver services that they need to live safely at home.

Join us as we discuss how to represent clients in grievances and fair hearings challenging adverse benefit determinations by CHC, Physical HealthChoices and Behavioral HealthChoices managed care plans.
Speakers
PW

Pam Walz

Supervising Attorney, Health and Independence Unit, Community Legal Services
Pamela Walz is a Supervising Attorney in the Health and Independence Unit at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), where she represents low-income older adults and younger adults with disabilities in matters involving access to publicly funded long term services and supports... Read More →
avatar for Amy Lowenstein

Amy Lowenstein

Supervising Attorney, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Amy Lowenstein is a Supervising Attorney at the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) where she focuses on improving access to Medicaid services—particularly in Pennsylvania’s managed long-term services and supports program—through policy analysis, systems advocacy, and direct... Read More →

Sample Grievance Discovery Req & Appearance pdf
Partial Approval Notice UPMC pdf
Guide to Letter of Medical Necessity for PAS pdf
2020 CHC Agreement Excerpts pdf
Full Denial Notice Keystone pdf
2020 10 01 MCO Appeals PowerPoint Slides pdf
Thursday October 1, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Zoom .
  Health Law

10:00am EDT

New Advocate Trial Advocacy Skills Training Session 3: Cross Examination (e.g. Impeachment by Contradiction, Omission In Prior Statements) and Objections
This session is designed to provide advocates with less than five years of practical legal experience instruction on cross examination and objection techniques.

Videos from this workshop include:
Speakers
avatar for Erica LeMon

Erica LeMon

Director of Advocacy for Children's Rights, Maryland Legal Aid
I am very excited to present at the 2020 Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Statewide Virtual Training. Please feel free to ask me about any general litigation questions and family law or child advocacy questions. 
avatar for Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Administrative Officer, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith, Esquire, is the Administrative Officer of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.) where she oversees the Martin Luther King, Jr. Internship and Fellowship Programs, conducts regular contract compliance monitoring of PLAN programs, disseminates... Read More →
NM

Nick Matash

Managing Attorney, MidPenn Legal Services
Nick Matash joined MidPenn Legal Services in 2002; he is the Managing Attorney of the MidPenn Legal Services’ office in Harrisburg, and co-chairs MidPenn’s employment law unit. MidPenn Legal Services provides free legal services on civil law cases to low-income individuals. Prior... Read More →
RD

Rebecca Dempsey

MidPenn Legal Services

Cross Examination and Objections PowerPoint #3 ppt
List of Objections pdf
Objection List Trial Notebook pdf
Cross Examination and Objections PowerPoint Slides pdf
Objections list inside binder jpg
Thursday October 1, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
  Trial Advocacy Skills

2:00pm EDT

New Advocate Trial Advocacy Skills Training Session 4: Direct Examination, Refreshing Recollection and Introduction of Exhibits
This session is designed to provide advocates with less than five years of practical legal experience instruction on direct examination, refreshing recollection, and introduction of exhibits techniques.

Videos from this workshop include:
Speakers
avatar for Erica LeMon

Erica LeMon

Director of Advocacy for Children's Rights, Maryland Legal Aid
I am very excited to present at the 2020 Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Statewide Virtual Training. Please feel free to ask me about any general litigation questions and family law or child advocacy questions. 
avatar for Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Administrative Officer, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith, Esquire, is the Administrative Officer of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.) where she oversees the Martin Luther King, Jr. Internship and Fellowship Programs, conducts regular contract compliance monitoring of PLAN programs, disseminates... Read More →
NM

Nick Matash

Managing Attorney, MidPenn Legal Services
Nick Matash joined MidPenn Legal Services in 2002; he is the Managing Attorney of the MidPenn Legal Services’ office in Harrisburg, and co-chairs MidPenn’s employment law unit. MidPenn Legal Services provides free legal services on civil law cases to low-income individuals. Prior... Read More →
RD

Rebecca Dempsey

MidPenn Legal Services

Direct Examination PowerPoint pptx
Direct Examination PowerPoint Slides pdf
Thursday October 1, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
  Trial Advocacy Skills
 
Friday, October 2
 

10:00am EDT

New Advocate Trial Advocacy Skills Training Session 5: Virtual Hearing Practice
This session is designed to provide advocates with less than five years of practical legal experience guidance on how to prepare for and participate in remote court proceedings.
Speakers
avatar for Erica LeMon

Erica LeMon

Director of Advocacy for Children's Rights, Maryland Legal Aid
I am very excited to present at the 2020 Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Statewide Virtual Training. Please feel free to ask me about any general litigation questions and family law or child advocacy questions. 
avatar for Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Administrative Officer, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith, Esquire, is the Administrative Officer of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.) where she oversees the Martin Luther King, Jr. Internship and Fellowship Programs, conducts regular contract compliance monitoring of PLAN programs, disseminates... Read More →
NM

Nick Matash

Managing Attorney, MidPenn Legal Services
Nick Matash joined MidPenn Legal Services in 2002; he is the Managing Attorney of the MidPenn Legal Services’ office in Harrisburg, and co-chairs MidPenn’s employment law unit. MidPenn Legal Services provides free legal services on civil law cases to low-income individuals. Prior... Read More →
RD

Rebecca Dempsey

MidPenn Legal Services

Virtual Hearing Practice PowerPoint pptx
Virtual Hearing Practice PowerPoint Slides pdf
Friday October 2, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
  Trial Advocacy Skills
 
Monday, October 5
 

10:00am EDT

Remote Eviction Hearing Issues in the Age of COVID-19
"In-person" eviction hearings may pose health risks to defendants with medical conditions that put them at greater risk of serious illness or death if exposed to the Coronavirus. At the same time, remote hearings may present procedural challenges that could impair a defendant's ability to evaluate evidence and present a defense.

This workshop will cover reasonable accommodation requests and potential due process challenges to the conduct of eviction hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speakers
ED

Eric Dunn

Director of Litigation, National Housing Law Project
Eric Dunn is a national expert on tenants’ rights and consumer law issues, known for high-impact advocacy on matters affecting subsidized housing tenants and families struggling to access housing because of criminal and eviction records. Before joining to NHLP, Eric was an attorney... Read More →
MR

Matt Rich

Attorney, MidPenn Legal Services
Matt Rich provides advocacy, consultation, supportive services, and representation to low-income residents (mostly in both Dauphin and Perry Counties) primarily in the area of landlord/tenant cases, both in private and subsidized housing matters. He also works with low-income individuals... Read More →

NHLP Memo RE CARES Act Moratorium pdf
NHLP memo RE CDC Order pdf
NHLP Memo on procedural due process challenges to evictions during COVID 19 pdf
Draft Fed Ct Complaint RE ADA violations (holding hearings during COVID 19) pdf
PowerPoint Presentation Slides pdf
Monday October 5, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  Housing Law

2:00pm EDT

Using Actions in Quiet Title and Ejectment to Protect Older Clients
This sixty-minute panel presentation will introduce participants to the key difference between actions in ejectment and to quiet title, with emphasis on how both may offer older clients protection from abuse and financial exploitation.

The presentation will also provide a brief overview of the necessary steps to prepare for litigate, and or resolve quiet title cases. Finally, a portion of the program will highlight ways to help older clients avoid the need for these actions, namely by educating and advising them of the critical importance of basic estate planning.

SeniorLAW Center's Assistant Director of Victim Services, Brendan Corbalis, and Lamont Edwards will provide an overview of the entire process using case studies of clients they have represented.
Speakers
avatar for Pilar Diaz

Pilar Diaz

Staff Attorney, SeniorLAW Center
Pilar Diaz, Esq. is a staff attorney for SeniorLAW Center in the Philadelphia office. Pilar handles a variety of legal matters, including actions in ejectments and quiet title matters. She is a passionate advocate for victims of crime, helping provide creative solutions for seniors... Read More →
avatar for Brendan Corbalis

Brendan Corbalis

Assistant Director Victim Services, SeniorLAW Center
Brendan Corbalis, Esq. serves as SeniorLAW Center’s Assistant Director for Victim Services. A graduate of NYU and Yale, Brendan received his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law. Prior to joining the SLC team, practice areas included social security disability appeals, family... Read More →

PowerPoint Presentation Slides pdf
Monday October 5, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  Elder Law
 
Tuesday, October 6
 

10:00am EDT

Avoiding and Transition from Nursing Homes: Accessing the Community HealthChoices Waivers
Given the alarming rate of COVID-19 infections and deaths in nursing homes, residents are desperate to get out of these congregate settings and others are anxious to avoid nursing home placement. Instead they want to receive Medicaid-funded waiver services and supports delivered in their own homes.

This session will describe and provide practice tips on navigating the clinical and financial eligibility maze of Medicaid's Community HealthChoices waiver, including how to use income-spend-down trusts for individuals who would not otherwise be financially eligible for the waiver. The Community HealthChoices-required nursing home transition process will also be covered.
Speakers
avatar for Amy Lowenstein

Amy Lowenstein

Supervising Attorney, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Amy Lowenstein is a Supervising Attorney at the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) where she focuses on improving access to Medicaid services—particularly in Pennsylvania’s managed long-term services and supports program—through policy analysis, systems advocacy, and direct... Read More →
KV

Katharine Vengraitis

Staff Attorney, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Kate Vengraitis is an attorney in the SSI and Health and Independence Units at Community Legal Services. Ms. Vengraitis began her career at CLS as a law student intern in 2013. Her practice focuses on representing adults and children facing issues attaining and maintaining Supplemental... Read More →

Attachment B FED Matrix pdf
PHLP Accessing HCBS When Income is Too High pdf
Attachment A FED Tool pdf
Presentation Accessing the CHC Waiver 2020 10 06 pdf
Tuesday October 6, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  Elder Law
 
Wednesday, October 7
 

10:00am EDT

Health Care for Older Adults
What health care coverages and services are available for low-income older adults? What does Medicare cover? Who gets Medicaid? Who pays for nursing facility stays? What services and supports are available as alternatives to nursing homes?

This session will cover the basics of Medicare and Medicaid coverage for older adults.
Speakers
avatar for Erin Guay

Erin Guay

Paralegal, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Erin Guay has worked as a paralegal in the Pittsburgh office of the Pennsylvania Health Law Project since 2004 where she helps clients solve problems related to Medicaid and Medicare, and does policy advocacy to improve these systems. She has a Master’s degree from the University... Read More →
avatar for Katy McKee

Katy McKee

Supervising Attorney, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Katy McKee joined the Pittsburgh office of the Pennsylvania Health Law Project in August of 2018 after working as a staff attorney for more than 10 years for Neighborhood Legal Services, representing low-income tenants, victims of domestic violence, seniors, and people with disabilities... Read More →

Health Care for Older Adults PLAN Conference 2020 pdf
2020 Monthly Income and Resource Limits for Medicaid and other Health Programs pdf
Wednesday October 7, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Zoom .
  Health Law

2:00pm EDT

How to Assess a Utility Case
Energy and utility advocates will give a practical training on how to assess a utility case from intake through the dispute process.

The training will cover questions to ask on intake, how to review a customer bill, how to negotiate with a utility, and how to initiate a complaint with the PUC.

This training is for new advocates and those with limited experience assessing utility cases. Presenters will share best practices and strategies for maximizing the limited resources available to assist low-income customers.
Speakers
avatar for Josie Pickens

Josie Pickens

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, Co-Director Energy Unit
Josie B.H. Pickens is a supervising attorney and co-director of the Energy Unit at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS). She represents low-income residential utility consumers in disputes to access and afford utility service. Her practice includes systemic advocacy and... Read More →
KG

Kristen Geesaman

Pennsylvania Utility Law Project
CD

Cameron Dichter

Community Legal Services
RM

Rebecca McCord

Community Legal Services

Wednesday October 7, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  Utililty Law
 
Thursday, October 8
 

10:00am EDT

Methods for Messaging: How to Use Social Media, Messaging Strategies, and Other Communications Tools to Achieve Your Goals
With so many different social media platforms and ways to communicate, it can be difficult to figure out how to best use your time and resources. How can you use social media to reach your clients? What platforms are best to reach donors, advocates, and decision-mkaers?

This session will talk about many different communications tools, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIN, E-mail programs, traditional media, op-eds and blogs, and websites. It will give a brief overview of how and why to use each platform, offering tips and best practices, to maximize your effectiveness while saving you time.

In this session, you will learn which tools to use for which audience, how to grow your following on various platforms, and how to message to your audiences with a limited amount of time.
Speakers
avatar for Caitlin Brown

Caitlin Brown

Director of Advancement and Communications, Community Legal Services
Caitlin Brown is the Director of Advancement & Communications for Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), where she has worked since 2012. Ms. Brown oversees CLS’s communications and individual giving fundraising programs, supervising a team to advance CLS’s mission. In... Read More →

DRAFT Creating Effective Flyers for Our Clients (1) pdf
CLS Messaging Presentation Slides pdf
Communications in 60 minutes or less pdf
Thursday October 8, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Zoom .
  Communications

2:00pm EDT

Dealing with Debt
Collection of consumer debts can impact our clients lives in ways big and small - from unwanted phone calls, to ruined credit, to judgments that become liens on homes and threaten bank accounts. The debt collection machine continues to hum through COVID shutdown, and its effects can be magnified when people are required to be at home as much as possible.

This session will provide an overview of the rights of consumer facing collections, how they can best protect themselves and their credit, and common defenses in collections cases - for advocates who represent consumers sued in collection actions or who simply want to be able to advise clients who are stressed out by collectors' tactics.
Speakers
RC

Ryan Cummins

MidPenn Legal Servicea
LR

Laura R. Smith

Staff Attorney, Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Laura R. Smith is a Staff Attorney in the Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit at Community Legal Services in 2018. She works for economic justice for low-income Philadelphians by defending against abusive collections practices, preserving income and inter-generational financial... Read More →

Dealing with Debt Presentation Slides pdf
Dealing with Debt supplemental materials pdf
Thursday October 8, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  Homeownership & Consumer Rights
 
Friday, October 9
 

10:00am EDT

Defending Foreclosures in the COVID-19 Era
This presentation will talk about the loss mitigation options available to homeowners affected by COVID-19. We will focus on forbearance options for federally-backed (i.e., FHA, FannieMae, FreddieMac, VA & USDA-RHS) and non-federally back mortgages, including what happens when the forbearance ends.

We will also discuss the Pandemic Mortgage Assistance Program (PMAP) and defending a foreclosure filed against a homeowner who where there options were not provided.
Speakers
RL

Rachel Labush

Staff Attorney, Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Rachel Labush has been a staff attorney at Community Legal Services since 2006.  Since 2008, she has been a member of the Consumer and Homeownership Unit, where her practice focuses on defending low income homeowners from foreclosure, and suing mortgage companies for servicing abuses... Read More →
MF

Michael Froehlich

Managing Attorney, Homeownership & Consumer Rights, Community Legal Services
Michael Froehlich joined CLS in 2006. Since 2013, he has served as the Managing Attorney of Community Legal Service’s Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit. He leads CLS’s work on behalf of homeowners and victims of predatory consumer scams. He represents clients in court and... Read More →

HC Checklist for diversion cases pdf
Defending Foreclosures in the COVID 19 Era Presentation Slides pdf
Friday October 9, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  Homeownership & Consumer Rights

2:00pm EDT

Best Practices for the Virtual Hearing
Hear from trial advocacy expert and the new Director of Trial Advocacy at Temple University Beasely School of Law, Elizabeth Lippy, on how to put your best case forward when appearing remotely for proceedings.

We'll discuss tips on presenting evidence, preparing witnesses, and other best practices for moving your advocacy from the physical to the virtual court room.
Speakers
CT

Chi-Ser Tran

Staff Attorney, Community Legal Services
Chi-Ser Tran is a Staff Attorney in the SSI Unit and the Language Access Project at Community Legal Services (CLS). She represents low-income individuals with disabilities in administrative hearings, as well as other levels of appeal within state and federal processes. She also focuses... Read More →
avatar for Sarah Katz

Sarah Katz

Associate Clinical Professor of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law,
Sarah Katz joined the Temple Law faculty in July 2012. She directs and teaches the Family Law Litigation Clinic, where her students handle custody, child and spousal support, adoption, and other family law matters in Philadelphia Family Court. She researches and writes about trauma-informed... Read More →
avatar for Elizabeth Lippy

Elizabeth Lippy

Practice Professor of Law; Director of the Trial Advocacy Program, Temple University Beasley School of Law
Elizabeth Lippy joins Temple as a Practice Professor of Law and Director of the Trial Advocacy Program after serving as Assistant, and then Associate Director of Trial Advocacy at American University’s Washington College of Law for almost a decade. She brings extensive experience... Read More →

BEST PRACTICES FOR THE VIRTUAL HEARING PowerPoint Slides pdf
Tips for Adapting Advocacy to Online Hearings pdf
Friday October 9, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  General Session
 
Wednesday, October 14
 

10:00am EDT

Saving the Family Home: Deeds, Probate, & Tangled Titles
In the United States today, the median Black family owns just 1/10th of the wealth as the median white family. And because the family home typically makes up 2/3rds of a family's wealth, one of the best ways to close the racial wealth gap is through intergenerational wealth transfers. How can we best help our clients keep the family home in the family? This session will talk about basic probate practice and solutions to common tangled title issues.
Speakers
DG

Dot Goldberger

Paralegal, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Dot Goldberger s a paralegal in the CLS Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit.
TH

The Honorable Tracey Gordon

Philadelphia Register of Wills
MF

Michael Froehlich

Managing Attorney, Homeownership & Consumer Rights, Community Legal Services
Michael Froehlich joined CLS in 2006. Since 2013, he has served as the Managing Attorney of Community Legal Service’s Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit. He leads CLS’s work on behalf of homeowners and victims of predatory consumer scams. He represents clients in court and... Read More →

Wednesday October 14, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  Homeownership & Consumer Rights
 
Thursday, October 15
 

10:00am EDT

Child Care Update
Congress several years ago reauthorized the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act. The Reauthorization included numerous family friendly changes to eligibility requirements for subsidized child care, which DHS and OCDEL are still in the process of implementing.

In this session we will review these important changes. We will also cover child care subsidy eligibility, including "doors to child care," i.e., who is served by each of PA's three subsidized child care programs - TANF, SNAP, and ELRC (formerly CCIS) - as well as how and under what circumstances parents can transition from one program to another.

Child care programs have been severely impacted by the COVID pandemic, which has affected both the supply and the capacity of providers to serve children. This at a time when there will be greater demands for child care as many schools are relying on distance learning as part of their plans to reopen safely. The session will include discussion of these issues.
Speakers
avatar for Louise Hayes

Louise Hayes

Supervising Attorney, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Louise Hayes has been an attorney at CLS’s North Philadelphia Law Center since 1997, when she joined CLS as an Independence Foundation Fellow.  While helping CLS clients get and keep a range of public benefits, her expertise is in SNAP and cash assistance programs, including programs... Read More →
avatar for Peter Zurflieh

Peter Zurflieh

Attorney, Community Justice Project
Peter Zurflieh, Esq., is an attorney with the Community Justice Project (CJP) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Part of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, CJP provides back-up to the regional legal services programs, doing impact litigation, as well as legislative and administrative... Read More →

Child care doors Oct 2020 pdf
2020.10.1 Revised OPS Memo Expansion of SNAP Job Retention Services pdf
SPALs for SNAP only 7 4 13 pdf
Subsidized Child Care in Pennsylvania Presentation Slides pdf
Changes to the Low Income Subsidized Child Care Program Presentation Slides pdf
2020.5.28 Child Care for Remote Participation and Distance Learning pdf
Thursday October 15, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  Public Benefits

2:00pm EDT

Receivership
Receivership is a statutory or equitable remedy that replaces control of property in the hands of an officer of the court in order to prevent irreparable harm to some legal or property right, such as the right of tenants to habitable living conditions. In the face of seemingly growing numbers of poor-quality multifamily rental properties, receivership can be a very useful  tool for providing relief to tenants. This panel consists of attorneys who have successfully used receivership on behalf of low-income tenants in several contexts. Eileen Yacknin and Kevin Quisenberry will discuss their use of receivership on behalf of tenants in a rental property where ownership was in dispute and a condemnation order was issued. Bob Damewood will discuss his representation of a mobile home resident association that volunteered to serve as receiver and ultimately used it to acquire ownership.
Speakers
avatar for Eileen Yacknin

Eileen Yacknin

Director of Litigation, Neighborhood Legal Services
Eileen Yacknin is the director of litigation at Neighborhood Legal Services. Her duties include client advocacy, representation and litigation in all areas of poverty law (housing, consumer, family, unemployment, public benefits); supervision of staff attorneys, law students and... Read More →
KQ

Kevin Quisenberry

Litigation Director, Community Justice Project
Kevin Quisenberry is the Litigation Director of the Community Justice Project (CJP), a statewide law firm within the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. CJP engages in class action litigation and other forms of impact advocacy to help create positive change for low-income residents of... Read More →
avatar for Robert Damewood

Robert Damewood

Staff Attorney, Regional Housing Legal Services
Robert Damewood is a former legal aid client who now works as a Staff Attorney in the Pittsburgh office of Regional Housing Legal Services, where he represents community-based non-profits that are engaged in affordable housing development and policy initiatives that benefit low income... Read More →

Thursday October 15, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  Housing Law
 
Friday, October 16
 

10:00am EDT

Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession: An Interactive Legal Education Program
Objection is an interactive educational experience on diversity, inclusion, and bias issues in the legal profession. Developed by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education (CLS) Board and Carnegie Mellon Entertainment and Technology Center, this program is designed to advance the awareness of these issues in the legal community.

Facilitator led, the program utilizes animated vignettes, audience polling technology, and group discussions to explore realistic workplace situations and contemplate issues, viewpoints and ethical issues.

Participant Requirements: Due to the interactive nature of this training, participants must clear the browsing history on their device (computer/laptop/ipad/tablet/phone) prior to the start of the training.
Speakers
avatar for Kadeem Morris

Kadeem Morris

Staff Attorney, Housing Unit, Community Legal Services
Kadeem Morris is a Staff Attorney in the Housing Unit at Community Legal Services. He primarily provides same day representation to tenants in Municipal Court through the Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project’s Lawyer of the Day Program. Prior to joining Community Legal Services... Read More →
avatar for Brianna Bosak

Brianna Bosak

Communications Officer, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
Brianna Bosak is the Communications Officer for the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc., where she leads the communications activities of the organization and its advocacy efforts, including building a strong statewide identity for its network of civil legal aid providers. Brianna... Read More →
avatar for Patrick Cicero

Patrick Cicero

Executive Director, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
avatar for Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Administrative Officer, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith, Esquire, is the Administrative Officer of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.) where she oversees the Martin Luther King, Jr. Internship and Fellowship Programs, conducts regular contract compliance monitoring of PLAN programs, disseminates... Read More →
avatar for Queenette Echefu

Queenette Echefu

Staff Attorney, North Penn Legal Services
Queenette Echefu is the MLK and CLE Board Fellow through the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.) Fellowship Program. She started her fellowship position in August 2019 at North Penn Legal Services (NPLS), Bethlehem, PA. Since her matriculation, Queenette has represented... Read More →

Participant Diversity Training Packet pdf
UPDATED PLAN Objection Training Reminders for Participants pdf
Friday October 16, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  General Session
 
Monday, October 19
 

10:00am EDT

Foreclosure 101: An Introduction to Helping Homeowners Facing Foreclosure
Is Pennsylvania a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure state? Do you know when an Act 6 notice (versus Act 91 notice) must be sent to a homeowner? Can you define "mortgagee," "amortization," and HEMAP? If so, this session is not for you. But if you want a refresher on foreclosure basics or have been representing homeowners facing foreclosure for less than a year or so, please consider attending this session. We will be talking about the basics of mortgage foreclosure law in Pennsylvania and the role of homeowners' lawyers.
Speakers
RG

Rachel Gallegos

Senior Staff Attorney, Community Legal Services
Rachel Gallegos became a senior staff attorney in the Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit in 2019. Prior to joining CLS, Ms. Gallegos was a law clerk to the Honorable John T. McNeill, III, in the Camden County Superior Court. From there, she went to clerk for the Honorable Annette... Read More →
MB

Michelle Brix

Paralegal, Community Legal Services
Michelle Harper Brix is a paralegal in the CLS Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit.

Monday October 19, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  Homeownership & Consumer Rights

2:00pm EDT

Managed Care 101
As most of the 3 million Pennsylvanians covered by Medicaid are now enrolled in managed care, it is vital that advocates understand how the managed care system works - and sometimes doesn't work - for our clients. This session will teach advocates about PA's managed care delivery systems, including the Physical Health and Behavioral Health HealthChoices programs as well as Community HealthChoices (CHC). Topics covered will include how to pick a managed care plan, how to access services, and a brief overview of the services available to adults and children in managed care.  Prior knowledge of public benefits and Medicaid is not a pre-requisite.
Speakers
avatar for Pamela Putnam Silver

Pamela Putnam Silver

Staff Attorney, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Pamela Putnam Silver is a Staff Attorney at the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP), based in the Philadelphia office.Ms. Silver joined PHLP as an Independence Foundation Fellow in 2018. Her fellowship project focused on improving access to Medicaid services for seniors and People... Read More →
avatar for James Lee

James Lee

VOCA Staff Attorney, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
James (Jake) Lee is the Victim of Crimes Act (VOCA) staff attorney in Pennsylvania Health Law Project’s (PHLP) Pittsburgh office.Mr. Lee joined the PHLP in 2019. Prior to coming to PHLP, he worked for several years at the Juvenile Court Project, representing low-income individuals... Read More →

Managed Care 101 Presentation Slides pdf
Monday October 19, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  Health Law
 
Tuesday, October 20
 

10:00am EDT

Child Custody: Learning the Basics and Navigating the Virus
This 90 minute session will introduce participants to basic legal concepts in child custody practice, including a discussion of the statutory factors, a review of common pleadings and court procedure, and notice of recent case law updates. The speakers will also provide practice tips in areas of special consideration, such as domestic violence and inter/intrastate issues.

This presentation will also provide insights on how to help your clients co-parent during a pandemic and how to adapt your advocacy to the virtual environment.
Speakers
AR

Angela Ruan

Staff Attorney, Family Law Unit, Philadelphia Legal Assistance
Angela Ruan is a Staff Attorney in the Family Law Unit at Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA). She represents survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in divorce and support. Additionally, Angela supervises the Custody and Support Assistance Clinic where University of Pennsylvania... Read More →
SR

Sarah Robinson

Staff Attorney, Philadelphia Legal Assistance
I am a family law attorney with a year of experience. I started my career in anti-sex trafficking policy and providing direct legal services to trafficking survivors in criminal defense and post-conviction relief. I love dogs and desert. 

Tuesday October 20, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
  Family Law

2:00pm EDT

Responding to Clients in Crisis: Practical Skills for Engagement and Interviewing
This workshop will explore the impact of trauma and grief on brain functioning and decision-making to enable participants to better engage clients who are in crisis. We will include tips on how to recognize signs of trauma and grief and how to conduct screenings and trauma informed interviews with clients.
Speakers
MP

Maggie Potter

Community Legal Services
Maggie Potter is a Social Worker in the Family Advocacy Unit at Community Legal Services, where she has worked since 2012. Her role includes client casework, supervising student interns, community outreach, and policy advocacy. Some of her particular areas of interest include teen... Read More →
CR

Caroline Rivera

Philadelphia Legal Assistance
SK

Saadiqa Kumanyika

Community Legal Services
IL

Irene Lindsay Brantly

Women in Transition

Tuesday October 20, 2020 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
  General Session
 
Wednesday, October 21
 

10:00am EDT

Bankruptcy Boot-Camp 2: Practical Tips
This session is a Part 2 to the original Bankruptcy Bootcamp session.  It will cover Practical tips on how to get the case into court, how to gather information, what the 341 meeting is like, etc.
Speakers
avatar for Catherine T. Martin

Catherine T. Martin

Director of Advocacy, Neighborhood Legal Services
Catherine T. Martin has been a Managing Attorney in the central Pittsburgh office of Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) since 1995. At all times she has maintained an active legal practice in Consumer law, focusing on foreclosure issues and bankruptcy law. In 2018, Catherine was appointed... Read More →
avatar for Eileen Yacknin

Eileen Yacknin

Director of Litigation, Neighborhood Legal Services
Eileen Yacknin is the director of litigation at Neighborhood Legal Services. Her duties include client advocacy, representation and litigation in all areas of poverty law (housing, consumer, family, unemployment, public benefits); supervision of staff attorneys, law students and... Read More →
AD

Adam DiBuo

Neighborhood Legal Services

Boot Camp part 2 pptx
Checklist updated June 2018 docx
plan calc xls
BANKRUPTCY HANDBOOK September 2020 docx
LT relief from stay 10 20 no attachments doc
Wednesday October 21, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
  Bankruptcy

2:00pm EDT

What to Do When your Client is Misclassified as an Independent Contractor: How to Challenge 1099 Status
Worker misclassification is when an employer gives their worker, who works under their direction and control, a Form 1099 (intended for the self-employed) with no tax withholding instead of a Form W-2 with taxes withheld. When workers are misclassified as independent contractors, they owe double the amount of Social Security and Medicare taxes that employees owe and they lose out on key protections employees enjoy.

The issue of worker misclassification is increasingly prevalent in today's 21st Century service-driven gig economy where such workers often help meet our essential needs. This panel will explore how practitioners can assist their clients when their employers misclassify them as independent contractors.

The workshop will include tax, unemployment compensation, and employment law practitioners who have assisted workers in disputing their 1099 status before the IRS, the Department of Labor & Industry, and in federal and state courts.
Speakers
NH

Nadia Hewka

Senior Staff Attorney, Community Legal Services
Nadia Hewka started at CLS in 1997 as a Staff Attorney in the Employment Law Project, where she currently works as a Senior Attorney and heads its Vulnerable Workers project. She has developed specializations in representation of immigrant workers and particularly undocumented workers... Read More →
avatar for Julia Simon-Mishel

Julia Simon-Mishel

Supervising Attorney, Unemployment Compensation Unit, Philadelphia Legal Assistance
Julia is the supervising attorney of the Unemployment Compensation Unit at Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA), where she represents low-wage workers in unemployment matters. She has represented more than 800 clients and has an active appellate practice pursuing impact unemployment... Read More →
avatar for Omeed Firouzi

Omeed Firouzi

Staff Attorney, Philadelphia Legal Assistance
Omeed Firouzi is a staff attorney at Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA), Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. From 2018 to 2020, Omeed's practice at PLA focused on worker misclassification, pursuant to the ABA Section of Taxation Christine A. Brunswick Public Service Fellowship. As a... Read More →

Impact of Misclassification on Unemployment Benefits Presentation Slides pdf
Federal and State Tax Consequences of Misclassification for Workers Presentation Slides pdf
Federal and State Tax Consequences of Misclassification for Workers pdf
Wednesday October 21, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  Employment Law
 
Thursday, October 22
 

10:00am EDT

Evidence in a PFA Case
This presentation will discuss PFAs/SVPOs and evidence that clients provide us in a PFA case.

ATTENTION: Due to technical difficulties the first approximately 30 minutes of this presentation was not recorded. The portion recorded and available here focuses on the Pennsylvania Wiretap Act.
Speakers
AP

Alisa Petersen

IOLTA Fellow, MidPenn Legal Services
Alisa L. Petersen is the 2020-2021 IOLTA Fellow with MidPenn Legal Services in Carlisle, PA. Ms. Petersen earned a B.A. in Political Science/Pre-Law with a minor in Professional Writing from Bloomsburg University in 2017, graduating summa cum laude. In May 2020, Ms. Petersen earned... Read More →
avatar for Paul Edger

Paul Edger

Managing Attorney, MidPenn Legal Services
Paul D. Edger, Esquire is the Managing Attorney of the Carlisle, Chambersburg, and Gettysburg offices of MidPenn Legal Services, managing all services provided in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, and Fulton counties. Mr. Edger earned a B.A. in Political Philosophy and Legal Studies from... Read More →

Evidence in a PFA Case pptx
Petersen Wiretap Paper 10.21.2020 pdf
Evidence in a PFA Case Presentation Slides pdf
Thursday October 22, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Zoom .
  Family Law

2:00pm EDT

Defending Subsidized Tenants in Alleged Criminal Activity Eviction and Section 8 Termination Actions
Register for the Webinar
When subsidized housing tenants face eviction or Section 8 terminations due to their household members or guests' alleged criminal activity, the consequences are severe. Their future right to reside in any federally subsidized housing could be rescinded for years, or sometimes forever. This workshop will examine and illustrate the wide variety of possible defenses to these criminal activity-based adversarial proceedings, and describe how these defenses vary, depending upon the type of federally subsidized housing involved.
Speakers
avatar for Eileen Yacknin

Eileen Yacknin

Director of Litigation, Neighborhood Legal Services
Eileen Yacknin is the director of litigation at Neighborhood Legal Services. Her duties include client advocacy, representation and litigation in all areas of poverty law (housing, consumer, family, unemployment, public benefits); supervision of staff attorneys, law students and... Read More →

DEFENDING CRIMINAL EVICTIONS SUBSIDIZED HOUSING PP FINAL pptx
Defending Subsidized Housing Evictions Due to Criminal Activity Slides pdf
Thursday October 22, 2020 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Zoom .
  Housing Law
 
Monday, October 26
 

10:00am EDT

Challenging Illegal Section 8 Side Payments with the Federal False Claims Act
The limited availability of suitable Section 8 Voucher housing has often resulted in the demands of Section 8 landlords to exact from needy tenants rent and/or utility payments in excess of what the Section 8 program permits, as a condition to enter into or extend leases with those tenants. Despite the illegality of these payments, desperate tenants often agree to such side deals, thereby paying hundreds, even thousands, more than landlords are entitled. Often, when tenants fail to remit these extra payments, landlords terminate their leases and sue them for eviction and those unpaid sums. The federal False Claims Act, designed to prevent fraud in the receipt of government benefits, has successfully been used to sanction these unlawful landlord practices, with enormous damages and attorney's fees. This workshop will introduce participants to the framework and contours of the Act and to explain how to litigate these cases.
Speakers
avatar for Eileen Yacknin

Eileen Yacknin

Director of Litigation, Neighborhood Legal Services
Eileen Yacknin is the director of litigation at Neighborhood Legal Services. Her duties include client advocacy, representation and litigation in all areas of poverty law (housing, consumer, family, unemployment, public benefits); supervision of staff attorneys, law students and... Read More →

SECTION 8 & FALSE CLAIMS ACT 10.2020 pptx
Monday October 26, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .
  Housing Law

1:00pm EDT

Conducting an Environment of Mutual Respect: Professional Conduct and Anti-Harassment/Sexual Harassment
This program is delivered as a 90 min hour general session. The general session covers understanding perceptions, acting in a professional manner, legal definitions of harassment, company policy and reporting process. We will incorporate relevant scenarios that allow participants to discuss issues to impact learning. The break-out session focuses on executive leaders’ role in fostering a positive work environment.

Key Objectives:
  • Understand the legal requirements governing harassment in the workplace. 
  • Understand a non-manager and manager’s role/responsibility in maintaining a productive work environment. 
  • Recognize what constitutes harassment. 
  • By-stander training and interrupt harassment 
  • Identify the key elements of the organization’s anti-harassment policy. 
  • Understand retaliation 
  • Know the steps to take to handle complaints effectively. 
  • Know the appropriate corrective action step
Speakers
KN

Kim Nash

Senior Human Capital Consultant, Exude, Inc

Anti Harassment Training for Managers 2020 Program FINAL 10.22.2020 Read Only pptx
Anti Harassment Training for Managers 2020 Program Presentation Slides pdf
Monday October 26, 2020 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT
Zoom .
  General Session
 
Tuesday, October 27
 

10:00am EDT

The Basics of Defending an Eviction from a Mobile Home Park
Residents of mobile home parks are afforded special protections in Pennsylvania under the Manufactured Homes Community Rights Act (MHCRA).

This training will introduce you to the basics of enforcing the rights of mobile home part residents with a focus on defending against an eviction.
Speakers
MR

Matt Rich

Attorney, MidPenn Legal Services
Matt Rich provides advocacy, consultation, supportive services, and representation to low-income residents (mostly in both Dauphin and Perry Counties) primarily in the area of landlord/tenant cases, both in private and subsidized housing matters. He also works with low-income individuals... Read More →
DV

Dan Vitek

Staff Attorney, Community Justice Project
Dan Vitek is a staff attorney in CJP’s Pittsburgh Office where he practices in the areas of housing, utilities, civil rights, and consumer rights. Before joining CJP, Dan spent 9 years as the Senior Housing Attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services Association. Dan is an active member... Read More →

Tuesday October 27, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Zoom .
  Housing Law

2:00pm EDT

PALawHelp.org and PAVictimsHelp.org: How They Help People in Need
This session provides a review of the resources available through PALawHelp.org and PAVictimsHelp.org to help people understand legal issues they may be facing and how to use the site to get assistance with those issues.
Speakers
avatar for Henry Leone

Henry Leone

Training & Information Facilitator, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
Training and Information Facilitator for Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. Project Manager for PALawHelp.org and PAProbono.net.
avatar for Lacy Toline

Lacy Toline

LiveHelp Navigator, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
MQ

Mariel Quiñones

VOCA Coordinator, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.

PALawHELP Slides pdf
PA Victims Help Presentation Slides pdf
Tuesday October 27, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom .
  General Session
 
Thursday, October 29
 

10:30am EDT

Introduction to Structural Racialization
This session will introduce the concept of structural racialization, a framework for understanding institutional and public policies that, whether intentionally or not, create and perpetuate fundamental barriers to economic and social equality for persons and communities of color and opportunities for white individuals and communities.

Pre-assignments and readings: https://bit.ly/StructuralRacialization-Part1
Speakers
SC

Shriver Center on Poverty Law


PLAN Conference Online Agenda October2020 pdf
Thursday October 29, 2020 10:30am - 12:30pm EDT
  General Session
 
Friday, October 30
 

10:30am EDT

Implicit Bias & Debiasing
This session introduces the science of social cognition and implicit bias and the ways in which implicit bias, identity anxiety & stereotype threat contribute to negative racialized outcomes. It also includes an introduction to bias mitigation strategies particularly in the context of staff hiring & retention.

Pre-assignments and readings: https://bit.ly/ImplicitBias-Debiasing
Speakers
SC

Shriver Center on Poverty Law


PLAN Conference Online Agenda October2020 pdf
Friday October 30, 2020 10:30am - 12:30pm EDT
  General Session
 
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