2020 Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Statewide Virtual Training Conference: Full Schedule

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.

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

Mary Ann May

Eileen Barlow

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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

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 →

Cathy 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 →

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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

Maripat Pileggi

Staff Attorney, Health and Independence Unit, Community Legal Services

Maripat Pileggi joined Community Legal Services Inc. in 2007 as a staff attorney in the Health and Independence Unit. She works with clients to resolve legal problems that arise in many different public 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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

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 →

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 →

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.

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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

Adam DiBuo

Neighborhood Legal Services

Cathy Martin

Director of Advocacy, Neighborhood Legal Services

Eileen Yacknin

Director of Litigation, Neighborhood Legal Services

Plan calculator xls

Bankruptcy Handbook pdf

Presentation Slides pdf

Tuesday September 22, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .

Bankruptcy

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

Richard Prebil

Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA

Richard A.J. Prebil, Esq., is Supervising Attorney of the Veterans Unit at Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, which he helped establish in mid‐2020. The Unit provides representation, advice, and outreach to veterans experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness, and income insecurity... Read More →

VA21a ApplicationForVAAccreditation pdf

NavigatingDisabilityBenefitsforVeterans Slides pdf

Thursday September 24, 2020 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Zoom .

Public Benefits

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

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 →

Dina Schlossberg

Deputy Director, Regional Housing Legal Services

Friday September 25, 2020 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Zoom .

Housing Law

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

Louise Hayes

Supervising Attorney - Health and Independence Unit, 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 (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and... Read More →

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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

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.

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 →

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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

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 →

Matthew Rich

Staff Attorney, MidPenn Legal Services

Matt Rich is a staff attorney at MidPenn Legal Services in Harrisburg. He works primarily in Dauphin and Perry Counties, advising and representing tenants in private, subsidized, and manufactured housing who are experiencing disputes and problems with utility services. Matt is also... 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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

Amy Lowenstein

Supervising Attorney, PA Health Law Project

Amy E. Lowenstein is the Director of Policy and a Supervising Attorney at the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP).  She works to improve and strengthen Medicaid coverage and services for Pennsylvanians through policy analysis, systems advocacy, and direct representation. Additionally... Read More →

Kate Vengraitis

Supervising Attorney, Community Legal Services

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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

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 →

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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

Louise Hayes

Supervising Attorney - Health and Independence Unit, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

Peter Zurflieh

Attorney, Community Justice Project

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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

Rachel Gallegos

Divisional Supervising Attorney - Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

Rachel Gallegos (she/her) is a Divisional Supervising Attorney in the Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. Rachel currently leads the tangled title team within that unit. Before joining CLS, Ms. Gallegos was a law clerk to the Honorable... Read More →

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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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

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 →

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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

2:00pm EDT

Defending Subsidized Tenants in Alleged Criminal Activity Eviction and Section 8 Termination Actions

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

Eileen Yacknin

Director of Litigation, Neighborhood Legal Services

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

CLE Credit 1.5 Substantive Credits

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