The Women’s Law Project: an Introduction
The Women’s Law Project provides free legal information to help low-material assistance clients understand their legal rights and responsibilities regarding family law, employment discrimination, public accommodations and several other practice areas. As a neighborhood based organization, the Women’s Law Project is an invaluable resource in meeting the legal needs of low- and moderate-income women in Philadelphia.
As a law firm we are proud to call the Women’s Law Project one of our pro bono partners. We salute their mission and their years of dedicated service.
The Women’s Law Project’s history began in 1974 with the opening of its first office – a community-based center with a double mission: to provide high quality legal services to women and girls who otherwise could not afford them , and to educate the community about the legal and social services available to them.
Today, the Women’s Law Project has evolved to serve good men, too, and played a leadership role in expanding the economic and reproductive rights of women from sea to shining sea. Please visit their website to learn more about the organization’s work, its impact on our community, and all the ways you can support the Women’s Law Project.
Key Programs & Initiatives
Money is important and food is vital, however the law plays a major part in day to day life and is an import cog in the machinery of welfare and protection. The Women’s Law Project works to ensure that women understand their legal rights to protect themselves.
In a variety of areas this Philadelphia based non profit helps women. Areas which they cover include: ending discrimination, economic freedom, equality under the law, reproductive freedom and matters surrounding health care.
Staff lawyers work on cases across Pennsylvania and in the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to typical representation services the organization also takes action to advocate for law changes and works with groups throughout Pennsylvania in order to strengthen policies and laws. They identify legal issues facing women as they arise and also work to prevent discrimination by strategically targeting cases and consumer services for change.
The Community Education Program puts into place the organizations mission. This program is designed to teach the public about their legal rights. Informed consumers know when they need help and how to avoid being victimized legally.
Hands on training is given to volunteers in the community to educate them on legal matters. Due to the collaborative efforts of community partners they have formed public programs and materials to inform the general public. Major areas of their focus are domestic violence, employment and health.
Impact on Women’s Rights
The Women’s Law Project has a long history of working to propel social change and help women in the most vulnerable positions in our society. The incredibly experienced staff members have helped steer the Project’s mission, goals, and priorities to align with the ever-changing world of civil rights law. Through their litigation work, the Project has worked to expand and better define women’s rights in the workplace, access to credit and financial services, and the right to access public accommodations and health care. The Project has also represented women in protecting their right to be free from sexual harassment or violence in their homes, in the workplace, or as a result of government action or inaction. Some of their notable cases include: McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, a case alleging Servicemembers Civil Relief Act violations in Philadelphia, and the case of Langford v. City of Atlantic City, a case of alleged gender-based discrimination brought against the City of Atlantic City in New Jersey. The latter-which is still pending-involves the claims of five female former police officers who allege gender discrimination in a hostile work environment. Although the case was filed under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, it is a critical step in the right direction for women in Pennsylvania. The Federal 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, has adopted the standards articulated the by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) for hostile work environment sexual harassment claims. See, e.g., McCowan v. British Airways, PLC, 345 F.3d 775 (3rd Cir. 2003); Smith v. Novator Pharmaceuticals Corp., 431 F.App’x 101 (3rd Cir. 2011).
How to Get Involved
The Women’s Law Project (WLP) welcomes the involvement and support of others who share our commitment to the rights of women and girls in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Although our work is supported largely by grants, charitable contributions are essential to the organization. Gifts to the Women’s Law Project not only help maintain general operations. They also support our many programs, including our free and confidential advice line, which answered 1,400 calls last year, our friend-of-the-court briefs, our scholarship program for low-income single parents returning to school, and our law student summer internship program, which is largely responsible for the organization’s pro bono success. Any contribution is appreciated and will be put to good use . We also welcome your help in other ways, such as if you have skills that might benefit the organization, which you would be willing to share or offer on a pro bono basis. There are numerous volunteer opportunities, including ways to volunteer at events, in the office, virtually, and in the community. Creative problem-solvers can suggest particular projects, such as those for students seeking to use their skills and talents for course credit. We also invite people to pitch ideas for programs that would be aligned with our mission or to develop proposals around their own interests. The WLP is always searching for creative and industrious individuals who can help it increase its contribution to the common good for all Pennsylvanians and New Jerseyans.
Challenges Facing the Organization
The Women’s Law Project faces ongoing challenges as it continues its work in the Philadelphia area. While much of its day-to-day funding comes from individual donations and foundation grants, the organization still yearns for greater private and public backing to provide additional legal services to those in need. In 2012, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court voted to reform the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program as a way to maximize revenue and ensure that Pennsylvanians have fair and equitable access to competent, accountable legal representation. IOLTA is a program in which lawyers place client trust money into interest-bearing accounts, with the proceeds divided between serving the courts and The Legal Services Corporation (which acts as a gateway to resources for low-income individuals seeking legal assistance). Under the reform carried out by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, funds will now go toward civil legal aid through the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation. All of these changes demonstrate the constantly shifting landscape in which the WLP operates. Without a set source of income, it finds itself with an ever-changing budget and, therefore, an unstable structure over time.
Beyond monetary issues, the expanding nature of this organization is resulting in a potential resistance from those whom the group seeks to serve. With more than 10 percent of Philadelphia’s population living below the federal poverty line, there are thousands of people who could potentially benefit from the WLP’s efforts. This growing case load might seem like a boon to a group that prides itself on the number of people it helps each day. However, as states like Texas and Missouri advocate for strict lawsuit limits as an alternative to increased court funding — a strategy that would disproportionately affect the low-income communities the Women’s Law Project (WLP) represents — it’s difficult to say just how much a small organization can do in the face of a federal agenda that seeks to limit legal protections at every turn.
A perfect example of this ongoing struggle is WLP’s fight to preserve the PHA’s "first come, first served" board policy, which ensures that the Board of Commissioners include at least a representative from each of the 15 PHA-managed districts. This policy guarantees that minorities, the impoverished and the elderly all have a voice in the development processes that define their neighborhoods. However, in a push to streamline the PHA board and increase efficiency, the agency has attempted to modify its bylaws without resident-chosen community watchdogs. Niamh Wilson-Sheppard has been with the WLP for five years and began working on the PHA quest shortly after joining the organization. She describes the threat as one that directly affects not just the residents, but the area as a whole.
"Some places have no [low-income housing] rights protections, so any time you have a housing issue, it’s very difficult to litigate and to get legal representation when you need it," Wilson-Sheppard says. "It’s a huge problem, and one that doesn’t get a lot of attention. These are pieces of legislation that only affect a small percentage of the populace, but given the overall percentage of the populace, that small percentage is a large number."
Looking Ahead
As a nonprofit, the Women’s Law Project operates on a shoestring budget, and with a staff of small but dedicated professionals. Yet, despite the challenges, Santilli and her colleagues at WLP believe they are making a difference, and they intend to continue and grow that work in the coming years. "I see us as legally and politically savvy; we are policy-driven and have a positive track record," Santilli said. The ability to execute its mission hinges on widespread public support, she added. The Women’s Law Project intends to grow its role in classes at area colleges and universities in the coming years. "We’ve begun to work with students from Drexel, Villanova and Temple through externships and other opportunities , " says Santilli. These agreements allow students to work closely with WLP attorneys, gaining hands-on experience in litigation and advocacy that will benefit both their education and the cause of gender equality. "I also see doing more internships and externships in the future," Santilli says, adding that the expertise and passion demonstrated by these young people augurs well for the future of the gender equal rights movement. As it continues its work fighting for women, the WLP will also be seeking to expand its services in the region. "We want to be the first call for people who believe that women’s equality is both vital and at risk," Santilli concluded.