Attorney Problems
DCBA offers a mediation service for clients of Members who believe they have been improperly charged for legal fees and/or legal costs. Clients should always discuss any billing questions or disputed charges directly with their attorney before approaching the DCBA Fee Dispute Committee. If a client of a Member would like to engage in mediation to try to resolve the dispute, they should provide a written statement of facts and copies of supporting documentation such as the fee agreement and copies of billing statements to the Fee Dispute Committee at 213 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Participation in this process is voluntary for both clients and DCBA members. DCBA strongly encourages our members to cooperate with the process when requested by the client. DCBA does not offer this service to clients of lawyers who are not members of DCBA. (717-232-7536)
All attorneys are licensed through the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and subject to disciplinary action through the Office of Disciplinary Counsel which is a division of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. If you believe your attorney has violated their ethical obligations to you as their client, a complaint can be submitted online, via mail, or fax. After filing a complaint against an attorney, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel does not represent you against the attorney or in any on-going case involving the attorney. The matters before the Office of Disciplinary Counsel solely relate to an attorney’s ability to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (717-231-3380)
Children and Youth
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, you should report the abuse or neglect to Dauphin County Social Services for Children and Youth.
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Dauphin County Child Abuse Reporting Line – (717) 780-7200
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State Child Abuse Reporting Line via ChildLine – (800) 932-0313
Civil Liberties
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania represents persons on issues related to immigrants’ rights, LGBTQ rights, voting rights, reproductive freedom, bail reform, inability to pay fines/costs/restitution, freedom of speech, access to government information, freedom of religion, and students’ rights. The ACLU generally does not accept matters that involve individual criminal defense cases, deportation defenses, housing disputes, employment disputes, family law, and wills/estate planning/probate. Complaints filed online and involving an incident in Pennsylvania will be reviewed and considered by the ACLU legal staff.
Consumer Protection
The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General is a state government office that investigates and takes action against businesses that use unfair or deceptive conduct in the advertisement or sale of goods or services within Pennsylvania. You can file a complaint online (800-441-2555)
Criminal Complaint
A private citizen may file a criminal complaint through the local district justice’s office. The complaint should be on the form provided by the local District Justice’s office or the form located here. The form should be submitted to the local Magisterial District Court where the crime occurred and contain extensive detail about the facts of the case and the specific section of the criminal code that was violated. Dauphin County has local rules here regarding filing of a private criminal complaint.
Crime Victim Assistance
The Victim Witness Assistance Program helps to empower and assist crime victims, witnesses, and significant others to reduce the trauma of a crime through advocacy, support, information, and referrals. They are an independent non-profit operating in Dauphin County and assist in ensuring that the legal rights of crime victims, witnesses, and significant others are protected and enforced when dealing with the criminal justice system. Victim advocates help explain your rights, connect you to available services (such as counseling, transportation, housing, etc.) and assist in applying for financial assistance with medical bills and other expenses.
A walk-in Protection from Abuse Clinic is open to the public from 8 am to 4 pm at the Main Office. The Protection from Abuse Unit can be reached at (717) 780-7077.
Main Office for Victim Witness Assistance Program
Human Services Building
25 South Front Street, 7th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-780-7075
888-292-9611
Other Locations for the Victim Witness Assistance Program
Harrisburg City Police Department
Lower Paxton Township Police Department
Susquehanna Township Police Department
Swatara Township Police Department
Derry Township Police Department
Victim Connect Resource Center operates a weekday phone and text helpline which is operated by the National Center for Victims of Crime. The service is available to all victims of crime and seeks to empower crime victims as they navigate the physical, emotional, legal, and financial consequences of crime has the ability to communicate in over 200 languages. Call or text 855-484-2846
Discrimination in housing, employment, education, and public accommodations
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission is a government agency that seeks to protect the public from discrimination in education, employment, housing and commercial property, and public accommodations. PHRC intake staff can help with the drafting of a complaint for discrimination and will file your complaint with the appropriate federal agency if your allegations are covered under federal laws enforced by the EEOC or HUD. It is important to note that discrimination complaints must be filed within 180 days of the alleged act of harm. (717-787-4410)
Domestic Violence
YWCA Domestic Violence Legal Center handles a wide variety of legal matters, including: protection from abuse, custody, divorce, child support, wills/powers of attorney. 24 Hour Hotline – (800) 654-1211
PA Safe Law provides free legal information, resources, and referrals for help navigating a variety of civil legal matters including domestic and sexual violence, divorce, custody, and immigration. The organization has extensive experience assisting victims of domestic violence and other crimes. They answer legal questions and clarify the legal process, provide legal forms and resources, and make referrals to partners in their network but they DO NOT represent clients. (833-727-2335)
Free Legal Information and Legal Services
PaLawHelp is an online resource for general legal information about a wide variety of topics, including children and families, consumer issues, disability, education, elder law, employment, health, housing and shelter, individual rights, immigrant issues, migrant issues, public benefits, and veterans and military.
Free Legal Answers (click on the orange “get started” button) is an online tool that allows low-income persons who qualify to post a legal question to be answered by a volunteer attorney. Question topics include family, divorce, custody, housing, eviction, homelessness, consumer rights, financial, work, employment, unemployment, health and disability, civil rights, income maintenance, juvenile and education law, as well as immigration and federal veterans issues.
MidPenn Legal Services offers free legal services in civil matters to persons who financially qualify. They assist with issues in the following areas: bankruptcy, det collection, utility termination, custody, domestic violence, employment, taxation, and public benefits. (800-326-9177)
Free legal assistance is available to people over 60 in civil law cases through the Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging’s Older Pennsylvania Legal Assistance Program. The program offers advice and legal representation in the following areas: abuse, age discrimination, guardianship defense, health care, housing, long-term care, Medicaid, Medicare, nutrition, Social Security, SSI, and utilities. (717-780-6130) or (800-328-0058 ext 6130).
Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic at Widener University School of Law assists the public with legal issues in the following areas: administrative law, consumer law, elder law, and family law. (717-541-0320)
The Community Law Clinic at Penn State Dickinson Law provides legal advice to the public in family law matters (such as divorce, support, custody, adoption, and protection from abuse) and disability law matters (such as ability discrimination, special education, Americans with Disabilities Act claims, and Social Security Disability claims). (717-243-2968)
Free Legal Documents
The Dauphin County Courthouse has a Self-Help Center where people can access legal forms and instructions about how to complete the forms. The Self-Help Center has documents related to custody, divorce, guardianship, license and registration suspension appeals, name change, PFA modification, and recording a marriage. There are also forms and information related to a continuance, hearing de novo, in forma pauperis, transcript cost waiver as well as others. These forms and information can be accessed for free online here. The forms and information packets are also available at the Courthouse for a small fee.
Immigration
The Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC) educates immigrants in detention and in the community about their legal options and provides access to justice through direct representation, assistance finding a pro bono attorney, and help representing themselves. PIRC also provides legal services to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other violent crimes throughout Pennsylvania. (717-600-8099)
Landlord/Tenant Issues
The Fair Housing Council of the Capital Region Inc. provides information and dispute settlement assistance to landlords and tenants at no cost. If you need eviction prevention services or information, call 717-238-9540 or email asanders@pafairhousing.org (include your address in the email).
Mediation
Mediation is possible when both parties to a dispute voluntarily agree to talk about their problem with a neutral third party. Neighborhood Dispute Settlement offers free mediation services for custody and landlord/tenant issues. (717-233-8255)
Medicaid
The Pennsylvania Health Law Project is a nonprofit organization that provides legal services to people who need help getting or keeping Medicaid. They can assist in navigating the red tape of Medicaid application denial or stoppage of existing coverage; denials of health care services (such as a private nurse, home health aide, prescription medication, or medical equipment like wheelchairs); coordination of Medicare and Medicaid benefits; and, health care costs. (800-274-3258)
Prisoner Rights
The Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project provides free civil legal information, advice, advocacy, and representation to low-income people who are incarcerated or institutionalized whose constitutional rights have been violated. They do not assist with criminal matters, habeas cases, sentencing, or parole issues. (570-661-9045)
Senior Citizens
Free legal assistance is available to people over 60 in civil law cases through the Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging. The program offers advice and legal representation in the following areas: abuse, age discrimination, guardianship defense, health care, housing, long-term care, Medicaid, Medicare, nutrition, Social Security, SSI, and utilities. (717-780-6130) or (800-328-0058 ext 6130).
The SeniorLAW Center also offers confidential telephone-based legal service that provides legal information, advice, and referrals as well as brief services in the following areas: elder abuse and financial exploitation, housing, family law, consumer problems, public benefits, health care, and estate planning. The HelpLine operates Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 12 pm and provides services in 150 languages. (877-727-7529)
Utilities
Office of Consumer Advocate is a state government agency that represents consumers in matters involving their utility services (electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, and wastewater service). They represent utility consumers before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, federal regulatory agencies, and state and federal (800-684-6560)
The Pennsylvania Utility Law Project provides information, assistance, and advice about residential utility and energy matters affecting low-income consumers. They represent low-income residential utility customers who qualify for help before the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, and other state and federal agencies who are involved with energy or utility matters. (844-645-2500)
Veterans
The Judge Advocate’s Office at the Carlisle Barracks can provide legal guidance to active duty and retired military personnel and their dependents with respect to: will preparation, powers of attorney, notary service, advice on leases, contracts, and divorce. They do NOT provide legal representation in civilian court but they can assist in finding an attorney for personal representation. (717-245-4940)
The Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic at Penn State Law provides free counseling services for veterans regarding appeals of veterans disability, pension, and education benefits claims.