Legal Clinic for the Disabled

What Legal Clinic for the Disabled does

Legal Clinic for the Disabled (LCD) is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals with disabilities, chronic health conditions, mental health diagnoses, and the deaf and hard of hearing across Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The organization was born from one of the country's first Medical-Legal Partnerships (MLPs) at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital and has grown to approximately 21 staff delivering service through four primary programs: the MLP Initiative (legal staff embedded at nine healthcare sites), the Housing & Habitability Initiative (eviction defense and habitability representation), the Community Legal Outreach Clinics or CLOCs (pro bono wills, powers of attorney, and outreach clinics at community sites), and General Telephone & Online Intake (remote access via phone and Microsoft Forms pre-intake). LCD also operates the Lawyer of the Day program through its founding membership in the city-funded Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project and supports the City's Right to Counsel ordinance in five high-risk zip codes.

LCD's business model is exclusively philanthropic and grant-funded; all legal services are delivered at no cost to eligible clients. Revenue streams include individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, fellowship underwriting (Independence Foundation, Skadden Fellowship Foundation, Equal Justice Works, the Duffy Firm's Duffy Fellowship), and event-driven fundraising anchored by an Annual Celebration. Strategic law firm and corporate partners — including Reed Smith, Blank Rome, Cozen O'Connor, Morgan Lewis, Faegre Drinker, Holland & Knight, Comcast, GlaxoSmithKline, and AmeriHealth/Keystone First — provide both pro bono capacity and sponsorship. The organization's underlying technology is intentionally lightweight: a WCAG 2.0 AA-compliant WordPress website, Microsoft Forms for intake, and Zoom for remote client meetings, with no proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or commercial software products. Governance is provided by a volunteer Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Theresa Brabson, who assumed the role in June 2024 after serving as Legal Director from 2019.

Name

Legal Clinic for the Disabled

Legal name

Legal Clinic for the Disabled

Website

https://lcdphila.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

Keywords

• Legal aid services
• Disability law
• Medical-legal partnerships
• Housing law assistance
• Civil legal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: LCD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund operations. Donations support legal advocacy, client services, and organizational programs.
2. Fellowship and Grant Funding: LCD hosts fellowship programs funded by Independence Foundation, Skadden Fellowship Foundation, and Equal Justice Works. These fellowships provide salary funding for attorneys and lawyers dedicated to public interest law working with low-income individuals.
3. The Duffy Fellowship: The Duffy Firm established a fellowship that underwrites a staff attorney's salary at LCD and other Philadelphia legal service nonprofits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Legal Clinic for the Disabled provides free civil legal advice, representation, and advocacy to low-income individuals with disabilities, chronic health conditions, mental health diagnoses, and the deaf and hard of hearing in the Philadelphia region. Services span landlord-tenant matters, eviction defense, family law, public benefits, healthcare access, wills, powers of attorney, advance directives, and supportive decision-making, delivered via Medical-Legal Partnerships embedded in healthcare settings, Community Legal Outreach Clinics, telephone/online intake, and court-based representation.

Product overview

Legal Clinic for the Disabled (LCD) is a nonprofit legal services organization that provides free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals with disabilities in the Philadelphia region. LCD operates through a portfolio of interconnected programs: the Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) Initiative embeds legal services into healthcare settings; the Housing & Habitability Initiative addresses housing stability and quality issues; Community Legal Outreach Clinics (CLOCs) bring services to community settings; and General Telephone & Online Intake enables remote access to legal services. These programs collectively deliver direct legal representation, counsel, referrals, and community education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Civil Legal Services Advises and represents low-income clients with disabilities across most areas of civil law, including child custody, child support, protection from abuse, landlord-tenant matters, divorce, healthcare access, wills, advance care directives, powers of attorney, and supportive decision-making for young adults. Free to eligible clients in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties.
• Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) Initiative Integrates legal services into medical care settings by embedding attorneys and paralegals at healthcare sites, training healthcare staff to identify social determinants of health that are legal in nature, and improving health outcomes for low-income people with disabilities.
• Housing & Habitability Initiative Addresses legal issues surrounding housing quality and stability for low-income people with disabilities, including enforcement of landlord obligations, eviction prevention, and collaboration with the Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project (PEPP).
• Community Legal Outreach Clinics (CLOCs) Partners with community centers, libraries, and service providers to bring legal services to low-income people with disabilities in community settings, including pro bono planning document clinics for wills and powers of attorney.
• General Telephone & Online Intake Provides individuals access to legal services from their home through telephone intake (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 9am-5pm) and an online pre-intake form via the LCD website.
• Additional Outreach & Services Outreach to people with disabilities, lawyers, medical professionals, and social services agencies to educate them about legal issues, including Know Your Rights Clinics and Supportive Decision-Making for Young Adults transitioning to adulthood.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 individuals served in 2025 with extended legal services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Magee Rehabilitation Hospital (Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCD's founding partner since 1987, LCD began in one room of Magee and partnership formed one of the first Medical-Legal Partnerships in the country. LCD served clients from Magee for decades even after merger with Jefferson Health.
• Family Practice & Counseling Network (FPCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst MLP with FPCN formed in 2011 at Abbottsford Falls - the first MLP in the country in a nurse-managed health center. Now operating at all three FPCN federally-qualified health center sites: Abbottsford Falls (Germantown), 11th Street Health Center (North Philadelphia), and Health Annex (Southwest Philadelphia).
• Nemours Children's HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AmeriHealth/Keystone First and Nemours expanded in 2022 to become a full MLP with attorney/paralegal team embedded at Nemours Children's Health at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Center City Philadelphia.
• AmeriHealth/Keystone FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2021, LCD established LCD-Keystone Housing Stability Initiative, a community-based program to screen and refer individuals with unmet housing legal needs. Expanded in 2022 to become a full MLP.
• Project HOMEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLP launched in 2013 at Stephen Klein Wellness Center (North Philadelphia) addressing health-harming unmet legal needs among patients, many homeless or at risk. Expanded in 2018 to Hub of Hope at Suburban Station for chronically homeless population.
• St. Christopher's Hospital for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCD operates PhilaKID MLP with St. Christopher's in Kensington neighborhood. Started in 2011 at Center for Child and Adolescent Health, relocated to new Center for the Urban Child in 2014.
• The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium (TPAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2022, LCD joined TPAC as legal services provider in a three-year NIH-funded study to explore MLP benefits in HIV care. Located at 112 N. Broad Street, Center City Philadelphia.
• Four Freedoms HouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCLOC host organization - community center where LCD holds Community Legal Outreach Clinics bringing legal services to low-income people with disabilities.
• Parkway Central LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCLOC host organization - LCD holds legal clinics at this library location serving people with disabilities.
• Inglis HouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCLOC host organization - LCD holds legal clinics at Inglis House for residents with disabilities.
• Visionlink (formerly Associated Services for the Blind)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCLOC host organization - LCD holds legal clinics at Visionlink serving blind and visually impaired individuals.
• Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project (PEPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCD is a founding member of PEPP, a city-funded collaboration of tenant-advocate groups providing financial counseling, court navigators, and same-day legal representation through Lawyer of the Day Program at eviction hearings.
• Philadelphia City (Right to Counsel)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLCD attorneys support the City's Right to Counsel legislation guaranteeing free legal aid to residents in zip codes 19121, 19132, 19134, 19139, and 19144 facing eviction.
• Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnered with LCD and Philadelphia Bar Association to assist trans and nonbinary clients with legal name change process at TPAC event.
• Philadelphia Bar AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnered with LCD and Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association for legal name change events.
• Blank Rome LLPminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer attorneys from Blank Rome participated in legal name change event for trans and nonbinary clients.
• Cozen O'ConnorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer attorneys from Cozen O'Connor participated in legal name change event.
• Faegre DrinkerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer attorneys from Faegre Drinker participated in legal name change event.
• Holland & KnightminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer attorneys from Holland & Knight participated in legal name change event.
• Reed Smith LLPminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer attorneys from Reed Smith took on pro bono case for Patty, a single mother, and successfully negotiated $13,000 in damages. Also partners on Wills and Powers of Attorney clinics.
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAttorneys from GSK volunteer at CLOC Wills and Powers of Attorney clinics, providing pro bono legal services to LCD clients.
• GlaxoSmithKline Legal DepartmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHonored at LCD's 22nd Annual Celebration for commitment and service to LCD and the disability community.
• Mann Older Adult CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCLOC host organization for Wills and Powers of Attorney clinics serving older adults.
• Abramson Cancer Center (Penn Medicine)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner host for Wills and Powers of Attorney clinic at Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine.
• Spectrum Health ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner host for Wills and Powers of Attorney clinic on May 12.
• Fox Chase Cancer CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner host for Wills and Powers of Attorney writing clinic on June 2.
• The Family Practice and Counseling NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaborated with LCD for Wills and Powers of Attorney clinic at Health Annex location.
• Unite Spinal and Moss-Magee RehabilitationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnered with LCD and Moss-Magee Rehabilitation to host free planning document clinic.
• Jefferson Moss-Magee RehabilitationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost site for October 15 Wills and Powers of Attorneys Clinic at Tabor Road location.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Community Legal Services of Philadelphia: Direct peer operating in the same city, providing free civil legal services to low-income Philadelphians. Highly comparable in target population (low-income individuals), service model (free legal aid, intake-based), and funding structure (grants and donations), though with a broader focus beyond the disability community.
• SeniorLAW Center: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing free legal services to older adults, including those with disabilities, in housing, consumer, and benefits matters. Comparable in mission (serving disabled/elderly low-income clients) and service model; differs in age-based focus.
• Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA): Direct peer providing free civil legal services to low-income Philadelphia residents across housing, family, public benefits, and consumer law. Comparable in service scope, target demographic, and funding model; competes with LCD for the same pool of clients and foundation grants.
• Disability Rights Pennsylvania: Statewide disability-focused legal services organization, federally funded Protection & Advocacy (P&A) entity. Comparable in exclusive focus on the disability community and free legal services model; broader geographic reach but more narrow scope (disability rights advocacy, special education, benefits).
• Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania: Direct peer serving the same five-county region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery) with free civil legal services for low-income individuals. Highly comparable in geography, mission, and service model; overlaps with LCD on housing and public benefits cases.

Regional players

• Support Center for Child Advocates: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing free legal and social work services to abused and neglected children. Comparable as a Philadelphia nonprofit legal services organization serving vulnerable populations; differs in focus on children and dependency court matters.
• Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia: Philadelphia-based nonprofit using impact litigation and policy advocacy to serve low-income communities, with focus on education, housing, health, and disability rights. Comparable in mission and region; differs in emphasis on systemic litigation over direct service.

Broad incumbents

• National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): National membership organization of disability rights P&A agencies, including Disability Rights Pennsylvania. Comparable in mission (disability legal advocacy) at a systemic/incumbent level; NDRN operates at a much larger scale and serves as an umbrella entity for organizations like LCD's peers.

Emerging players

• AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania (acquired by Philadelphia FIGHT): Regional peer providing free legal services to people living with HIV/AIDS in Pennsylvania, with comparable partnership model and disability/chronic illness overlap. LCD is a partner in the NIH-funded HIV MLP study at TPAC.

Others

• HIAS Pennsylvania: Philadelphia-based refugee and immigrant legal services nonprofit. Comparable as a Philadelphia free legal services nonprofit serving vulnerable populations; differs in immigration focus but overlaps in low-income client base and pro bono model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LCDPhila
• Facebookfacebook.com/LCDPhila
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/legal-clinic-for-disabled-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/lcdphila

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Legal Clinic for the Disabled