General Info

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is an independent, nonprofit corporation that was created in 1934. Nearly 250 full-time assistant defenders represent clients in adult and juvenile state and federal trial and appellate courts and at civil and criminal mental health hearings, as well as state and county violation of probation/parole hearings. Association attorneys also serve as child advocates in neglect and dependency court. The DAP represents approximately 70 percent of all persons arrested in Philadelphia. Defenders rotate their assignments by representing clients in the municipal court, at preliminary arraignments and misdemeanor bench trials. Its attorneys also appear in the court of common pleas at preliminary hearings, miscellaneous motions court, juvenile delinquency hearings, and felony bench or jury trails. In addition, the office is one of the largest criminal defense appellate practices in Pennsylvania handling misdemeanor, felony, homicide and death penalty appeals. The Defender Association of Philadelphia is located in Philadelphia.