Unemployment compensation has become increasingly difficult to navigate due to administrative complexity, technology barriers, and procedural requirements that often prevent eligible workers from accessing benefits. Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, will test whether appellate courts can proactively connect workers to pathways that either resolve underlying barriers to securing unemployment compensation benefits or provide pro bono legal representation before an appeal is determined. This experiment would explore a new role for appellate courts and combines two strategies: (1) an Appellate Resolution Project that diverts eligible cases from lengthy court proceedings to direct resolution with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (DLI), and (2) a Pro Bono Appointment System that connects workers with volunteer attorneys for meritorious appeals involving significant legal issues. If successful, the pilot will demonstrate that appellate courts can play a more active role in improving access to benefits while reducing unnecessary litigation and advancing systemic legal reform.
