Melissa Singleton

The Defender Association of Philadelphia provides high quality, client-centered legal representation, connection to social services, and reentry support to adults and juveniles in Philadelphia, engaging in advocacy and community collaboration to improve the lives of vulnerable populations, protect the Constitution, and ensure a fair and equitable justice system. We are a nonprofit law firm created in 1934 by a group of lawyers dedicated to the belief that: Everyone, regardless of income, deserves the highest quality legal representation. The ideal continues today with a staff of Lawyers, Social Workers, Social Service Advocates, Administrative Staff, Mitigation Specialists, Paralegals, and Investigators working closely together to represent adult and juvenile clients in criminal, delinquency, and neglect cases. Firmly rooted in Philadelphia for over 80 years, the Defender Association has been working to advance the fairness of criminal law and improve justice for all. We employ an integrated defense team approach with social service advocates working alongside attorneys to ensure that our clients: • Understand the legal process; • Get the support that they need; and • Are treated with dignity and respect that they deserve at a critical time Our staff understands the importance of making sure that judges, juries, and prosecutors have a full picture of who the accused is; not just what’s written on paper. By eliminating the barriers to service, our goal is developing client-focused plans that connect our clients with the resources that they need in their own community.