Erin Sweeney

As an associate with VSCP LAW, Erin zealously advocates for her clients, demanding accountability from those who have acted negligently and wrongfully. Her practice focuses on representing individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated, victims of sexual abuse, and people who have suffered catastrophic injury or death because of medical malpractice, negligence, or defective products.

Erin began her legal career as a public defender in Camden, New Jersey. There, she passionately represented thousands of clients who were accused of felonies ranging from criminal mischief to manslaughter.  Erin worked diligently on each client’s case, regardless of the expected outcome. A natural trial attorney, she litigated as many cases as possible during her four years with the office and secured back-to-back not guilty verdicts in the Spring of 2023. Additionally, she developed an expertise in working with clients with developmental disabilities.

Erin was drawn to public defense following her experience investigating police officers at the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), an oversight agency staffed entirely by civilians. She witnessed policing’s disproportionately negative impact on impoverished communities of color, and realized she wanted to advocate for–rather than investigate–the people whose rights were violated by the police.

Erin graduated cum laude from Penn Carey Law in 2019 as a Toll Public Interest Scholar. For her public interest work during law school, she was awarded the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Eve Biskind Klothen Public Interest Award and the Equal Justice Foundation’s Summer Jackson-Healy Public Service Award. Erin interned at the Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Public Defender, the Contra Costa Public Defender in Martinez, California, and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. She participated in external clinics at the Philadelphia Defender Association and Penn’s Child Advocacy Clinic. Additionally, she was co-president of the Penn Law Pardon Project, a pro-bono project that empowers people to move past their convictions by applying for a Pardon from the Governor, and the Equal Justice Foundation, a student-run 501(c)(3) that raises money for students working for public interest organizations over the summer and after graduation.

Erin is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, and the Philadelphia Association for Justice. Erin grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, and studied Public Policy at Duke University. At Duke, she competed at the World National Debate Championships in Botswana and Berlin.

When not practicing law, Erin engages in her community. She coaches the Middle School Debate Team at Nebinger Public School in South Philadelphia. Additionally, she volunteers at schools and libraries with her certified therapy dog, Huey.