The Volunteer Legal Services Program's (VLSP) Consumer Project's goal is to help clients out of the cycle of poverty. At the most basic level it involves helping people maximize their income and reduce their expenses. Consumer law advocates focus on minimizing clients' expenses through effective budgeting and bankruptcy advice, collection defense, and education on consumer scams.

The Consumer Project looks for experienced attorneys and advocates who would like to volunteer their time to represent eligible clients in collection defense cases. This representation may involve preparing cease and desist letters for the client, negotiating a payment plan with a creditor, responding to a wage garnishment or a notice of lien on an account, or litigating a collection case.

Two additional components of the Consumer Project are the monthly Legal Advice and Referral Clinic (LARC) and the Bankruptcy Clinic. At LARC, volunteer attorneys provide clients with brief consultations on their consumer issue. At the Bankruptcy Clinic, a client listens to a presentation on bankruptcy and collection issues followed by a private consultation with an expert who reviews the client's particular case.


FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROJECT, PLEASE CONTACT:

Megan Colla
vlsp@sfbar.org
415.782.9000 x 8759