Neighborhood Legal Services Program invites interested, pro bono lawyers to join us for a conference call to learn about volunteering in our Unlocking Employment legal clinics at Bellevue/William O. Lockridge (Ward 8) and Dorothy I. Height/Benning (Ward 7) libraries.

Volunteers in the clinic provide legal information and referrals to motivated, low-income jobseekers dealing with barriers to employment that may have a legal intervention. Examples include problems with background checks and discrimination. The goal of the clinics is to clear a pathway to meaningful, sustained employment for all residents.

On the call, Maya Sheppard (UE Supervising Attorney) and Charleen Hutson (UE Project Coordinator) will walk you through the requirements for being a volunteer, the training provided, the types of legal issues we see most often and the specific ways in which you will be assisting clients in the clinic. We will also discuss how we can use groups of attorneys (e.g. from a law firm, bar association or affinity group) to staff the clinics.

Maya will also share how and why DC Public Library and Neighborhood Legal Services Program are partnering more broadly to address the persistent problem of high levels of unemployment in certain communities in DC. Advocates for the low-income and unemployed in DC who want to learn more about the clinics are encouraged to call in to find out how your client community can access these free, legal clinics.

REGISTRATION
To register for the call and obtain the dial-in instructions, contact Heather Hodges at 202.269.5115 or hhodges@nlsp.org.

ABOUT US
For 50 years, Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP) has provided free civil legal services to low-income residents of the District of Columbia. Our assistance preserves safe and affordable shelter, stabilizes family relationships, protects victims of domestic violence, secures access to healthcare and public benefits and reduces barriers to employment for our clients. As we protect fundamental necessities for individuals and families, we also seek opportunities to achieve broader change and pathways out of poverty for many.

As a pioneer of the neighborhood-based legal services model, we strive to be an integral part of the communities we serve. Our three offices are located in the most underserved areas of the District, including two east of the Anacostia River in Wards 7 and 8. We also partner with community-based organizations including libraries, job training programs and shelters to bring legal information and resources into the community through interactive workshops and on-site intake.