District of Columbia lawyers serving the public good.
Pro Bono Non-Litigation Opportunities
1. Archdiocesan Legal Network for Catholic Charities (ALN)
Contact: Jim Bishop, ALN Director
(202) 628-4265
BishopJ@catholiccharitiesdc.org
www.catholiccharitiesdc.org
Attorneys are needed to prepare wills and other estate planning documents. Volunteers are also needed to assist with phone intake on Mondays - Thursdays from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Spanish-speaking volunteers are needed on Fridays from 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
2. Covenant House Washington, Division of Legal Services (CHW)
Contact: Evita Smedley, Director of Legal Services
(202) 610-9602, x602
Esmedley@chdc.org
Benita Singletary, Coordinator of Volunteer Activities
(202) 610-9621
Singletarybo@chdc.org
www.covenanthousedc.org
Attorneys are needed to participate in weekly workshops for area youth on violence and crime, housing, custody, child care, the legislative process, legal drafting and other issues involving legal rights and responsibilities. Volunteers are also needed to staff monthly advice and referral clinics for youth in the areas of domestic relations, labor/employment, wills/probate and landlord tenant matters. Volunteers are not expected to take cases from the clinics for representation.
3. D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program, Advice and Referral Clinic
Contact: Mark Herzog, Supervising Attorney
(202) 737-4700, x206
Mherzog@dcbar.org
www.dcbar.org
Volunteers are needed to staff two area advice and referral clinics. Clinics are held on the second Saturday of each month, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Bread for the City Legal Clinic in Shaw and at the Max Robinson Center in Anacostia. Volunteers provide brief advice and referral services in the areas of domestic relations, landlord-tenant, employment, consumer, personal injury, probate and health law.
4. D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program, Pro Se Divorce Clinic
Contact: Valerie Despres, Family Law Supervising Attorney
(202) 737-4700, x295
vdespres@dcbar.org
www.dcbar.org
Volunteer are needed to staff the Bar=s Pro Se Divorce Clinic, which is held on specified Thursdays from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at D.C. Superior Court. Attorneys provide training and assistance to unrepresented litigants in divorce cases. In particular, attorneys answer questions about law and procedure and help litigants to fill out forms. Workshops cover filing requirements, identifying issues that may be contested, service of process, default proceedings, and hearing procedures.
5. Employment Justice Center
Contact: Kerry O=Brien or Judy Conti
(202) 828-WORK (9675)
Justice@dcejc.org
www.dcejc.org
Attorneys are needed to provide brief services, advice and referrals to low-income clients on employment law matters. Advice and referral clinics are held every third Wednesday from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at 1525 7th Street NW.
6. Law Foundation of Prince George=s County
Contact: Neal Conway, Program Director
(301) 864-4907
Lawfopg@clark.net
www.mlsc.org
Attorneys are needed to write wills and other estate planning documents for low-income clients. They are also needed to conduct informal consultation sessions with clients who are homeless or are in imminent danger of becoming homeless. Most matters handled at the shelters can be addressed informally during the consultations. Volunteers are expected to do any necessary follow-up work if possible.
7. Legal Counsel for the Elderly
Contact: Shirley Williams, Volunteer Lawyers Project Coordinator
(202) 434-2120
SMWilliams@aarp.org
www.aarp.org
Attorneys are needed to prepare wills and other estate planning documents for elderly clients. Assistance is also needed with legal research.
8. Legal Services of Northern Virginia
Contact: Eric Moe, Pro Bono Coordinator
(703) 538-3954
www.legalaidhelp.org
Attorneys are needed to conduct legal research, conduct trainings, prepare community legal education materials, perform information sessions for clients and do community outreach in the areas of housing, family law and employment law. Volunteers are also needed to staff an advice and referral hotline on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Advocates are also needed for the Law Center for Children Project which provide advocates for children in health, child welfare, disability, education and custody matters. Volunteers provide assistance with community education and outreach and legal research.
9. Montgomery County Bar Foundation Pro Bono Program
Contact: Maria Delgado, Office Administrator
Debbie Craven, Clinic Coordinator
(301) 424-2706
Mdelgado849@earthlink.net
www.montbar.org
Volunteers are needed to staff local advice and referral clinics. Clinic cover family law, divorce, landlord/tenant and guardianship issues. Volunteers are also needed to staff a pro se project in the Circuit Court.
10. Multidoor Dispute Resolution Center of the D.C. Superior Court
Contact: Karen Leichtnam
(202) 879-1597
www.dcbar.org
Mediators are needed in small claims, family law and other civil cases. Volunteers must apply and participate in an extensive training program.
11. Street Law
Contact: PAL - Alexandra Ashbrook (202) 293-0088, x 248
Street Law at Georgetown - Professor Roe, (202) 662-9615
SOS - Deborah Foster, (202) 293-0088, x223
www.streetlaw.org
Volunteers are needed for four programs. The Parents and the Law (PAL) helps at-risk teen and young parents to navigate legal issues related to parental rights and responsibilities. Volunteers teach classes, serve as resources for other volunteers who are teaching classes, and share their expertise with teens. The Street Law at Georgetown Law School program needs volunteers to participate in a two-semester elective course in practical law (criminal, torts, consumer, housing, family and individual rights law) in D.C. senior high schools. The course include a mock trial tournament. Volunteers can teach a class, do a class presentation, help class to prepare for the mock trial, or take class on a field trip to the Justice Department. The Save Our Streets (SOS) program involves interactive classes on Saturdays for youths charged with weapons offenses. Volunteers teach classes, and serve as resources for teachers. Finally, volunteers can work with Street Law Classes in other high schools, by assisting social studies teachers in elective law classes.
12. Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
Contact: Genesis Fisher, Coordinator of Volunteers
(202) 872-1927
genesis@legalclinic.org
www.legalclinic.org
Volunteers are needed to give informal consultation to clients at area homeless shelters on landlord/tenant, credit, employment and other civil matters. The Legal Clinic also needs attorneys to staff numerous intake sites around the city.
13. Whitman-Walker Clinic
Contact: Jodi Feldman
(202) 939-7664
jfeldman@wwc.org
www.wwc.org
Attorneys are needed to assist clients living with HIV/AIDS with wills, estate planning, discrimination, confidentiality and other civil matters. Volunteers are also needed to staff weekly clinics on Monday evenings from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
August 2002