Pro Bono Opportunities for Non-Lawyers

The following organizations have pro bono opportunities for volunteers who are not attorneys.   

1.      Archdiocesan Legal Network for Catholic Charities (ALN)

         James Bishop, ALN Director

         1221 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.     

         Washington, D.C. 20005

         202-628-4265

Non-lawyers are needed to assist ALN with telephone intake on Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Spanish-speaking volunteers are needed on Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  

2.      Bread for the City

Elizabeth Campbell, Legal Clinic Director

1525 7th Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20001

202-265-2400

On legal issues, non-lawyers may assist with case development in landlord-tenant and family law cases.  The Clinic is open in the evenings and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00p.m. On non-legal issues, volunteers are needed to assist with clothing and/or food distribution (Bread for the City and Zacchaeus Free Clinic provides a 3-day supply of food to more than 3,000 families per month) or in the medical clinic.

3.      Covenant House Washington, Division of Legal Services (CHW)

Evita Smedley, Director of Legal Services

1015 15^th Street, N.W., Lower Level, #2, or

CHW Community Service Center

3400 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave., S.E.

202-610-9602, x602

CHW provides essential services, such as shelter, food, and counseling, to homeless, runaway, abused and neglected children.  CHW would welcome assistance with the monthly workshops it provides to youth regarding violence and crime, housing, custody, child care, the legislative process, legal drafting, and other issues involving legal rights and responsibilities, as well as other activities for their children-clients that do not involve the practice of law.

4.      D.C. Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC)

         Emma Hambright, Advocacy Specialist      

         900 Varnum St., N.E.

         Washington, D.C. 20017

         202-636-2950

Volunteers are needed to serve as mentors to individuals with mental retardation.  D.C. ARC also needs assistance with committee work for the organization.  For example, volunteers who wish to serve on the Public Information Committee can assist the organization with increasing public awareness.  Committee meetings take place after work hours.  Finally, volunteers are needed to assist with work at D.C. ARC's group homes (painting, landscaping, etc.)

5.      D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program

         Margaret Duval, Staff Attorney (x297)

Valerie Despres, Family Law Attorney (x295)

(for Pro-Se-Plus Divorce Clinic and Family Court Self-Help Pilot Project only)

         1250 H Street, N.W., Sixth Floor

         Washington, D.C. 20005

         202-737-4700

Non-lawyers are needed to assist with case screening at the Advice & Referral Clinic held the second Saturday of every month.  The clinic has two locations: the Max Robinson Center, 2301 Martin Luther King Jr.  Avenue SE, and Bread for the City, 1525 7^th Street NW.  Non-lawyers also can participate in the DC Bar Pro Bono Program's Pro-Se-Plus Divorce Clinic.  The Clinics are held at the D.C. Superior Court on specified Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. - noon.  All volunteers must go through a training offered by the DC Bar Pro Bono Program.  Volunteers provide training and assistance to unrepresented litigants in divorce cases.  They help pro se litigants fill out forms and answer questions, and provide presentations on procedures for divorce cases.  Non-lawyers are also needed for the Family Court Self-Help Pilot Project.  Volunteers assist pro se litigants in Family Court with court procedures and paperwork.  The Project takes place at DC Superior Court on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m.  All volunteers must complete a three-hour training.

6.      Lawyers for Children America (LFCA)

Danielle Chappell or Keely Magyar, Program Directors

2000 K Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20006

(202) 419-2603

LFCA encourages lawyers to include paralegals in our work on abuse and neglect cases.  Paralegals are given responsibility for collecting medical and educational records, visiting with child clients, conducting legal research, and helping with case preparation.  We invite paralegals to attend our training sessions and brown bag sessions.

 7.      Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia (LAS)

Viriginie Ladisch, Pro Bono Program Coordinator

666 11th Street, N.W., Suite 800

Washington, D.C. 20001

202-628-1161

LAS maintains a registry of non-lawyers who would be willing to help during "crunch" times with activities such as filing documents at D.C. Superior Court, effectuating service of process on witnesses or opposing parties, translating documents into Spanish, or performing routine office work.

8.      Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE)

         Shirley Williams, Volunteer Coordinator

         601 E Street, N.W.

         Washington, D.C. 20049

         202-434-2120      

LCE staff members need assistance interviewing clients, drafting letters and performing legal research.  Client interviews take place Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Legal research and other work could be performed after hours.  We also welcome retired or part-time employees who could donate one day per week to volunteering at our office.

9.      Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV)

Karen Zeineddin, LSNV Pro Bono Coordinator (703-246-4521)

Eric Moe, Pro Bono Assistant (703-538-3954)

6400 Arlington Boulevard, Suite 600

Falls Church, VA 22042

The Law Center for Children Project (TLC) advocates for young people in the areas of health, child welfare, disabilities, education and custody.  TLC=s pro bono panel welcomes paralegals to provide assistance with community education and outreach, legal research and direct representation.

The Paralegal Advocacy Volunteers for the Elderly (PAVE) program is seeking new volunteer paralegals for its monthly Saturday legal aid clinics (10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) assisting low income elderly residents in Northern Virginia.  Volunteers are trained to help in four major areas: public benefits, consumer issues, medical bill/insurance problems, and preparation of legal documents, such as a living will, powers of attorney and simple wills.   Call Sandi Beckley, PAVE Coordinator, at 703-532-3927, about training opportunities. 

Paralegals also are sought to assist with the Uncontested Divorce Clinic (held on the fourth Saturday of each month), which provides legal services to individuals seeking uncontested divorces in Fairfax, Alexandria and Arlington.                    

10.    Montgomery County Bar Foundation Pro Bono Program

Shelly Barber, Volunteer Coordinator

27 West Jefferson St., Rockville, MD

301-424-2706

The Bar Foundation refers low-income Montgomery County residents to volunteer attorneys who handle civil matters free of charge.  It operates advice clinics in the county and a pro se project in the Circuit Court.  Volunteers are needed to assist with individual cases or to work in the Bar Foundation=s clinics.

11.    Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division (alternative dispute resolution)

Kitty Huggins, Intake Supervisor

         D.C. Superior Court

         Room 4242

         500 Indiana Avenue, N.W.

         Washington, D.C. 20001

         202-879-1554

Non-lawyers may be mediators in the Family and Small Claims Mediation program.  The Family Mediation Program provides mediation to people who have disputes regarding family matters, such as child support, custody, visitation, and other divorce issues.  The program provides citizens with an alternate method of resolving family disputes with emphasis on the best interests of the child, empowerment of the parties and facilitating communication between the parties.  Small claims disputes typically involve consumer and service provider complaints with claims for monetary compensation of $5,000 or less.  Small claims mediators also mediate certain types of collection matters with claims up to $25,000.  Additional information is available from the Pro Bono Program Manager.  The MDRD's selection process, however, is quite competitive.

12.    Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless (WLCFH)

         Genesis Fisher, Coordinator of Volunteers

         1800 Massachusetts Ave., N.W, 6^th Floor.

         Washington, D.C. 20036

         202-872-1927

Non-lawyers may volunteer with an attorney to work on cases.  Additionally, non-lawyers may be paired with attorneys to work at intake sites at soup kitchens or homeless shelters.  Intake sites are open in the early mornings, during lunchtime and in the evenings.

13.    Women Empowered Against Violence, Inc. (WEAVE)

Verlette Simon, Director of Administration, Volunteer Coordinator

910 17^th Street, N.W., Suite 215