Welcome to the Probono.net/BayArea Help Page!

Click on a question or topic below for more information

Help! I forgot my Password!
Contact Us
Helpful Links
Suggestions and Comments

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is Probono.net/BayArea?
How can I join Probono.net/BayArea?
What kinds of resources does Probono.net have for me?
Can I be a member of multiple practice areas?
How do I get a lawyer?
I can't afford an attorney. How can I get legal help?
Why should I volunteer?
If I take a training, what is my volunteer committment?
I am a new attorney. What kind of pro bono cases am I qualified to take?
Does JDC provide malpractice insurance for pro bono work?
I am a transactional attorney - what pro bono work could I do?
I'm an experienced practitioner in one of the JDC program areas - how can I volunteer?


Help! I forgot my password!

If you forgot your password you can obtain it by going here:
http://www.probono.net/sf/login/request-password

You will be directed to type in the email address you used to join Pro Bono Net and click submit. Once your request is received, your password will be emailed to you.

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Contact Us

For information on pro bono opportunities at JDC, contact JDC at 415.782.9000 x 8758 or email probono@sfbar.org.

For questions about how to use probono.net/BayArea, contact JDC at probono@sfbar.org or call 415-982-1600 and ask for the probono.net/bayarea administrator.

For questions about how to develop a new practice area, contact Mark O'Brien at mobrien@probono.net.

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Helpful Links:

Tips on Searching
www.probono.net/tipsonsearching931.cfm

Tips on Using the Online Library
www.probono.net/howtousetheonlinelibrary631.cfm

Legal Resources
LawHelpCalifornia.org is a great starting point for locating programs and attorneys who are dedicated to working with low-income clients, seniors or persons with disabilities. LawHelpCalifornia.org also provides links to hundreds of self-help resources for you.

Statewide web site for legal advocates or staff at legal aid and pro bono organizations
http://www.calegaladvocates.org/


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Suggestions and Comments

We welcome suggestions and comments about this site.


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What is Probono.net/BayArea?

www.probono.net/BayArea is a free online resource hosted by the Volunteer Legal Services Program (JDC) of the Bar Association of San Francisco, in collaboration with Bay Area pro bono legal services providers.

It is available to pro bono or legal services: attorneys, paralegals, law students, social service advocates, interpreters, and other professionals.

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How can I join Probono.net/BayArea?

Scroll down the list of practice areas in the left hand column of your screen and click on the one that is right for you. Then click on "Join this Area" at the top of the page. Fill out and submit the short registration form. Once you receive e-mail notification that your application has been approved, you are ready to log in and start using all of the resources available in your practice area!

For questions about pending applications, please contact JDC at probono@sfbar.org or call 415.782.9000 x 8759.

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What kinds of resources does Probono.net have for me?

- Information about pro bono opportunities at JDC and other providers in the Bay Area
- An extensive calendar of trainings and other events related to legal services in the Bay Area
- Listings of current pro bono cases and clinics that are available right now through Bay Area pro bono organizations
- An electronic library in each practice area that contains training manuals that can be downloaded as well as valuable sample forms and pleadings.

*The resources in the online libraries are only available once you have been approved as a member of a practice area.

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Can I be a member of multiple practice areas?

Yes! Once you have submitted the registration form for one practice area, simply click on the next practice area you are interested in joining. Then click on "Join this Area" in the left hand column and enter your username and password. You will receive a separate email confirmation once you have been approved for each additional practice area that you join.

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How do I get a lawyer?

You can visit www.lawhelpcalifornia.org. If you are in San Francisco, you can also call the San Francisco Lawyer Referral and Information Service at 415.989.1616, between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. We will ask you for some information about your case and help connect you with resources.

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I can't afford an attorney. How can I get legal help?

You can visit www.lawhelpcalifornia.org. If you are in San Francisco, you can also call the San Francisco Lawyer Referral and Information Service at 415.989.1616, between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. We will ask you for some information about your case and help connect you with resources.

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Why should I volunteer?

By providing pro bono services, you are making a huge difference in your community, simply by exercising your valuable professional skills. Many pro bono attorneys also find that they develop important and useful relationships and learn new skills while working on a pro bono matter. Sometimes, pro bono representation can even lead to referrals to paying business.

Pro bono legal services organizations are sensitive to the time constraints of practicing attorneys and our program is flexible so that you can work with clients when you have the time, and take time off when you don't. Some volunteers like the challenge of a complex, interesting case; others prefer to work on more simple and straightforward issues. Some attorneys like to volunteer in an area in which they already have expertise; others want to learn new areas of law. We have volunteer opportunities that fit almost any schedule.

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If I take a training, what is my volunteer committment?

Every legal services organization has it's own volunteer commitments. At JDC, each of our programs is slightly different, but generally in exchange for the free introductory training, we ask that you take two JDC full representationcases sometime within the ensuing 12 months. Attorneys who take our Homeless Advocacy Project training are asked to volunteer at 3 clinics in the ensuing 12 months.

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I am a new attorney. What kind of pro bono cases am I qualified to take?

Again, this varies by legal services organization. Please visit the Pro Bono Programs Guide at the top of the page to learn more about each organization. At JDC, one of our hallmarks is that we provide extensive training and mentoring for our volunteers. Even if you are right out of law school and don't have any experience, we can provide you with what you need to get started. In fact, that's one reason why so many attorneys choose to do volunteer work - it gives you valuable training, mentoring, and experience while also giving you an opportunity to make a difference.

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I am a transactional attorney - what pro bono work could I do?

JDC's business law project, the Community Organization Representation Project (CORP) connects volunteer transactional attorneys with nonprofit organizations who are serving the low-income community and who need legal assistance. We have both straightforward and complex projects in all areas of business law, including tax, corporate, general business contracts, real estate, finance, intellectual property and nonprofit. In addition, we are always happy to train transactional attorneys to handle litigation matters pro bono (even if you've never done it before). Please click on the "Business Law" practice area to the left of this page to learn more.

Does JDC provide malpractice insurance for pro bono work?

Yes, JDC has malpractice insurance that provides coverage for JDC volunteer attorneys and other volunteers. This insurance is primary to any coverage you have on your own.

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Once I've taken a training, how do I get a case?

You can always check right here on Probono.net/bayarea to see our currently available cases. At most of our introductory trainings, we will have cases available to match you with at the conclusion of the training. We also email our volunteers regularly to let you know about available cases.

I'm an experienced practitioner in one of the practice areas - how can I volunteer?

We are always delighted to work with attorneys with particular experience in one of our program areas, like housing, family law, government benefits, real estate, employment, tax, disability law, or immigration. Just contact us and we'll talk more with you about the possibilities. You could join our panel and take some of the more complex cases, or serve as a mentor to less experienced attorneys, or perhaps help with a training for new attorneys.


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