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A Guide to San Francisco Bay Area Volunteer Opportunities for Lawyers WWW.SFBAR.ORG/PRO-BONO-GUIDE The Pro Bono and Community Service Committee of the Barristers Club

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Page 1: Pro Bono Resource Guide

A Guide to San Francisco Bay Area Volunteer Opportunities for Lawyers

WWW.SFBAR.ORG/PRO-BONO-GUIDE

The Pro Bono and Community Service Committee of the Barristers Club

Page 2: Pro Bono Resource Guide

For more information about the Pro Bono and Community Service Committee of the Barristers Club, contact Barristers Club Director Kallie Donahoe at [email protected].

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We created this Pro Bono Resource Guide to encourage young attorneys and their law firms to work with local charitable organizations and give back to the community we call home.

Please contact a provider that matches your interests and find out how to get involved.

CREATED BYThe Pro Bono and Community Service Committee of the Barristers Club

COMMITTEE CHAIRLorin Kline

WORKING COMMITTEESean Herman • Lien Payne • John-Paul Deol • Paula Eisenburg Alison Cordova • Ehren Halse • Lorin Kline • Michael Bland

2015 PRO BONO RESOURCE GUIDE

Top Five Reasons You Should Do Pro Bono Pages 1-2

Search for Pro Bono Opportunity by Organization/Project in Alphabetical Order Page 3-4

Search for Pro Bono Opportunitiesby Area of Practice Pages 5-12

Organization Descriptions Pages 14-47

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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TOP FIVE REASONS TO DO PRO BONO 1. GIVE A VOICE TO THE UNREPRESENTED

Pro bono service stabilizes the lives of low-income people, prevents homelessness, protects survivors of domestic violence, keeps families together and guards individuals’ limited income from unscrupulous debt collectors.

With an ever-widening justice gap, economic inequality and limited public resources pro bono attorneys are a precious resource to low-income people attempting to

navigate a complex legal system without representation. Each year in San Francisco over 800 households facing eviction have not secured representation four days before trial. In California 80% of litigants in family matters, including child custody cases, do not have counsel.

Your pro bono service will provide access to justice for these low-income people whose basic human needs are at risk.

2. TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, AND OPPORTUNITY

Pro bono service gives you valuable training and hands on experience in case strategy and management, client communications, negotiations, document drafting, discovery, and hearings.

Pro bono projects, such as JDC’s, offer training in procedures and substantive law, malpractice coverage, and mentoring by experienced staff attorneys or practitioners

lending their expertise to pro bono attorneys. Handling your own pro bono case allows you the opportunity to manage all components of a case and gives you hands-on experience in discovery, law and motion, negotiation, drafting documents, and perhaps even a jury trial.

3. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: PRO BONO SERVICE IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS

Pro bono service increases visibility and helps you build your business. Whether you’re a solo practitioner or a law firm attorney, your pro bono service makes it known that you and your law practice are good community citizens and strong advocates.

While the connections made doing pro bono work often result in business and

TOP FIVE REASONS TO DO PRO BONO

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client referrals. Established pro bono programs, including JDC, publically recognize exceptional volunteers through on-line and print media as well as nominations for local, state, and national pro bono awards.

4. PRO BONO SERVICE IS HIGHLY REGARDED BY JUDGES

Judges appreciate that pro bono attorneys are needed for the courts to provide meaningful access to justice. Judges and court staff also recognize that pro bono attorneys save them time that they would have spent helping unrepresented litigants.

Many state and federal judges publicly thank pro bono counsel in the courtroom and during pro bono appreciation events as well as grant preference on motion

calendars or grant continuances when pro bono counsel enters a case.

5. MEET NEW AND INTERESTING PEOPLE

Pro bono service is good for your well-being and helps build a sense of community with others. Pro bono service is legal yoga focused on helping others.

As you develop and hone your legal skills you employ your education and talent helping others while meeting a new community of people you otherwise may not have occasion to meet. That community includes your clients, the attorneys and

experts involved in the matter, and your co-workers.

Working on pro bono projects together can be a team-building experience for colleagues and gives a connection with your community from giving back, and a chance to use your legal skills to truly change lives.

TOP FIVE REASONS TO DO PRO BONO

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OrganizatiOns/prOjects - alphabetical Order

AIDS Legal Referral Panel, page 8

AREAS OF LAW: HIV/AIDS, Labor/Employment, General Civil, Poverty/Civil Rights, Family/Children, Landlord/Tenant, Transactional/Business, Government Benefits, Tax, Personal Injury

Alameda County Homeless Action Center, pages 8-9 AREAS OF LAW: Nonprofit Organizations, Disability, Homeless, Public Benefits

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus, pages 9-11

AREAS OF LAW: Criminal Justice Reform, Landlord/Tenant, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Education, Immigration, Public Policy, Human Rights, Constitutional,

Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach, page 18

AREAS OF LAW: Domestic Violence, Immigration, Elder, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, General Civil

Bay Area Legal Aid, pages 18-19

AREAS OF LAW: Government Benefits, Landlord/Tenant, Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Consumer, General Civil

California Lawyers for the Arts, page 20

AREAS OF LAW*: Primarily Art, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Entertainment, Transaction/Business, Intellectual Property, Immigration, Bankruptcy, Landlord/Tenant, Non-Profit, Patent, etc. *CLA can assist those in the creative arts community facing any type of legal issue.

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc., pages 20-21

AREAS OF LAW: Immigration, Poverty/Civil Rights, Elder, Disability, Family/Children

Child Care Law Center, page 21

AREAS OF LAW: Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, Public Policy

Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, pages 21-22

AREAS OF LAW: Consumer Law, Housing, Immigration, Bankruptcy, Domestic Violence, Family/Children

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Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic, pages 22-23

AREAS OF LAW: Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, General Civil

Disability Rights California, page 23-24

AREAS OF LAW: Disability, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, General Civil, Public Policy

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc., page 24

AREAS OF LAW: General, Civil Rights, Consumer, Disability, Education, Health, Housing, Public Benefits

Electronic Frontier Foundation, page 24-25

AREAS OF LAW: Arts, Public Policy, Intellectual Property, Privacy, Civil Rights, Constitutional, Civil Liberties

Eviction Defense Collaborative, pages 25-26

AREAS OF LAW: Housing

Housing and Economic Rights Advocates, page 26

AREAS OF LAW: Consumer, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, Landlord/Tenant, Public Policy, Bankruptcy

Justice & Diversity Center - The Bar Association of San Francisco, pages 27-30

AREAS OF LAW: Family/Children, Domestic Violence, Wills/Trusts/Estate Planning, Transactional/Business, Labor/Employment, Tax, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Non Profit Incorporation & Governance, Consumer, Bankruptcy, General Civil, Poverty/Civil Rights, Homeless, Government Benefits, Landlord/Tenant, Housing Rights, Eviction Defense, Public Benefits Advocacy (SSI, Medi-Cal, and Medicare), Consumer and Probate Matters

La Casa De Las Madres, page 31

AREAS OF LAW: Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Elder Law, General Civil

La Raza Centro Legal, pages 31-32

AREAS OF LAW: Immigration, Senior Law, Worker’s Rights

OrganizatiOns/prOjects - alphabetical Order

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Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, page 33

AREAS OF LAW: Public Policy, Criminal, Constitutional

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, pages 33-35

AREAS OF LAW: Immigration, Poverty/Civil Rights, Human Rights, General Civil, Transaction/Business, Intellectual Property, Labor/Employment, Real Estate, Criminal Records Remedies, Labor/Employment, Landlord/Tenant

Legal Aid Association of California, pages XX

AREAS OF LAW: Varies

Legal Aid of Marin, page 35

AREAS OF LAW: Labor/Employment, Bankruptcy, General Civil, Wills/Trusts/Estate Planning

Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center, page 36

AREAS OF LAW: Landlord/Tenant

Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, pages 36-38

AREAS OF LAW: Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, General Civil, Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Family, Probate, Landlord/Tenant

Legal Services for Children, pages 38-39

AREAS OF LAW: Probate Guardianship, Education, Immigration

Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, page 39

AREAS OF LAW: Children/Family, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, Domestic Violence, Criminal, Health, Human Rights

National Housing Law Project, page 40

AREAS OF LAW: Public Policy, Constitutional, Poverty, Landlord/Tenant, Domestic Violence

OrganizatiOns/prOjects - alphabetical Order

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OneJustice, page 41

AREAS OF LAW: All

People with Disabilities Foundation, page 42

AREAS OF LAW: Disability, Public Benefits, Labor/Employment, SSI/SSDI Advocacy

Pro Bono Project, page 42

AREAS OF LAW: Debt/Credit/Bankruptcy, Housing, Family/Children, Prisoners, Homeless

Public Advocates Inc., page 43

AREAS OF LAW: K-12 Education, Higher Education, Housing, Community Development, Public Transportation, The intersection between climate change laws and social justice

San Francisco Tenants Union, page 44

AREAS OF LAW: Foreclosures, Housing, Tenant’s Rights

South Asian Bar Association of Northern California - Pro Bono Committee, pages 44-45

AREAS OF LAW: Various including Consumer, Debt/Credit/Bankruptcy, Education, Employment, Family & Juvenile, Foreclosures, Health, Elder Care, Immigration

Tax-Aid, page 45

AREAS OF LAW: Tax

Volunteer Legal Services Corporation of the Alameda County Bar Association, page 46

AREAS OF LAW: Family/Children, Bankruptcy, Consumer, Immigration, Landlord/Tenant, Domestic Violence, Wills & Trusts

Women’s Earth Alliance, page 47

OrganizatiOns/prOjects - alphabetical Order

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AAIDS LEGAL REFERRAL PANEL (ALRP)

AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP) is the only institution in the San Francisco Bay Area whose entire mission is dedicated to providing free and low-cost legal assistance and education on virtually any civil matter to persons living with HIV/AIDS. This is accomplished through either direct representation of clients by one of ALRP’s nine attorneys or by careful placement of clients with one of ALRP’s Panel attorneys.

Training: There is no training requirement needed to join the Panel, but ALRP has several training programs/resources available to volunteer attorneys, including:

• Free MCLE trainings by and for ALRP volunteers in a wide variety of areas;• Training manuals are available to Panel Attorneys, including the recently

revised AIDS Law Manual and sample legal forms; and• Experienced ALRP volunteer attorneys are available to serve as mentors to

Panel attorneys.

Malpractice Insurance: ALRP carries malpractice insurance to cover all clients accepted through ALRP.

Type of Work: ALRP needs volunteer attorneys in all areas of civil law to aid clients by means of consultation, representation or mentorship. In particular, ALRP is in need of volunteer attorneys with language skills in the areas of family law, housing, insurance, personal injury and tax.

Time Commitment: ALRP asks that volunteer attorneys accept two referrals a year; the amount of time required will vary depending on the case.

Requirements: Attorneys must be licensed by the State Bar of California.

Applicable Areas of Law: HIV/AIDS, Labor/Employment, General Civil, Poverty/Civil Rights, Family/Children, Landlord/Tenant, Transactional/Business, Government Benefits, Tax, Personal Injury

ALAMEDA COUNTY HOMELESS ACTION CENTER (HAC)

HAC’s mission is to provide high quality legal representation using a client-centered, harm reduction model, always respecting the dignity of the individual. HAC assists people in obtaining public benefits. Specifically, we help people who are living in poverty with disabilities to obtain public benefits. Most of our clients are mentally ill, and are either homeless or living in precarious situations on the brink of homelessness.

Training: Training is provided to and required of volunteer lawyers. CLE credit is provided for free for pro bono lawyers, for the one day-long training, with 5.75 total credits, including three hours of ethics. Lawyers will also be provided supervision in casework.

Malpractice insurance: Malpractice insurance is offered to volunteer lawyers.

Type of work: Our practice focuses on helping clients obtain Social Security Disability Benefits and/or Supplemental Security Income Alameda County Homeless Action Center (SSI). We represent clients from the beginning of the process, through hearing before an administrative law judge, and beyond that at the Appeals Council and sometimes the District Court. Volunteers would be asked to handle one or two SSI cases. This involves obtaining and submitting records, preparing a persuasive pre-hearing brief, and representing the client before an ALJ at an administrative hearing. At the hearing, advocates generally conduct a direct and redirect examination of the client, and a cross examination of a medical expert and a vocational expert.

Alex Taylor, Volunteer [email protected] • 415-701-1200 x303

1663 Mission Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94103Phone: 415-701-1200 • www.alrp.org

CONTACT

Mary [email protected] • 510-540-0878 x306

3126 Shattuck AvenueBerkeley, California 94705

[email protected] • 510-540-0878www.homelessactioncenter.org

CONTACT

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Alameda County Homeless Action Center (HAC) continued

Time commitment: Hours are flexible. Hearings are held between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, but most work can be accomplished at anytime.

Requirements: Volunteers must be comfortable working with clients with mental illness, and clients who are currently using drugs and alcohol. Volunteers must be willing to follow a harm reduction model. Volunteers must complete a training at HAC.

Applicable areas of law: Nonprofit Organizations, Disability, Homeless, Public Benefits

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Lawyers and Law Students (full-time summer opportunities)

Need for non-English speaking services: We occasionally need interpreters to assist our clients during medical and psychological examinations.

ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE - ASIAN LAW CAUCUS

Founded in 1972, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus defends and empowers the Asian Pacific American community through an integrated strategy of direct legal services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community building.

Training: ALC has training programs for volunteer attorneys.

Malpractice Insurance: ALC does carry malpractice insurance for volunteer attorneys while acting on behalf of the organization and within his/her role.

Immigrant Rights’ Program

The Immigrant Rights’ Program offers opportunities for attorneys to counsel people on immigration issues through our semi-monthly eve-ning clinics; 2) directly represent individuals in an administrative deportation proceeding; and/or 3) assist with the Program’s impact litigation.

Type of Work: Our evening clinics take place on the first and third Tuesday of every month from 5:30pm until 7:30pm. At the clinics, attorneys provide advice to immigrants who have questions about their deportation, naturalization, and other immigration-related questions. Pro bono attorneys seeking to volunteer are not required to have expertise with immigration law as there will be several attorneys there providing guidance.

Attorneys looking to get more involved with the Immigrant Rights’ program can also provide direct representation to individuals in their administrative deportation proceedings under the guidance of the Program’s staff attorneys or assist with the Program’s impact litiga-tion. Interested attorneys should contact the Program’s staff.

Time Commitment: There is no minimum hour requirement to volunteer. Each situation that requires pro bono assistance is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Requirements: Bilingual attorneys who speak Tagalog, Vietnamese, Tongan, and Punjabi are especially encouraged to volunteer.

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Please complete a volunteer form onlinewww.advancingjustice-alc.org/get-involved/

volunteer-opportunities

Or, email a completed application and resume to: [email protected]

www.advancingjustice-alc.org/

CONTACT

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Asian Americans Advancing Justice (continued) Workers’ Rights Program

The Workers’ Rights Program offers opportunities for attorneys to: 1) counsel low-income immigrant workers through ALC’s workers’ rights clinics; 2) directly represent individuals on an administrative wage and hour claim, unemployment insurance benefits appeal, or administrative employment discrimination claim; and/or 3) assist with the Program’s impact litigation.

Clinic: We have semi-monthly workers’ rights counseling clinics for low-income workers, both in San Francisco and San Jose. Clinic nights generally run from approximately 5 pm until 8:30 pm. The clinics rely on staffing support from volunteer attorneys and interpreters. Volunteer attorneys generally handle three worker appointments each clinic night. They conduct intake and provide legal counseling to the worker after consultation with a supervising attorney. Volunteers are required to attend an orientation/training session and ideally commit to at least six clinic nights each year.

Direct Services: We provide direct legal services to low-income workers on administrative wage and hour, unemployment benefit appeal, or employment discrimination claims. These administrative cases can present ideal opportunities for direct client contact and hands-on experience preparing and presenting a case at a mediation or hearing, including the opportunity to direct and cross examine witnesses, and/or engage in oral argument. Worker’s Rights’ staff are available to the volunteer attorney throughout the process to provide guidance, consultation and support on the case. Volunteer attorneys interested in taking on a direct service case must commit to seeing the case through the administrative process.

Impact Litigation: There are legal research and drafting opportunities for volunteer attorneys related to the Program’s impact litigation work. The time commitments required for such assignments are assessed on an assignment-by-assignment basis. Volunteer attorneys who are interested in formally co-counseling with their firm or organization on an impact litigation case are also needed.

Housing Rights

The Housing Rights Program offers opportunities for attorneys to represent tenants in eviction defense cases and in Rent Board admin-istrative proceedings against landlords for substandard housing conditions, illegal rent increases and other wrongful landlord conduct. Eviction defense cases provide significant litigation experience for attorneys, including experience with discovery, motion drafting and argument, and jury trials all in a short timeline (cases can go from complaint to trial in less than a month).

Type of Work: For eviction defense, volunteer attorneys will research and write legal memoranda, draft pleadings and briefs, and work with staff attorneys in other aspects of litigation, such as discovery, motion practice, and trial. For Rent Board proceedings, attorneys will handle all aspects of the case, including witness and exhibit preparation, appearing at the fair hearing, negotiations with opposing counsel and legal briefing.

Time Commitment: There is no minimum hour requirement to volunteer. Each situation that requires pro bono assistance is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Applicable Areas of Law: Landlord/Tenant

Criminal Justice Reform

The Criminal Justice Reform Program offers pro bono opportunities for attorneys to work on local, state, and federal policy reform that disentangles local police from enforcement of the broken federal immigration system. The CJR Program also has opportunities for pro bono attorneys to provide legal assistance to youth and their families to disrupt the “school-to-prison” pipeline. In the education system, attorneys will provide legal research and litigation assistance to youth who have been harassed or discriminated in our K-12 public schools. In the juvenile justice system, attorneys will provide direct representation to limited English proficient immigrant families who have youth in the juvenile system and will receive opportunities to appear in court to support the families and to use any bilingual language skills.

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Asian Americans Advancing Justice (continued)

Type of work: Volunteer attorneys will research and write legal memoranda and work with staff attorneys in all aspects of policy advocacy, legal services, and litigation. Volunteer attorneys may also provide legal representation, policy advocacy, and legal education to low-income immigrants. Attorneys can assist with (1) disrupting the “school-to-prison” pipeline, (2) providing direct representation to limited English proficient immigrant families who have youth in the juvenile system (bilingual skills preferred), (3) promoting restorative justice as an alternative to punitive approaches to criminal justice, and (4) limiting local law enforcement collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Language capacity in Spanish or an Asian language is preferred, but not required.

Time commitment: There is no minimum hour requirement. Each situation that requires pro bono assistance is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Applicable areas of law: Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Education, Immigration, Public Policy

National Security and Civil Rights

The National Security and Civil Rights program offers occasional opportunities to assist individuals subjected to inappropriate scru-tiny when they return to the United States after traveling abroad, or who are subjected to intrusive questioning by the FBI or other law enforcement officials. The National Security and Civil Rights program also focuses on speech issues, including speech used to discrimi-nate against vulnerable populations and attempts to limit the speech and activism of college and university students. Bilingual attorneys who speak Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Dari, Farsi, Arabic and other South Asian and Middle Eastern languages are also encouraged to volunteer with community outreach.

Type of Work: Volunteer attorneys will research and write legal memoranda, draft pleadings and briefs, and work with staff attorneys in other aspects of litigation, such as depositions, hearings, and trials. There may also be opportunities to represent clients at administrative hearings. Time Commitment: There is no minimum hour requirement to volunteer. Each situation that requires pro bono assistance is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Applicable Areas of Law: Human Rights, Constitutional, Poverty/Civil Rights

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Staci Lambright, Director of Pro Bono [email protected] • 510-250-5224

1735 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612510-663-4755

www.baylegal.org

CONTACT

ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER LEGAL OUTREACH (APILO)

Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (APILO) offers legal clinics in which attorneys can volunteer and provide free legal assistance in elder and immigration law and to victims of domestic violence, crime and human trafficking. APILO also has a pro bono panel where attorneys can partner with APILO staff to handle immigration cases (U-visa, VA WA/I-751 waiver, and T-visa).

Training: Volunteer attorneys are required to familiarize themselves with a written manual provided by APILO. In person training is also available and may be required depending on the matter.

Malpractice Insurance: Malpractice insurance is provided for all volunteer attorneys.

Type of Work: Litigation and/or transactional work depending on the matter.

Time Commitment: Time commitment varies, but 20-60 hours per case is typical, lasting one to six months. Litigation matters can require more time.

Requirements: California Bar admission is preferred but not required.

Hours for Pro Bono Opportunities: Flexible

CLE Credit: Possibly, depending on the project.

Applicable Areas of Law: Domestic Violence, Immigration, Elder, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, General Civil

BAY AREA LEGAL AID (BAYLEGAL)

Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal) is the largest provider of free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families throughout the Bay Area. We are a regional law firm with regional offices and clinics in: Contra Costa; Alameda; Santa Clara; San Mateo; Marin; Napa; and San Francisco counties. Our services include: advice; referrals; limited scope assistance; extended representation; public policy and impact advocacy; trainings; and community education.

• Domestic Violence Prevention: Assist domestic violence survivors escape the violence and create a safe and stable environment for themselves and their families through family law, restraining order, and immigration assistance.

• Housing Preservation: Assist clients to access and preserve safe affordable housing free of discrimination, with specific focus on eviction defense and fair housing.

• Access to Health Care: Assist clients to obtain healthcare services from county and state programs.• Economic Security: Assist clients secure public benefits and eliminate the barriers to employment and self-sufficiency.• Consumer Law: Protect low-income consumers of financial products against unfair collection practices, predatory loans, wrongful

foreclosure, inaccurate credit reporting and ensure economic stability by protecting exempt income from garnishment and levy.

Training: Training includes webinars, live trainings, as well as manuals and samples.

Malpractice insurance: Malpractice insurance is provided for volunteer attorneys.

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Christine Hoang, Pro Bono [email protected]

1121 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103Phone: 415-567-6255 • Fax: 415-567-6248

www.apilegaloutreach.org

CONTACT

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Bay Area Legal Aid (continued)

Type of work: Pro bono attorneys can assist either in an area where they have expertise, e.g., family law, or on a limited scope basis, such as representing a client for a particular hearing. Pro bono attorneys can participate in one of our clinics and assist on any pending impact litigation cases.

Time commitment: Varies by case.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Opportunities are available throughout the year and in multiple Bay Area counties.

Applicable areas of law: Government Benefits, Landlord/Tenant, Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights,Consumer, General Civil

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Law School Clinic, Lawyers, Mentors, Senior Lawyers, Paralegals, Nonlitigation Projects and Law Students (full-time summer and part-time opportunities)

CLE credit: Yes

Domestic Violence Restraining Order Clinics

BayLegal staff and volunteers assist self-represented domestic violence survivors complete the paperwork and understand the process to request a restraining order and important custody, visitation and support orders.

Limited Scope Representation of Domestic Violence Survivors

Volunteer attorneys provide limited scope representation (appx. 1 or 2 hearings) for domestic violence survivors seeking permanent restraining orders and important related child custody, visitation and support orders. Volunteers receive training, a practice manual and sample pleadings and ongoing mentorship.Time commitment is about 25 hours.

San Mateo Domestic Violence Collaborative

Partnership with Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County (LASSM) and Communities Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) (hearings are: Wed afternoons and Friday mornings)

Immigration Relief for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Violent Crime

VAWA Self-Petitions and U Visa Non-Immigrant Petitions are means to immigration relief for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and other Violent Crimes who are either immediate family members of abusive US Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents OR who cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation and/or prosecution of the crimes.

Youth Justice Pro Bono Project

BayLegal is a dedicated and integral member of the Alameda County Juvenile Collaborative Court (ACJC), which involves a multi-disciplinary team of community members (ex. Public Defender; District Attorney, Probation, Social Services, and BayLegal as the civil legal services provider) who focus on a therapeutic approach to better serve youth with mental health issues who are involved with the juvenile delinquency system. Many of the children have a range of civil legal services needs and volunteers can play an integral

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Bay Area Legal Aid (continued)

Family Law Pro Bono Advocacy Program

BayLegal provides training and mentorship to attorneys interested in assisting low-income family law litigants with limited and/or full scope representation in obtaining essential family law orders, including Dissolution, Domestic Violence, Child Custody/Visitation, and Support.

Consumer Rights

BayLegal Consumer Rights Clinics assist low-income consumers with pro per litigation in limited civil superior court and help protect exempt income from execution of judgment at five clinics throughout the Bay Area held in partnership with community-based organizations and the court. BayLegal provides know-your-rights workshop to consumers at each clinic. Volunteer attorneys are encouraged to attend a substantive training on consumer rights, held bi-annually.

CALIFORNIA LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS

California Lawyers for the Arts is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit service organization providing legal services, alternative dispute resolution, educational programs, advocacy, and more -- to creative artists, arts organizations and independent inventors. Founded in 1974 by lawyers and artists, CLA’ programs and services are designed to help the creative arts community understand and assert their legal rights.

There are numerous opportunities for attorneys to become involved with CLA. They include working on a wide range of pro bono matters, along with serving as mediators and arbitrators through our dispute resolution program—the Arts Arbitration and Mediation Service (AAMS). Finally, volunteer attorneys often serve as speakers for our many in-person and online educational workshops and seminars. Training: California Lawyers for the Arts offers numerous in-person and online educational programs on various entertainment, arts, and technology law topics. Also, there are mediation/arbitration training programs for attorneys interested in serving as AAMS mediators or arbitrators. Malpractice insurance: California Lawyers for the Arts provides basic coverage to in-house counsel and government attorneys taking on pro bono cases. Coverage is not available for lawyers at firms and solo practitioners. Type of work: CLA assists all types of creative people (visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, writers, etc.), arts organizations of all sizes, and independent inventors through the new California Inventors Assistance Program (CIAP). The types of issues handled include intellectual property (copyright, trademark, trade secrets, patent), contracts, business formation, nonprofit, landlord-tenant, immigration, bankruptcy -- and many more! Time commitment: Varies by matter. Hours for pro bono opportunities: Volunteers, interns, and law fellows may work locally in the office (Monday- Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) or remotely (at all times). Applicable areas of law: Primarily Art, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Entertainment, Transaction/Business, Intellectual Property, Immigration, Bankruptcy, Landlord/Tenant, Non-Profit, Patent, etc. However, CLA can assist those in the creative arts community facing any type of legal issue. Pro bono opportunities for: Lawyers, Mentors, Paralegals and Law Students (full-time summer and part-time opportunities) CLE credit: Yes

Robert G. Pimm, EsqChief Learning Officer & Director of Legal Services

[email protected] 510-990-6029

CLA Legal Referral Service888-775-8995 • [email protected]

Wells Fargo Building • 2140 Shattuck Avenue, Ste 310Berkeley, CA 94704-1210

www.calawyersforthearts.org

CONTACT

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CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE, INC. (CRLA)California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) was founded in 1966 as a nonprofit legal services program. Our mission is to strive for economic justice and human rights on behalf of California’s rural poor. Each year, we provide more than 40,000 low-income rural Californians with free legal assistance and a variety of community education and outreach programs. Half of our resources are committed to multi-client cases that grapple with the root causes of poverty. The impact of CRLA’s litigation has touched the lives of literally millions of low-income individuals, improving conditions for farm workers, new immigrants, single parents, school children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and entire communities.

Training: Training is available but varies from project to project. Volunteer attorneys should check with the Volunteer Coordinator.

Malpractice Insurance: Malpractice insurance may be available, but volunteer attorneys should check with the Volunteer Coordinator.

Type of Work: Varies by case and project

Time Commitment: Varies by case and project

Applicable Areas of Law: Immigration, Poverty/Civil Rights, Elder, Disability, Family/Children

CHILD CARE LAW CENTER (CCLC)Child Care Law Center (CCLC) is a national nonprofit legal services organization that uses legal tools to make high quality, affordable child care available to children, families, and communities. Our diverse substantive work encompasses public benefits, housing, economic development, as well as regulation and licensing.

CCLC serves as a legal resource for local legal services programs on child care issues in California. Our primary clients are families and children. We also engage in legal and policy advocacy and offer training and information to parents, non-profit child care centers, family child care providers, policy makers, community, and government agencies. We work in collaboration with legal services and other public interest advocates who directly serve children, families, and child care providers.

Training: There is no formal training program, but individual assistance from CCLC staff attorneys is available upon a case by case basis.

Malpractice Insurance: CCLC provides malpractice insurance coverage for volunteer attorneys.

Type of Work: Volunteer attorneys can expect to assist with legal research and writing and client representation.

Time Commitment: CCLC is open to any level of commitment.

Applicable Areas of Law: Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, Public Policy

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Kim Kruckel, Executive [email protected] • 415-558-8005 x2

[email protected]

445 Church Street, San Francisco, CA 94114www.childcarelaw.org

CONTACT

Jeff Ponting, Pro Bono [email protected] • 510-267-0762

1430 Franklin Street, Suite 103Oakland, CA 94612

www.crla.org

CONTACT

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COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES IN EAST PALO ALTO (CLSEPA)Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) provides legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in East Palo Alto and surrounding communities in the Lower Peninsula where there are large populations that lack access to legal services. Since CLSEPA’s founding in 2002, our agency has grown to serve more than 1,300 clients per year. CLSEPA’s practice areas reflect the most urgent needs among our communities: a Housing practice that assists tenants in disputes with landlords; an Immigration practice that assists undocumented individuals, many of whom are survivors of violent crime; an Anti-Predatory Lending Initiative that assists borrowers victimized by illegal and predatory loans; and a General Civil/Consumer program that assists clients with a wide range of legal problems, including identity theft, debt collection, and general civil litigation defense. While our agency and staff are small, our reach is not.

Training: CLSEPA provides trainings, materials, and on-going mentorship to volunteer attorneys for each practice area.For Immigration and Housing, we offer periodic volunteer attorney trainings on U visa and VAWA and Unlawful Detainers with full MCLE credit. For Anti-Predatory Lending and Consumer Law, we have a wide collection of training materials and resources in-house that are always available for our volunteer attorneys.

Malpractice Insurance: CLSEPA provides malpractice insurance for volunteer attorneys.

Time Commitment: Varies by case and program area.

Requirements: Although Spanish speaking ability is not a requirement it is very helpful.

Applicable Areas of Law: Consumer Law, Housing, Immigration, Bankruptcy, Domestic Violence, Family/Children

Housing Program

CLSEPA advises and represents tenants in disputes with landlords. Attorneys assist tenants throughout the eviction process by representing tenants in unlawful detainer trials, settlement conferences (under limited-scope-retainers), and post-settlement stay of evictions. Attorneys may also assist tenants with habitability issues, Section 8, housing discrimination, retaliation and recovering security deposits.

Immigration Program

Our immigration program assists immigrant victims of violent crime obtain U visas when they have been helpful to law enforcement in prosecuting those crimes. We also assist survivors of domestic violence with VAWA self-petitions. Additionally, CLSEPA assists clients with applications for work authorization, and some removal defense. Attorneys assist clients through affirmative representation for an immigration benefit or defensive litigation practice in removal defense before an Immigration Judge.

Predatory Lending and Home Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention

CLSEPA represents victims of illegal loans in anti-predatory loan litigation, and provides counseling for borrowers with loan modifications. Volunteer attorneys can assist in all aspects of the program, from intake to full-scope representation.

Volunteer Attorney Program

CLSEPA conducts client intakes under the supervision of an experienced consumer law attorney and provides advice, brief services, or full legal representation for various consumer law matters, including: consumer fraud, debt collection, insurance, vehicle repossessions, contract disputes, identity theft, and general civil litigation. Pro bono attorneys can volunteer at our clinics, or take cases by referral.

C

Joyce Song, Pro Bono Director [email protected] • 650-391-0363

1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto CA 94303

www.clsepa.org

CONTACT

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COOPERATIVE RESTRAINING ORDER CLINIC (CROC) The Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic (CROC) assists survivors of do-mestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in obtaining restraining orders against their abusers. If the parties have children together, we also assist in obtaining child custody and support orders. Volunteers individually interview clients at our weekly clinics in order to assist us in completing the legal forms necessary to apply for restraining orders. After the interview, volunteers type the client’s declaration in support of her request for a restraining order.

Training: This training is a two-stage process, including both a day-long training and a period of “shadowing” current volunteers or staff by sitting in on their interviews over several weeks’ time.

Clinics take place once a week, alternating between Saturdays during the day (from 10:30 until 2:30ish, emphasis on the “ish”) and Thursday evenings (from 5:30 to 9:30ish). The entire training process can take some time to complete, based both on your availability to come to our weekly clinics and on whether we have clients who are willing to have new volunteers sit in to observe their interviews. We are aware that this lengthy training period can be frustrating for folks who want to jump right in; the sensitive nature of the work thatwe do and the vulnerable state of our clients require this process.

Malpractice insurance: Although our volunteers are not representing clients and are not giving legal advice to our clients, we do have malpractice insurance through our fiscal sponsor, the Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco.

Type of work: Volunteers individually interview clients at our weekly clinics in order to assist us in completing the legal forms neces-sary to apply for restraining orders.

If volunteers are interested in providing full representation to our clients in contested restraining order hearings, we encourage you to seek training through the Justice & Diversity Center, whose volunteer attorneys provide pro bono representation to our clients who have that need.

Time commitment: Volunteers are needed on Saturdays and on Thursday evenings. Given our extensive training process, we ask all of our volunteers to make two commitments: (1) To commit to volunteer with us for at least six months after their training is completed; and (2) To come to at least two clinics a month (on a Saturday or on a Thursday night).

Requirements: We are always in need of volunteers who are knowledgeable about domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; have excellent interpersonal skills; and have excellent writing skills. We are especially interested in recruiting volunteers who are bi- or multilingual (for example, in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or Russian).

Applicable areas of law: Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, General Civil

CLE credit: CROC is not accredited, but it is sometimes able to offer CLE credit through its fiscal sponsor, the Justice & Diversity Center (but not generally for our volunteer trainings).

DISABILITY RIGHTS CALIFORNIADisability Rights California is a nonprofit civil rights law office, with five of¬fices throughout California, which provides legal assistance to people with disabilities, including mobility, sensory, intellectual and mental health dis¬abilities. Services available include: counsel and advice; representation in mediation, administrative and judicial proceedings; class action litigation; investigation of abuse and neglect; and legislative advocacy on disability- related civil rights matters.

Training: Provided as necessary.

Malpractice insurance: Disability Rights California carries legal malpractice insurance which covers volunteer attorneys.

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Emberly [email protected] • 415-864-1790

3543 – 18th Street, Box #5San Francisco, CA 94110

CONTACT

Jung [email protected] • 510-267-1200

1330 Broadway, Suite 500, Oakland, CA 94612TTY: 800-719-5798 • Toll Free: 800-776-5746

www.disabilityrightsca.org

CONTACT

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DISABILITY RIGHTS CALIFORNIA (continued)

Type of work: Volunteers can work in a number of different capacities depending on the volunteer’s expertise, inter¬est, and availability and on the organization’s needs. Currently, we have a strong need for volunteers for administrative law hearings. Training and material will be provided.

Time commitment: Varies.

Requirements: Please email a resume, brief writing sample and a cover note with areas of interest and hours of availability to [email protected].

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Flexible, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Applicable areas of law: Disability, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, General Civil, Public Policy

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Law school clinic, Lawyers, Senior Lawyers, Paralegals and Law Students (full-time summer and part-time opportunities)

CLE credit: Yes.

DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION & DEFENSE FUND, INC. (DREDF)Founded in 1979 by a unique alliance of people with disabilities and par-ents of children with disabilities, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc. (DREDF) is a national non-profit law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities. We carry out our mission through legislative, litigation, advocacy, and education and training activities. DREDF seeks pro bono lawyers to co-counsel impact litigation cases.

Training: Training upon request.

Malpractice insurance: No – volunteers must have their own malpractice insurance, and must work from their own office space.

Type of work: The majority of DREDF’s litigation work is done in collaboration with private bar co-counsel, including large law firms, as well as smaller private law offices. DREDF seeks to create co-counsel relationships with lawyers interested in participating pro bono in disability civil rights cases.

Time commitment: Consistent with role as co-counsel in active litigation.

Requirements: Consistent with role as co-counsel in active litigation (but specific disability rights law knowledge or experience is not required).

Applicable areas of law: General, Civil Rights, Consumer, Disability, Education, Health, Housing, Public Benefits

Pro bono opportunities for: Lawyers and Senior Lawyers

CLE credit: Not available.

Linda D. Kilb, [email protected]

3075 Adeline Street, Suite 210, Berkeley, CA 94703TTY: 510-644-2555

www.dredf.org

CONTACT

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ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION (EFF)The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is a non-profit digital civil liberties organization. Blending the expertise of lawyers, policy analysts, activists, and technologists, EFF achieves significant victories on behalf of consumers and the general public. EFF fights for freedom primarily in the courts, bringing and defending lawsuits even when that means taking on the US government or large corporations. By mobilizing more than 50,000 concerned citizens through our Action Center, EFF beats back bad legislation. In addition to advising policymakers, EFF educates the press and public.

Training: No training is provided.

Malpractice insurance: Volunteers are required to carry their own malpractice insurance. Type of work: EFF maintains a mailing list of cooperating attorneys, where it posts cases for volunteer attorneys.

Time commitment: The required time commitment depends on the case. There is no minimum time commitment for membership to the cooperating attorneys mailing list.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Flexible.

Requirements: Depends on the case. There is no requirement for membership to the cooperating attorneys mailing list.

Applicable areas of law: Arts, Public Policy, Intellectual Property, Privacy, Civil Rights, Constitutional, Civil Liberties

Pro bono opportunities for: Lawyers

CLE credit: No.

EVICTION DEFENSE COLLABORATIVE (EDC) The Eviction Defense Collaborative (EDC) is a non-profit legal clinic dedicated to preventing homelessness by providing legal and rental assistance to tenants facing eviction. In our legal capacity, the EDC assists tenants facing evictions by preparing papers for them to file in court. In our rental assistance capacity (Rental Assistance Disbursement Component, or RADCo) we provide one-time rental assistance to tenants who are facing eviction because they have fallen behind in their rent.

The EDC has been helping tenants fight evictions since 1996. In collaboration with other legal and tenants’ rights organizations, the EDC provides much needed information and resources to tenants regarding a number of eviction issues.

Training: Although experience in or knowledge of landlord-tenant law is preferred, we do provide training in landlord-tenant law, civil procedure and interviewing clients. We also provide a training manual that further explains any relevant law, the San Francisco Rent Ordinance and pertinent areas of civil procedure. Malpractice insurance: Malpractice insurance is provided for volunteer attorneys.

Type of work: The EDC assists tenants facing possible eviction by preparing paperwork for them to file in court in pro per. We do not represent tenants; rather, we offer information and counseling to each tenant in preparation for their day in court. The EDC is staffed by both attorneys and non-attorneys, including law and paralegal students and volunteers from the community.

In addition to preparing papers for tenants, we offer a settlement conference workshop to prepare tenants for the mandatory settlement conference that happens before their jury trial. We also help prepare those tenants who will be representing themselves at trial.

Volunteer [email protected] • 415-947-0797

995 Market Street, #1200, San Francisco, CA 94103www.evictiondefense.org

To directly apply to be a legal intern/volunteer intake coordinator or a RADCo intern/volunteer please send a resume and cover letter to the above email address.

CONTACT

Mark [email protected] • 415-436-9333

815 Eddy Street, San Francisco CA 94109www.eff.org

CONTACT

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HEVICTION DEFENSE COLLABORATIVE (continued)

Under the supervision of a staff attorney and the volunteer coordinator, volunteers interview and counsel tenants facing eviction and assist legal staff with necessary paperwork and pleadings. Papers prepared by the EDC include fee waiver applications, answers, demurrers, motions to quash, motions to strike, and applications for stays of execution. Volunteers also help prepare for and assist in court mandated settlement conferences. Those who commit for longer periods of time have the option of contributing in other areas including discovery, trial preparation, legal research and more depending on individual availability and skills. We also volunteer positions within our Rental Assistance component (RADCo). These volunteers would interview and counsel tenants needing rental assistance.

Time commitment: Volunteers are asked to commit to at least two 4-hour shifts per week, although more shifts are encouraged. Additionally, volunteers are asked to attend two In-Service Trainings during their time with us. Volunteering can be scheduled around dates that correspond with your needs. Typically this is scheduled by season, with volunteers usually staying for at least a Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer. You are welcome to start and end at any point as long as you fulfill your three-month commitment.

Counseling hours: EDC is a drop-in clinic only, and is open to clients Monday - Friday from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00–3:00 p.m. Volunteers are especially needed during these hours, but we can always use your help anytime from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Requirements: We are always looking for volunteers who are interested in tenants’ rights and who enjoy working with others. Although experience in or knowledge of landlord-tenant law is preferred, we do provide training in landlord-tenant law, civil procedure and interviewing clients. Bilingual volunteers and volunteers who have experience working with diverse populations are especially needed.

Applicable areas of law: Housing

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

CLE credit: Yes, six times per year EDC holds trainings on Saturdays (Three beginner trainings, three advanced trainings).

HOUSING AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS ADVOCATES (HERA) Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA) is a California statewide, not-for-profit legal service and advocacy organization. HERA’s mission is to ensure that all people are protected from discrimination and economic abuses, especially in the realm of housing. We focus particularly on the needs of those who are most vulnerable, which includes lower-income people, the elderly, immigrants, people of color and people with disabilities. In January 2009, HERA was a recipient of the Alameda County Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award.

HERA periodically needs assistance with legal research and writing, document review and organization for litigation purposes, and other related tasks.

Training: HERA provides training based on the type of work that the volunteer attorney is providing. HERA does not have a set training component.

Malpractice insurance: HERA provides malpractice insurance.

Type of work: HERA’s activities to combat unfair lending, predatory lending and other abuses include: • providing consumer education;• providing legal services to individuals; • training legal professionals;• community-based agencies, and governmental entities;• researching and documenting the scope and impact of housing discrimination and predatory lending practices;• organizing and capacity building of relevant entities in order to fight abuse of consumers;• pursuing policy and legislative redress; and • creating alternative consumer institutions.

Volunteer attorneys can expect to assist with legal research and writing, client interviewing and document review.

Maeve Elise Brown, [email protected] • 510 271-8443 x307

P.O. Box 29435Oakland, CA 94604

[email protected] • www.heraca.org

CONTACT

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HOUSING AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS ADVOCATES (continued)

Time commitment: Varies depending on project.

Requirements: Admission to the bar preferred but not necessary. Consumer, bankruptcy or civil rights experience preferred.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Applicable areas of law: Consumer, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, Landlord/Tenant, Public Policy, Bankruptcy

Pro bono opportunities for: Law School Clinic, Lawyers and Law Students

CLE Credit: No

JUSTICE & DIVERSITY CENTER (JDC) of The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF)

The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) has been making meaningful change in people’s lives, using our unique blend of legal services and social work, since 1977. Volunteer attorneys, paralegals, law students and others work alongside our staff. JDC was formerly known as the Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP).

Malpractice insurance: JDC provides malpractice insurance for all JDC cases.

CONSUMER PROJECT

JDC offers a monthly Consumer Debt Defense and Education Clinic (CDDEC). At the CDDEC, volunteer attorneys provide information and advice about consumer debt, collection actions and bankruptcy to low-income clients. Clients meet one-on-one with volunteer attorneys to discuss their individual situations and any pending legal action against them. JDC also offers opportunities for volunteer attorneys to take pro bono debt collection cases.

Training: A free training is offered to prepare licensed California attorneys to advise low-income clients at the CDDEC. CLE credit is offered in exchanged for a volunteer commitment to staff the clinic three times within one year. Mentorship is provided to those attorneys who take pro bono cases beyond the clinic.

Type of work: Volunteer attorneys provide legal advice at the clinic and/or provide full-scope representation in limited civil collection cases.

Time commitment: The CDDEC is held one Wednesday a month, from 5:45 - 9:45 p.m. Requirements: Volunteer attorneys must be active members of the California Bar.

Applicable areas of law: Consumer, Bankruptcy, Poverty/Civil Rights

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Lawyers, Mentors, Senior Lawyers, Paralegals, Non-litigation Projects, Law Students (full--time summer and part-time opportunities)

Gloria Chun, Volunteer Coordinator [email protected] • 415-782-8996

301 Battery Street, Third FloorSan Francisco, CA 94111

415-982-1600 www.sfbar.org/probono

CONTACT

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LJUSTICE & DIVERSITY CENTER (continued)

FAMILY LAW PROJECT

JDC’s Family Law Project assists low-income clients with family law matters ranging from dissolution of marriage and custody motions to guardianships and wills. Volunteer attorneys are needed to provide representation and legal consultation. Training: Training is provided. (Except for wills)

Type of work: Varies by case. Limited and full-scope.

Time commitment: Volunteers are asked to commit to taking two cases within a year of their training.

Applicable areas of law: Family/Children, Domestic Violence, Wills/Trusts/Estate Planning

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Lawyers, Mentors, and Senior Lawyers

LEGAL ADVICE AND REFERRAL CLINIC (LARC)

LARC is a walk-in clinic that occurs on the second Saturday of each month at our Downtown San Francisco location (UC Hastings), and on the last Saturday of each month at our Bayview location in San Francisco. At these Clinics, low-income clients are able to receive legal advice and/or referrals from experienced attorneys in various areas of the law. LARC is staffed in part by volunteers who primarily conduct client intakes to determine in what area(s) of law people want advice. The clients are then able to sit with our experienced volunteer attorneys, and receive advice and/or referrals based on their issue.

Training: No training is provided. JDC relies upon the experience and expertise of the attorney. Type of work: LARC needs 10-12 attorneys to volunteer at the clinics each month to conduct general intake or to provide advice in specific areas of the law, including Collection Defense, Criminal, Employment/Labor, Family, General Consumer, Immigration, Landlord Tenant and Personal Injury.

Time commitment: Four to five hours at each clinic.

Requirements: As there is no training, attorneys wishing to volunteer for the substantive areas of LARC must have at least five years of practice to be qualified for this program. Intake interviewers do not need to have prior experience.

Applicable areas of law: All

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Law School Clinic, Lawyers, Paralegals, Non-litigation Projects, and Law Students

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATION PROJECT (CORP)

CORP assists community-based nonprofit organizations serving low-income and disadvantaged communities throughout Northern California. CORP offers pro bono opportunities in every area of transactional law including labor & employment, tax, intellectual property, real estate and nonprofit incorporation & governance. Experienced transactional attorneys are needed.

Training: No supervision or training is provided. Attorneys must rely on their own expertise, resources and firm supervision, if necessary.

Type of work: Varies by project.

Time commitment: Varies by project.

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Justice & Diversity Center - CORP (continued)

Requirements: Volunteer work for CORP is handled by experienced attorneys or associates under their firm’s supervision.

Applicable areas of law: Transactional/Business, Labor/Employment, Tax, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Non Profit Incorporation & Governance

Pro bono opportunities for: Lawyers, Mentors, Senior Lawyers, Non-litigation Projects and Law Students (full-time)

FEDERAL PRO BONO PROJECT

The Federal Pro Bono Project is a joint effort of the Northern District Court of California and JDC to provide much-needed assistance to pro se litigants in federal court. We offer a Legal Help Center where litigants can receive information, advice and assistance from a JDC staff attorney. Judges refer pro se litigants whose cases merit pro bono representation to the Project for appointment of counsel. Volunteer attorneys are needed to represent those litigants, who could otherwise not afford counsel, in federal court. Additionally, volunteers are needed to assist clients in federal court through the Assisted Mediation Project and the Prisoner Pro Se Project. Appointments may be on a full or limited-scope basis.

Training: No training is provided. JDC relies upon the experience and expertise of the attorney and his/her firm. Attorneys without experience in federal court or with the relevant area of law will be permitted to take cases if an experienced attorney serves as co-counsel.

Type of work: Legal representation and consultation in all areas of civil practice. Most litigants are plaintiffs alleging employment discrimination or other civil rights violations; others run the gamut, from admiralty to trademark to administrative agency reviews.

Time commitment: Varies by case. Judges may appoint counsel for the duration of the case or for limited purposes, such as defending against a dispositive motion, representing a litigant at a settlement conference, etc.

Requirements: Attorneys must be licensed by the State Bar of California and admitted to practice in the Northern District Court of California. Experience with/knowledge of employment law and civil rights law is preferred.

Applicable areas of law: General Civil, Poverty/Civil Rights, Labor/Employment, Intellectual Property

Pro bono opportunities for: Lawyers, Mentors and Senior Lawyers

HOMELESS ADVOCACY PROJECT (HAP)

HAP provides free legal and related social services to individuals and families who are homeless or at serious risk of becoming homeless. Volunteer attorneys and advocates assist clients with applying for public benefits and with eviction defense.

Training: Training is provided.

Type of work: Volunteer attorneys and other qualified individuals are needed to assist clients primarily with eviction defense and obtaining Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. There is also a limited scope opportunity with HAP, the Motion to Vacate Project, which assists clients with this motion for duration of the 2-3 week process.

Time commitment: Volunteers are asked to commit to serving three clients-one at a time-within a year of their training.

Applicable areas of law: Homeless, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, Landlord/Tenant

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Law School Clinic, Lawyers, Mentors, Law Students (full-time summer and part-time opportunities)

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JJustice & Diversity Center (continued)

HOUSING NEGOTIATION PROJECT

The Housing Negotiation Project is JDC’s limited-scope project for eviction defense. Through this project, volunteer attorneys represent low-income individuals and families being evicted during their mandatory settlement conferences. Representation is limited to the afternoon settlement conferences only. Through this unique project, every individual in need of an attorney receives representation.

Training: Training is provided and a staff attorney is on-site the day of the settlement conference for additional guidance.

Type of work: Representation is limited to settlement conferences only.

Time commitment: If the case does not settle that day, the client returns to his self-represented status. During one shift, a volunteer will represent one to two clients. Volunteers are asked to commit to staffing four conference afternoons within one year of training. Volunteer shifts are Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 12:15 - 4:30 p.m.

Applicable areas of law: Landlord/Tenant

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Lawyers, Senior Lawyers and Non-litigation Projects

MEDICAL-LEGAL PROJECT

The Medical-Legal Project brings legal services to San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Point. The area is populated by some of the city’s most vulnerable - predominately low-income people living in an underserved and geographically isolated area. By partnering with the Southeast Health Center (SEHC), JDC staff and volunteers provide patients with the legal services needed to ameliorate issues that adversely impact patients’ health, safety and overall well being. JDC’s Supervising Attorney conducts weekly on-site legal intakes at SEHC and welcomes volunteer attorneys and law students, under the supervision of the JDC attorney, to provide limited and full-scope representation to clients.

Training: No training is provided specifically for this project. Trainings offered include family law, eviction defense and SSI advocacy.

Type of work: Varies.

Time commitment: Staffing one to two clinics a month for six months

Applicable areas of law: Housing Rights, Eviction Defense, Public Benefits Advocacy (SSI, Medi-Cal, and Medicare), Consumer and Probate Matters.

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Lawyers, Mentors, Senior Lawyers, Law Students (full-time summer/part-time opportunities)

EVICTION DEFENSE PROJECT

JDC’s full scope Eviction Defense Project provides representation to clients defending an eviction lawsuit. These cases provide excellent litigation experience as the procedures are the same as those involved in business litigation−discovery, motions, settlement, and trial.

Training: Training is provided.

Type of work: Eviction defense litigation.

Time commitment: Volunteers are asked to commit to representing two clients within a year of the training.

Applicable areas of law: Landlord/Tenant

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Lawyers, Mentors and Senior Lawyers

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LA CASA DE LAS MADRES Thirty-six years ago, in 1976, a dynamic coalition of Bay Area women gathered to found La Casa de las Madres, California’s first and the nation’s second shelter dedicated to women and children escaping domestic violence. Our once-quiet shelter has grown into the city’s leading voice for women, teens, and children exposed to domestic violence. La Casa has expanded well beyond the doors of our shelter to fight tirelessly for change. Over the past several years, the number of survivors accessing our services has increased 175%. Today, through a broad service continuum, La Casa provides expert intervention and prevention services to 15,000 individuals each year.

For survivors who require more specialized legal support to ensure safe outcomes in child custody, visitation, or restraining order hearings, our Pro Bono Representation Project provides access to free legal representation. The project connects volunteer attorneys—members of the California Bar—with domestic violence survivors who are engaged in family court proceedings.

Training: In addition to crisis intervention services, our Domestic Violence Response Team provides training to various professionals—social workers, medical personnel, law enforcement, court personnel, social service staff, mental health workers, attorneys, and government agency staff, for example. These trainings help professionals identify victims’ needs, encourage victims’ safety and facilitate their access to supportive services. La Casa encourages new volunteers to consult with attorneys who have already handled a domestic violence/restraining order case, especially if the court decides to set a long-cause (evidentiary) hearing. The Legal Services Coordinator is available to provide support by phone and e-mail as the attorney prepares for the case.

Malpractice insurance: La Casa de las Madres does not carry malpractice insurance. The volunteer attorney would need to be covered under his/her firm/personal policy.

Type of work: Some clients need legal representation in order to get a restraining order or to ensure a safe outcome in child custody and visitation hearings.

Time commitment: The level of involvement varies. In most cases, La Casa advocates prepare the initial application for Temporary Restraining Order, which is then filed by the client. Once the client has picked up the Temporary Restrianing Order and informs La Casa of her upcoming hearing date, La Casa sends out a request for assistance by e-mail to all volunteer attorneys. Alternatively, the attorney may choose to assist the client from the very beginning, preparing the initial paperwork and declaration (this would require making a commitment to representation before the attorney knows the date of hearing, which is difficult for many volunteers but possible for others).

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Wednesday morning DV calendar and other time as needed.

Applicable areas of law: Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Elder Law, General Civil

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Lawyers, Mentor Lawyers and Paralegals

CLE credit: No

LA RAZA CENTRO LEGALLa Raza Centro Legal (La Raza) is a community-based legal organization dedicated to empowering Latino, immigrant and low-income communities to advocate for their civil and human rights. We combine legal services and advocacy to build grassroots power and alliances towards creating a movement for a just society.

La Raza was established in 1973 by those who personally experienced the inaccessibility to legal services due to language and immigration status barriers; the founders were law students who were children of low-income immigrants or low-income immigrants themselves. Instilling trust and empowerment through bilingual, bicultural legal services, education and outreach and advocacy, La

25

Legal Services Coordinator415-503-0500 x308

1663 Mission Street, Suite 225San Francisco, CA 94103

www.lacasa.org

CONTACT

Genevie Gallegos, Executive DirectorAlexander Peña, Development/Operations Director

415-575-3500 [email protected] or [email protected]

474 Valencia Street, Suite 295San Francisco, CA 94103

www.lrcl.org

CONTACT

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LA RAZA CENTRO LEGAL (continued)

Raza has a reputation in the community of providing legal resources and leadership skills to the community so that individuals and families are able to exercise their legal rights, confront injustice, increase self-sufficiency, and advocate for themselves.

La Raza Centro Legal now entering our 40th year significant civil rights work with over 4,800 individuals seeking our services. Due to cuts in foundation and government resources, our financial resources only allows us to serves about 1200 individuals each year, which is approximately 25%. To ensure that we fulfill our mission where legal services is a human right and not a privilege we continue to seek funding, volunteer and pro bono support in our work and our programs are as follows:

Immigration Law

We assist low-income immigrants seeking to obtain legal residency, work permits or citizenship as well as deportation defense, u-visa protection and family separation prevention. Currently, we are providing additional workshops and legal clinics to assist youth in filing for legal status under the Deferred Action Executive Order. As immigration filing fees are prohibitively high, we file fee waivers for many of our clients. We advocate for our clients within the complicated and challenging bureaucracies of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Our work is strengthened as a member of the thirteen agency San Francisco Immigrant Legal Education Network and six agency San Mateo County Collaborative Resources for Im-migrant Services on the Peninsula. Further, in collaboration with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the Bay Area, we provide a bi-monthly legal clinic.

Workers’ Rights

We advocate on behalf of very-low wage workers including day laborers, domestic workers, restaurant workers, car wash workers and other low wage immigrant workers who have been cheated out of rightfully earned wages or otherwise exploited by unscrupulous employers. We assist with wage and hour cases as well as wrongful termination and employment discrimination cases. Our collabo-ration with the San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement and partner agencies including Chinese Progressive Action and Filipino Community Center ensures that low-wage workers receive the San Francisco’s minimum wage ($10.24 of January 1, 2012), sick leave and health insurance benefits. In addition, we are also part of the California Low-Wage and Immigrant Worker Advocates to enhance our work with respect to wage and hour cases before the State Department Legal Standards and Enforcement. Further, through our participation in the California Employment Law Association we take part in impact litigation to ensure that labor laws remain effective for low-wage workers. Recently, we co-counseled with the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office on behalf of hundreds of car wash workers who worked for Tower Car Wash.

Senior Law

We advocate for the rights of elders and the disabled to ensure SSI benefits, defend against eviction, protect against consumer fraud, assist with wills and support those who are victims of violence as well as provide education and outreach in these areas. Where our clients are home bound or hospitalized we will provide legal assistance at the location of our clients. We provide a quarterly “Senior Rights Bulletin” in the languages of English, Spanish and Chinese in collaboration with Asian Law Caucus, Asian Pacific Island Legal Outreach and Legal Services for the Elderly.

L

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LAW CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE

Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence (formerly Legal Community Against Violence) is the only national law center focused on providing comprehensive legal expertise in support of gun violence prevention and the promotion of smart gun laws that save lives. As a non-profit organization founded by attorneys, we remain dedicated to preventing the loss of lives caused by gun violence by providing trusted, in-depth legal expertise and information on America’s gun laws.

Training: Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence has no required volunteer training and no formal pro bono training program. Staff attorneys at the Law Center work closely with pro bono lawyers to inform them of the relevant law and legal issues and assist pro bono lawyers throughout a project’s duration.

Malpractice insurance: Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence carries Lawyer’s Professional Liability Insurance.

Type of work: The majority of Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence’s pro bono needs focus on legal research and analysis, typically culminating in memoranda addressed to a staff attorney. Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence also has a continuing need for representation as amicus curiae in firearm-related litigation, as well as litigation assistance for governmental entities whose gun laws have been challenged.

Time commitment: The time commitment varies by the type of project and by pro bono lawyer.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: We are flexible in terms of when a pro bono lawyer would like to complete his or her project, as long as the project is completed by the agreed due date.

Requirements: For the research and analysis projects that constitute the bulk of Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence’s pro bono work, We do not require that a pro bono lawyer have specific expertise in an area of law, although that is helpful. We do require strong research and writing skills.

Applicable areas of law: Public Policy, Criminal, Constitutional

CLE credit: Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence is an accredited pro bono CLE provider. At this time, we do not have a pro bono training program that qualifies for CLE credit, however.

LAWYERS’ COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS (LCCR)

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (LCCR) champions the legal rights of people of color, poor people, immigrants and refugees, with a special com-mitment to African-Americans. Asylum Program

The Asylum Program screens potential clients, recruits volunteer lawyers and interpreters, and offers comprehensive training on asylum law and legal procedure as well as support and consultation to volunteers. Our program is recognized as a national model for programs delivering free legal services to low-income asylum-seekers.

The program continues to offer two introductory seminars on asylum law and procedure each year in the Spring and Fall. LCCR also sponsors numerous “brown bag workshops” on asylum law and human rights issues, including workshops on gender-based violence, evidentiary issues, immigration appeals, and specific topics of concern to our pro bono asylum volunteers.

Allison Anderman, Pro Bono Coordinator/Staff [email protected] • 415-433-2062 x302

268 Bush Street # 555San Francisco, CA 94104

www.smartgunlaws.org

CONTACT

Paul Chavez, Senior Attorney/Pro Bono [email protected] • 415-543-9697 x221

131 Steuart Street, Suite 400San Francisco, CA 94105

415-543-9444 • www.lccr.com

CONTACT

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LLAWYERS’ COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS - ASYLUM PROGRAM (continued)

Training: Semi-annual training seminars are offered. Written materials are also available for volunteer attorneys wishing to take on a matter between training sessions.

Malpractice insurance: Malpractice insurance is provided for all volunteer attorneys.

Type of work: Transactional and litigation work

Time commitment: Varies by case. Litigation matters generally require more time.

Requirements: Bar admission in any state.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Flexible

Applicable areas of law: Immigration, Poverty/Civil Rights, Human Rights, General Civil, Transaction/Business

CLE credit: Yes

LEGAL SERVICES FOR ENTREPRENEURS (LSE)

Legal Services for Entrepreneurs (LSE) is an economic justice project that was first started at LCCR over a decade ago. LSE provides free business legal services to:

• Low-income individuals, including women and people of color, who want to start or develop for-profit businesses; and• For-profit businesses committed to community economic development.

Training: LSE provides MCLE workshops 1-2 times a year; a representation guideline is provided to volunteer attorneys before the start of representation.

Malpractice insurance: LSE carries malpractice insurance for volunteer attorneys.

Type of work: LSE offers transactional attorneys a unique opportunity to work on pro bono cases that are more relevant to their prac-tice areas than traditional pro bono litigation work. LSE seeks attorneys to assist entrepreneurs in transactional matters. These matters cover the entire range of legal services necessary to begin or develop a business, including business entity, intellectual property, real estate, labor, and employment issues. The legal services provided by LSE and its participating pro bono attorneys are limited to discrete business law matters and do not include disputes, claims, or lawsuits. LSE also has numerous opportunities for transactional attorneys to lea legal workshops on business law issues to classes of low-income entrepreneurs.

Time commitment: Time commitment for individual pro bono cases varies depending on the needs of the client; workshop commitment usually ranges from 1 ½ hours to 2 hours for each presentation.

Applicable areas of law: Transaction/Business, Intellectual Property, Labor/Employment, Real Estate

SECOND CHANCE LEGAL CLINIC

The Second Chance Legal Clinic assists clients working to overcome legal barriers due to past arrests or convictions. Issue areas include employment, occupational licensing, housing, driver’s license suspension, criminal records remedies, and criminal background checks. In partnership with Goodwill Industries and Mo’MAGIC, the clinic is held three times a month.

Training: LCCR provides in-person training several times a year, a comprehensive training manual, and extensive mentoring and sup-port. In addition, LCCR hosts periodic “brown bag workshops” on criminal justice issues of interest to volunteers.

Malpractice insurance: The clinic carries malpractice insurance for volunteer attorneys.

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LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS - SECOND CHANCE LEGAL CLINICS (continued)

Type of work: Services range from brief legal advice to full-scope representation. Volunteers will build critical skills, including issue spotting, case planning and management, negotiation, and drafting briefs and declarations. A number of volunteers have represented clients in court or in administrative proceedings.

Time commitment: Volunteers commit to conducting intake and providing brief legal advice at a three-hour clinic. When a client needs more extensive services, the time commitment varies depending on the nature of the case.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: The clinic is held at Goodwill Industries, 1500 Mission Street, on the 1st Tuesday of the month from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. and at the West Bay Community Law Center, 1290 Fillmore Street, on the last Tuesday of the month from 5:00 - 8:00 pm.

Applicable areas of law: Criminal Records Remedies, Labor/Employment, Landlord/Tenant

LEGAL AID ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA (LAAC)

The Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC) is the statewide membership organization for the almost 100 nonprofits funded through IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer Trust Account) grants by the State Bar of California. Capitalizing on its structure as a membership organization, LAAC naturally takes on the role of advocating on behalf of this group of nonprofits. LAAC facilitates communication and coordination between programs, trains in core substantive areas, analyzes best practices, and assesses and improves the effectiveness of the delivery of legal aid in California, including working strategically to support rural and small programs and meet the needs of under-served populations.

Training: Provided as needed for volunteer projects

Malpractice insurance: All volunteer attorneys are covered by LAAC’s malpractice insurance.

Time commitment: Varies by project, flexible based on volunteer availability

Applicable areas of law: Varies

LEGAL AID OF MARINLegal Aid of Marin improves social justice, economic equity and opportunity and assures due process and equal protection of the law by providing low income and vulnerable people (children, seniors, immigrants, people with disabilities, and the homeless) with access to high quality, effective legal services including direct representation and pro per support services, and through impact advocacy.

Training: We conduct a training session on office procedures, intake, client database once or twice a year when we have a group. There is no training provided in specific areas of law. Legal Aid also works closely with The Marin County Bar Association’s Lawyer to Lawyer mentoring program.

Malpractice insurance: All volunteer attorneys are covered by Legal Aid’s malpractice insurance.

Type of work: Work in the areas of Labor/Employment law, Bankruptcy, General Civil, Wills/Trusts/Estate Planning. Our bankruptcy clinic is done in a group and is informational, advice and questions answered. For clients over 60, Estate Planning clinics occur offsite

29

Lorin Kline, Program [email protected] •510-893-3000 x105

350 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 701Oakland, CA 94612www.laaconline.org

CONTACT

Nancy MurphyPro Bono Program [email protected]

415-492-0230 x308

30 North San Pedro Road, #220 San Rafael, CA 94903www.legalaidmarin.org

CONTACT

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LEGAL AID OF MARIN (continued)

at the Whistletop Senior Center at the Mill Valley Community Center in San Rafael. Anyone with an estate planning issue can also come to the main office and obtain legal advice on an individual basis. Labor and Employment Clinics offer individual consultations with possible follow up. We also place individual cases with private attorneys.

Time commitment: If the attorney comes into our office to work in-house and we train him/her on our client database and procedures, we would like a three-month commitment. If an attorney takes an individual client and work in his or her own office, the attorney’s com-mitment is fulfilled when the case is complete.

Requirements: We have opportunities for all persons practicing or studying law.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Flexible.

Applicable areas of law: Labor/Employment, Bankruptcy, General Civil, Wills/Trusts/Estate Planning

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Mentors, Law School Clinics, Lawyers, Senior Lawyers, Nonlitigation Projects, Paralegals and Law Students (full time summer and part-time opportunities)

CLE credit: Only when in conjunction with the Marin County Bar.

LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SAN MATEO COUNTY

The Legal Aid Society provides free legal advice and assistance to low-income residents of San Mateo County.

The Domestic Violence Collaborative

The Domestic Violence Collaborative provides free limited scope representation at permanent restraining order hearings to low-income victims of domestic violence. One of the courthouses in which the project takes place is the South San Francisco courthouse.

Legal Aid partners with Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) and Bay Area Legal Aid to train volunteer attorneys and mentor them through their cases. Since the project began in March of 2007, we have provided clients with pro bono attorneys to represent them at their permanent restraining order hearings. Most of these cases include child custody, visitation and support orders.

Training: Training is provided and all volunteers are given a substantive training manual. After completing training, lawyers take on their own cases and serve as the attorney of record. Legal Aid supervises volunteers as they represent clients and provides guidance through mentors and our advisory panel of experts.

Malpractice insurance: All volunteer attorneys are covered by Legal Aid’s malpractice insurance.

Type of work: Varies by case.

Time commitment: Generally speaking, a full representation case can take anywhere from 20-60 hours of legal work, including court hearings.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Applicable areas of law: Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, General Civil

CLE credit: Yes.

L

Janet B. [email protected] • 650-558-0915

The Natalie Lanam Justice CenterSobrato Center for Nonprofits - Redwood Shores

330 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 123Redwood City, CA 94065

www.legalaidsmc.org

CONTACT

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LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SAN MATEO COUNTY (continued)

Guardianship Pro Bono Project

Guardianship Pro Bono Project is directed at grandparents, relatives, and others who are seeking to become a court-ordered guardian. Legal Aid helps in the following areas:

• Prepare court filings;• Petition for guardianship;• Defend a termination of guardianship; and• Petition for guardian of the person and of the estate.

Training: Training is provided and all volunteers are given a substantive training manual. After completing training, lawyers take on their own cases and serve as the attorney of record. Legal Aid supervises volunteers as they represent clients and provides guidance through mentors and our advisory panel of experts.

Malpractice insurance: All volunteer attorneys are covered by Legal Aid’s malpractice insurance.

Type of work: Varies by case.

Time commitment: Generally speaking, a full representation case can take anywhere from 20-60 hours of legal work, including court hearings.

Applicable areas of law: Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Family, Probate

Home Savers Project and Landlord/Tenant Clinics

The Home Savers Project helps tenants who are having problems with their landlords and offers legal counseling, advice and representation in the following areas:

• Evictions;• Disputes over the condition of the premises; and • Illegal acts by landlords.

Legal Aid holds weekly clinics in which residents are welcome to drop in and speak to an attorney. The clinics serve about 100 tenants each month.

Clinics are located at: Landlord/Tenant Clinic • Mondays: 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. San Mateo County Superior Court, 400 County Center, 2nd Floor, Redwood CityA collaborative project with Self-Help Services of San Mateo County Superior Court

Tenant Clinics • Tuesdays: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.Daly City Community Services Center, 350 90th Street, 1st Floor, Daly City

Tenant Clinics • Fridays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Road, Redwood City

Training: Training is provided and all volunteers are given a substantive training manual. After completing training, lawyers take on their own cases and serve as the attorney of record. Legal Aid supervises volunteers as they represent clients and provides guidance through mentors and our advisory panel of experts.

Malpractice insurance: All volunteers are covered by Legal Aid’s malpractice insurance.

Type of work: Varies by case and by clinic.

Time commitment: Generally speaking, a full representation case can take anywhere from 20-60 hours of legal work, including court

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LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SAN MATEO COUNTY (continued)

hearings. For volunteers working in our housing clinics, the time commitment is usually four hours at each clinic.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Applicable areas of law: Landlord/Tenant

CLE credit: Yes.

LEGAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN (LSC)Legal Services for Children’s (LSC) mission is to ensure that all children and youth in the San Francisco Bay Area have an opportunity to be raised in a safe environment with equal access to a meaningful education and the services and supports they need to become healthy and productive young adults.

Training: All of our trainings include detailed materials for you to refer to throughout your case. Additionally, LSC attorneys are available every day to offer case consultation.

Malpractice insurance: Pro bono panel attorneys are covered under LSC’s malpractice insurance.

Type of work: Meeting with clients, attending administrative and/or court hearings and preparing legal documents.

Time commitment: Varies by case.

Applicable areas of law: Probate Guardianship, Education, Immigration

Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Lawyers, Senior Lawyers and Nonlitigation Projects. LSC has a separate internship program for law students. The program is full-time during the summer and part-time during the school year (16+ hrs/wk.)

LSC has three panels open to volunteer attorneys. Once you join our panel you will receive email requests for assistance in all three areas from our pro bono coordinator. You may volunteer to take a case in any area in which you have been trained. Trainings are offered regularly throughout the year and we also have videos available online. Once you have accepted a case you will receive basic information about the case, including contact information for the family.

Expulsion Panel

The expulsion panel offers much needed representation for students who are facing expulsion from school. After meeting with the student and investigating the case, volunteer attorneys represent students at a hearing in front of a school administrative panel. Attorneys ensure that the student’s voice is heard. Very often having an attorney involved means that the student is not expelled and is able to continue with his or her education.

Guardianship Panel

Unfortunately there are many situations in which a child or young person cannot live with his/her parents. A legal guardianship allows the minor to stay with a relative or another adult and gives that relationship legal protection. Guardianships can offer a great deal of stability for the minor. Volunteer attorneys represent minors in petitioning the Probate Court for a legal guardianship. The process includes meeting with the child and caregiver, preparing legal documents and appearing at court hearings.

L

Katie Fleet, Pro Bono [email protected] • 415-863-3762 x320

1254 Market Street, 3rd FloorSan Francisco, CA 94102

415-863-3762 www.lsc-sf.org

CONTACT

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Legal Services for Children (continued)

Immigration Panel

Undocumented youth, who have been the victims of abuse, neglect or abandonment are eligible for a special visa that will allow them to obtain their legal residency and remain in the United States rather than return to their home country where they may have no safe place to live. Volunteer attorneys assist these youth in applying for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status by meeting with the young person, preparing the application and accompanying the young person to an interview with the Department of Homeland Security.

LEGAL SERVICES FOR PRISONERS WITH CHILDREN (LSPC)LSPC organizes communities impacted by the criminal justice system and advocates to release incarcerated people, to restore human and civil rights and to reunify families and communities. We build public awareness of structural racism in policing, the courts and prison system and we advance racial and gender justice in all our work. Our strategies include legal support, trainings, advocacy, public education, grassroots mobilization and developing community partnerships.

LSPC seeks volunteer attorneys for writing editorials, commenting on proposed changes in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation regulations, preparing amicus briefs, doing research, and following up on shackling violations of pregnant women prisoners. Our All of Us or None project offers lawyers the opportunity to assist formerly incarcerated people in dismissing certain convictions from their criminal records so that they can find gainful employment. LSPC also organizes legal trainings for state legal services agencies, law firms and individual advocates regarding medical, human rights, family, and prison law. Training: Yes. Malpractice insurance: No. Type of work: Varies by project. Time commitment: Varies by project. Applicable areas of law: Children/Family, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, Domestic Violence, Criminal, Health, Human Rights

[email protected]

1540 Market Street, Suite 490San Francisco, CA 94102

415-255-7036www.prisonerswithchildren.org

CONTACT

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NNATIONAL HOUSING LAW PROJECT (NHLP)The National Housing Law Project (NHLP) was established in 1968 to serve as a resource and back-up center for the newly-established cadre of legal services organizations charged with providing representation to low-income households. For over 40 years, NHLP has stood as a steadfast ally to those who are among our country’s most impoverished people, the residents of the federally assisted housing programs. NHLP partners with legal services attorneys and housing advocates in local communities to work for increases in the supply of safe, decent, and affordable housing and for improvements to housing conditions for low-income people. We further support these efforts through our public policy advocacy, providing advice and education to the nation’s key state and federal legislators who strive to establish constructive and responsive housing policies. As an outcome of its work, NHLP has saved millions of homes for those who are in the greatest need of affordable housing: low-income elderly and disabled people and poor families with children. As historic leaders in the fight for housing justice, NHLP’s senior attorneys, who collectively hold over 135 years of experience in federal housing law, have played pivotal roles in landmark legal proceedings that have established many fundamental rights and protections afforded to low-income tenants and homeowners alike.

Training: NHLP’s attorneys are well recognized as national experts on the laws related to the federally assisted housing programs and other issues that frequently intersect with residency in federally assisted housing. These attorneys regularly provide a comprehensive curriculum of training to all of our new volunteer attorneys, fellows, and student interns.

Malpractice insurance: NHLP carries malpractice insurance for its professional staff and volunteer attorneys are covered under that policy.

Type of work: Volunteers will work on a variety of discrete assignments, many involving legal research and writing. Recent significant work projects by our volunteers have included writing amicus curiae briefs; drafting testimony for Congressional hearings; submitting comments on proposed regulations; researching the impact of proposed housing legislation and regulations; drafting amendments to federal housing legislation; summarizing briefs in preparation for oral arguments; providing research assistance in drafting pleadings and motions; drafting portions of advocacy guides used by housing advocates across the country; and researching and writing articles for NHLP’s monthly Housing Law Bulletin.

Time commitment: The time commitment is flexible and, although we prefer volunteers who can commit 15 hours per week, NHLP is generally able to accommodate the needs of volunteers.

Requirements: Volunteers may choose between working at NHLP’s San Francisco office or working from home. We would prefer applicants who can commit a minimum of 15 hours per week. Office hours are weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Applicable areas of law: Public Policy, Constitutional, Poverty, Landlord/Tenant, Domestic Violence

Pro bono opportunities for: NHLP seeks part-time volunteer attorneys and law graduates and welcomes applications from deferred associates. Ideal candidates must possess high-caliber research and writing skills.

CLE credit: CLE credits are not available for pro bono services; if, during the volunteer’s tenure, NHLP provides a training that offers CLE credits, we will make that training opportunity and the accompanying credit available to our volunteers.

Deborah Thorpe, Staff [email protected] • 415-546-7000 x3124

703 Market Street, Suite 2000San Francisco, CA 94103

415-546-7000www.nhlp.org

CONTACT

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ONEJUSTICE

OneJustice is a statewide nonprofit that helps low-income Californians access free legal help.

Training: Training is offered to volunteer attorneys.

Malpractice insurance: OneJustice provides malpractice insurance for volunteer attorneys.

Time commitment: Advisory Board membership requires participation in four–to-five in-person meetings in San Francisco over the course of each year. The Justice Bus Project requires that attorneys participate in an eight-to-ten hour trip to provide legal assistance to rural and isolated Californians. The OneJustice Summer program requires approximately 30-40 hours of volunteer work over the course of the summer for summer associates providing research assistance and about eight hours of time (in one day) to participate in a Justice Bus trip.

Applicable areas of law: All

Advisory Board (AB)

OneJustice’s Advisory Board consists of enthusiastic attorneys, most of whom work at California’s largest law firms. This committee sup-ports OneJustice’s efforts to raise awareness of our organization and mission, develop pro bono connections in our community, and provide guidance on fundraising.

Justice Bus Project

The Justice Bus Project connects pro bono attorneys to rural and isolated communities that need their help. Law firms and corporate in-house counsel departments partner with OneJustice to travel to isolated regions of California, where volunteer attorneys provide a variety of types of legal assistance (based on specific community needs) to local residents. OneJustice coordinates all elements of Justice Bus trips including volunteer attorney training and all logistical planning (e.g., travel, clinic administration, meals).

Policy Advocacy

LAAC promotes the passage of laws that help legal services nonprofits and occasionally partners with pro bono attorneys in those efforts.

OneJustice Summer

OneJustice partners with California law firms to engage their summer associates in pro bono work. Law firms can involve their summer associates in one or both of the following programs: (1) Public Interest Legal Research Projects: OneJustice places important public interest legal research projects with summer associates; and (2)Summer Justice Bus trips: OneJustice takes summer associate classes on Justice Bus trips to help rural and isolated communities.

433 California Street, Suite 815San Francisco, California, 94104

415-834-0100www.one-justice.org

CONTACT

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PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FOUNDATION (PWDF)People with Disabilities Foundation (PWDF) is a nonprofit organization which focuses on people with mental and/or developmental disabilities. The advocacy program unit provides representation in Social Security matters and consultations in related issues (such as work incentive rules). On occasion, we also provide consultations and representation on employment issues under the Americans With Disabilities Act, in addition to pursuing impact litigation against entities to provide systematic relief from discrimination.

Training: Provided as necessary.

Malpractice insurance: PWDF carries legal malpractice insurance that covers volunteer attorneys.

Type of work: Volunteers (must be licensed attorneys) can work in different capacities depending on their expertise, interest, availability, and PWDF’s needs.

Time commitment: Varies based on mutual agreement between volunteer and PWDF.

Requirements: Please email resume, writing sample, and letter of interest stating which areas of PWDF’s programs you are interested in, hours of availability, and period of commitment to [email protected].

Applicable areas of law: Disability, Public Benefits, Labor/Employment, SSI/SSDI Advocacy

PRO BONO PROJECT The Pro Bono Project provides quality, caring representation to clients with limited means. Our volunteer attorneys make the courts and the protection of the laws accessible to the most vulnerable members of our community.

Training: The Pro Bono Project provides 9-12 live training events annually in substantive areas of law, in-office shadowing, and also provides mentor attorneys for volunteers.

Malpractice insurance: The Pro Bono Project carries malpractice insurance for all attorneys working in its clinics or taking cases through the project.

Type of work: We need help with all the tasks of a legal office. We need in-office intake, supervision, and mentoring. We need help representing clients in limited scope in housing, domestic violence, family and consumer cases. We need attorneys willing to provide legal advice at our “Lawyers in the Library” clinics and landlord/tenant clinics.

Time commitment: The time commitment depends upon the task undertaken. Clinics could take an hour of time. A complex case could take many hours. The Pro Bono Project attempts to find volunteer opportunities that fit each attorney’s needs and time availability.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Evenings, Flexible, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Requirements: Training is provided.

Applicable areas of law: Debt/Credit/Bankruptcy, Housing, Family/Children, Prisoners, Homeless

Pro bono opportunities for: Lawyers, Mentors, Paralegals and Law Students (full-time summer and part-time opportunities)

CLE credit: Available for training. The Pro Bono Project is an accredited CLE Provider.

P

Steven [email protected] • 415-931-3070

507 Polk Street, Suite 430San Francisco, CA 94102

www.pwdf.org

CONTACT

480 North First Street, Suite 219San Jose, CA 95112

408-998-5298 www.probonoproject.org

CONTACT

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PUBLIC ADVOCATES INC.Public Advocates Inc. is a civil rights law firm and advocacy organization that challenges the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination by strengthening community voices in public policy and achieving tangible legal victories advancing education, housing and transit equity. Public Advocates spurs change through collaboration with grassroots groups representing low income communities, people of color and immigrants, combined with strategic policy reform, media advocacy and litigation, “making rights real” across California since 1971. We involve volunteer attorneys in a wide range of our work -- each project is different in subject, scope and skills.

Training: Training and support is provided on a project-by-project basis.

Malpractice insurance: Public Advocates expects volunteer attorneys to be covered under their own policies.

Type of work: Pro bono opportunities are available for volunteers in the full range of our work, depending on attorneys’ interests and skills. Opportunities at any given time may include:

• Legislative and administrative research and policy analysis; • Development of materials and training for community education projects;• Civil rights impact litigation from development through discovery, trial and appeal (focused or comprehensive roles); and• Exploration and fact-finding regarding prospective projects.

See http://publicadvocates.org/pro-bono for examples of specific projects

Type of work (non-legal): We are also eager to hear from people interested in building Public Advocates’ community and outreach or supporting our work through administrative pro bono and committee service. Areas for involvement include: Community outreach and training; social networking; communications (writing blogs, Twitter, Facebook and other social media posts, graphic design, video); events (annual dinner, house parties); and law firm administration (library, records management, insurance).

Time commitment: Varies by project

Requirements: Varies by project

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Flexible

Applicable areas of law: K-12 Education, Higher Education, Housing, Community Development, Public Transportation, the intersection between climate change laws and social justice

Pro bono opportunities for: Lawyers, Senior Lawyers, Non-litigation Projects and Law Students (full-time summer and part-time opportunities)

CLE credit: No.

Princess Masilungan, Legal Administrative Coordinator415-431-7431 • [email protected]

131 Steuart Street, Suite 300San Francisco, CA 94105www.publicadvocates.org

CONTACT

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SAN FRANCISCO TENANTS UNION (SFTU)

Since 1971, the San Francisco Tenants Union (SFTU) has been fighting for the rights of tenants and for the preservation of affordable housing in San Francisco. From the struggle for rent control in the 1970s to 2008’s Proposition M (to end tenant harassment by landlords), the Tenants Union has been the city’s leading advocate for tenants. SFTU is 100% membership supported and this enables our advocacy to be uncompromising and immune to pressures from government or other funders.

Training: Training to be a tenant rights counselor involves observation shifts and workshops and is absolutely necessary to work with our organization.

Malpractice insurance: No we do not have malpractice insurance but volunteers do not practice law with our organization. They are informing tenants of their rights under the law and presenting an array of options, empowering tenants to act on their own behalf.

Type of work: Tenant counseling.

Time commitment: The time commitment is relatively low, usually about 2 - 4 hours per week. But volunteering to work with our organization is a long-term commitment. Volunteer Tenant Rights Counselors are the mainstay of the Tenants Union. The increased demand on our services caused by this continuing housing crisis means we need more and more counselors. We especially need those who can work day or weekend shifts.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Flexible.

Requirements: There are no requirements for being a counselor besides a commitment to tenant rights and affordable housing. Background in landlord/tenant law is helpful but not required.

Applicable areas of law: Foreclosures, Housing, Tenant’s Rights

Pro bono opportunities for: Lawyers, Paralegals and Law Students (part-time)

CLE credit: No.

SOUTH ASIAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA (SABA-NC) PRO BONO COMMITTEESince 2003, The SABA-NC Pro Bono Committee has focused on providing free legal services to the community while also providing an opportunity for every attorney and law student, no matter how busy or resource constrained, to volunteer at various time commitment levels.

SABA-NC delivers legal services in three major ways:

1. Free legal clinics: Volunteer attorneys provide free advice and counsel to individuals seeking legal assistance without any income, community or other barrier.

The free legal clinics are held at three locations: • 2nd and 4th Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the India Community Center, Milpitas • 1st Saturday, 10-12 at the Columbia Neighborhood Center, Sunnyvale

2. “Know Your Rights” free legal seminars: Periodic free legal seminars to educate the public about various legal topics such as citizenship, employment, estate planning, elder care issues, health care laws, foreclosure and legal issues relating to teens (check website for schedule);

S

Volunteer [email protected] • 415-282-6543

558 Capp Street, San Francisco, CA 94110415-282-6622www.sftu.org

CONTACT

CONTACT

[email protected]

P.O. Box 2733San Francisco, CA 94126

www.southasianbar.org/about/committees/pro-bono-committee

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SABA-NC Pro Bono Committee (continued)

3. Legal articles: Periodic legal articles published in a regional South Asian newspaper to provide general information to a broad based audience on various legal topics

Volunteer Training: SABA-NC offers periodic MCLE and non-MCLE training to its volunteer attorneys through its own programs and through its partnerships with community groups and bar associations. SABA-NC also provides orientation materials and reference materials for its pro bono legal clinic volunteers.

Malpractice insurance: Malpractice insurance offered to lawyers and legal professionals who volunteer at the SABA-NC legal clinics.

Requirements: Our clinic attorney volunteers must be California Bar licensed or licensed as immigration attorneys, Unlicensed attorneys, paralegals, law students and other legal professionals are also needed to assist with intake and follow up activities as needed at the legal clinics. There are also opportunities to volunteer to provide other assistance for the SABA-NC Pro Bono Program and other projects and initiatives. Check www.southasianbar.org/committees/pro-bono-committee/volunteer-opportunities.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Weekends 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. per legal clinic schedule posted at www.southasianbar.org/committees/pro-bono-committee.

Applicable areas of law: Various including Consumer, Debt/Credit/Bankruptcy, Education, Employment, Family & Juvenile, Foreclosures, Health, Elder Care, Immigration

Pro bono and other volunteer opportunities for: Licensed attorneys, legal professionals and law students.

Check www.southasianbar.org/committees/pro-bono-committee/volunteer-opportunities

TAX-AID

Tax-Aid, a 501(c)(3) public charity, was founded in 1988 by a coalition of Bay Area accountants and lawyers with the mission of assisting, without charge, low income taxpayers in connection with the preparation of their tax returns.

The catalyst for the founding of Tax-Aid was the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Tax-Aid’s founders recognized that low-income families who could suddenly benefit from filing their tax returns to receive a refund had a significant barrier. Because of the complexities of filing a tax return, they were unlikely to file unless the service of tax preparation was offered to them at no cost. To ensure that these families received the refunds they earned, the founders recruited their colleagues to volunteer their time to prepare tax returns and built an organization rooted in skills-based volunteering.

Training: All volunteers must attend a mandatory two hour training session in January.

Malpractice Insurance: No insurance is carried because volunteers are not practicing law, they are helping Tax-Aid prepare tax returns working with tax professionals.

Type of work: Volunteers do everything from client intake, to organizing documents, to preparing and analyzing tax returns

Time commitment: Tax-Aid volunteers donate eight hours or more of their time during tax season (Jan-April).

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Flexible, each tax assistance clinic lasts about four hours

Requirements: Must attend training

Applicable areas of law: Tax

CLE credit: No

Minnie Sage, Senior Program [email protected] • 415-963- 5133

55 Second Street, Suite 1400San Francisco, CA 94105

www.tax-aid.org

CONTACT

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VOLUNTEER LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION (VLSC) ofAlameda County Bar Association (ACBA)

Volunteer Legal Services Corporation (VLSC) provides free direct legal assistance to Alameda County’s low-income population by mobilizing volunteer attorneys to provide pro bono service.

Training: VLSC provides training materials and holds live trainings in substantive areas of law throughout the year. Go to www.acbanet.org for the most up to date training schedule. Additionally, VLSC mentor attorneys provide technical assistance and other support for volunteers.

Malpractice insurance: VLSC provides malpractice insurance for volunteer attorneys working on VLSC cases and while volunteering at a VLSC clinic.

Type of work: VLSC provides legal assistance in two ways: (1) through placement of clients with volunteer attorneys from our pro bono panels and (2) through pro per clinics where clients learn how to represent themselves.

VLSC’s substantive practice areas include:

Time commitment: There is no time commitment; however, we do ask that once you make a commitment such as volunteering at a clinic or taking on a pro bono case, you honor the commitment by following through with the clinic or case.

Requirements: Attorney volunteers must be members in good standing of the California State Bar. Volunteers who do not participate in a VLSC training must have requisite experience in the substantive area of law before taking on a pro bono case. VLSC staff will work with volunteers on a case by case basis to determine eligibility to participate in a clinic and/or take a pro bono case.

Hours for pro bono opportunities: Flexible, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Evenings.

Applicable areas of law: Family/Children, Bankruptcy, Consumer, Immigration, Landlord/Tenant, Domestic Violence, Wills & Trusts

Pro bono opportunities for: Lawyers

CLE credit: Yes, for attendance at Trainings

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Elizabeth Hom, Managing [email protected] • 510-302-2216

100 Broadway, Suite 480Oakland, CA 94607

www.acbanet.org

CONTACT

• Adoption• Bankruptcy• Domestic Violence Restraining Orders• Family Law• Guardianship

• Immigration• Nonprofit Corporations• Unlawful Detainer Assistance for Low-Income Landlords•Wills and Trusts

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WOMEN’S EARTH ALLIANCEWomen’s Earth Alliance (WEA) partners with community-based organizations globally to uplift local solutions to issues of water, food, land, and climate change by providing women with trainings, resources, and advocacy support. WEA’s North America Program links our Advocacy Network of pro bono legal, policy and business advocates nationwide with Indigenous women leading grassroots environmental justice campaigns to safeguard against the continual and systematic targeting of sacred lands for oil and coal extraction, dirty energy development, and hazardous waste dumping. Through these innovative partnerships, our network members and allies collaborate to protect sacred sites, promote energy justice, and ensure environmental health on Indigenous lands.

Training: We have a resource database and sample materials available upon request.

Malpractice insurance: Women’s Earth Alliance does not carry malpractice insurance for volunteer attorneys.

Type of work: Pro bono legal and policy advocacy support for women-led Indigenous environmental justice campaigns throughout North America, including litigation, regulatory advocacy, policy analysis, organizational development, and related research and advocacy strategy development.

Time commitment: Volunteers are asked to commit to one project – this can range from 10 hours to several months/years, as the nature of projects varies from short research tasks to full-scale litigation or regulatory advocacy.

Requirements: Experience in environmental law or Federal Indian law is helpful, but not required.

Hours of pro bono opportunities: Flexible

Applicable areas of law: Environmental, Human Rights, Indian Law, Public Policy, Transactional, Business, Poverty/Civil Rights

CLE credit: Available for trainings hosted by Women’s Earth Alliance.

Kahea Pacheco, Advocacy Network [email protected] • 510-859-9106

2150 Allston Way, Suite 460, Berkeley, CA 94704510-859-9110

www.womensearthalliance.org

CONTACT

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The Pro Bono and Community Service Committee of the Barristers Club