Guest Blog by Alison Barjaktarovich: Volunteer Organizations for Attorneys
From Alison Barjaktarovich:
5 Great Volunteer Organizations for Attorneys
The American Bar Association (ABA) recommends that all licensed attorneys partake in 50 hours of “pro bono” (volunteer) work each year, and many state bar associations require their members to complete additional pro bono hours. There are an infinite number of ways in which attorneys can log these hours, from performing research for a local legal aid office to drafting wills for public service employees at weekend clinics. Below are 5 great organizations that offer nationwide volunteer opportunities for lawyers.
National Center for Refugee & Immigrant Children (NCRIC)
The NCRIC recruits attorney volunteers of all experience levels and backgrounds to represent children – who are often seeking protection from situations including abuse, neglect or trafficking – in legal proceedings before the U.S. Department of Justice’s Immigrant Court or in their state’s juvenile court. Extensive training and support is provided to all volunteers. In addition to child representatives, the NCRIC also recruits attorneys who are willing to act as mentors to other lawyers.
Although for all intents and purposes attorneys are required to partake in pro bono service, the sheer number of pro bono opportunities available should make it easy for lawyers to dedicate their time and talents to an organization that they have an interest in, and a cause they truly believe in.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Over 75,000 CASA volunteers in nearly 1,000 programs across the country act as court appointed “Guardians Ad LItem” to children within the foster care system. These screened and trained advocates are assigned to the case of a child (or sibling group) who have been removed from their home due to allegations of abuse or neglect. CASAs research and investigate the case and make recommendations to the court based on the best interest of the child (or children) involved. Although CASA volunteers aren’t required to be attorneys, lawyers may find the work particularly interesting and rewarding and their legal knowledge and skills to be extremely beneficial.
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA)
The Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts offer several opportunities for attorneys to use their skills to benefit the creative arts community. VLA runs workshops, panels, and other events designed to educate artists, art professionals, educators, and the general public of the legal issues relating to creative work. VLA also provides mediation services for art-related disputes through their MediateArt program.
National Organization of Veteran’s Advocates (NOVA) & Public Counsel’s Center for Veteran’s Advancement (CVA) Advocate Pro Bono Program
According to the NOVA, there are over 154,000 homeless veterans on our streets. These former servicemen and women often have trouble obtaining the veterans benefits to which they’re entitled, often causing them extreme hardship. This alliance of two veterans advocacy organizations aims to fight veteran homelessness through providing pro bono legal representation to veterans seeking benefits through the Veteran’s Administration (VA). Attorneys with previous experience in VA law are needed to advocate for veterans both at both VA agency level as well as in the United States Court of Appeals for veterans claims.
The Innocence Project/The Innocence Network
The Innocence Project’s website describes the organization as “a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.” Although The Innocence Project is based in New York City, a list of affiliated organizations across the U.S. is available on The Innocence Network’s website. In 2011, 21 innocent prisoners were exonerated due to the efforts of The Innocence Network’s member organizations, and these groups use attorney volunteers for various aspects of their work.
Bio: Alison Barjaktarovich is an experienced paralegal and writes for Criminal Justice Degree Schools, a career resource site providing a directory of schools that offer a paralegal degree and criminal justice career interviews.
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