Volunteer Lawyers Program
Join VLP
Join The Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP) as an attorney, to provide pro bono representation, brief advocacy, legal advice or education to clients. We also need attorneys to present CLE trainings, mentor and support other volunteers and staff and write monthly VLP Maricopa Lawyer articles.
VLP has many opportunities for attorneys. We also try to provide meaningful volunteer work for paraprofessionals, paralegals and law school graduates.
Attorneys are asked to complete the Attorney Enrollment form.
Law school graduates and others with law-related skills are asked to complete the Volunteer Application form.
If you are unable to access the application, please email infovlp@clsaz.org.
Pro Bono Services
Volunteer lawyers help Community Legal Services do more to obtain fair treatment and justice for Arizonans.
Arizona licensed attorneys provide free legal advice, brief help, extended service and direct representation to supplement what CLS staff can do.
- Arrange volunteer lawyers to represent grandparents and others who care for children and need to become guardians or adopt.
- Assist children and the Family Court by serving as Court Appointed Advisors at the request of the Court.
- Provide legal advice about juvenile law issues through phone clinics arranged with the Juvenile Court in Phoenix and CLS.
Arrange experienced family law attorneys who provide legal advice and brief help to people who cannot afford to hire an attorney and have family law issues such as divorce, child support, legal decision-making about children and parenting time.
VLP is one of the sponsors of this service that arranges experienced probate attorneys who provide legal advice or brief help on probate issues.
Arrange volunteer lawyers to advise and provide transactional (not litigation) help to nonprofit groups that serve children or individuals with limited income.
Provide experienced federal court litigators who volunteer at the District Court in Phoenix to advise people who are representing themselves in civil cases in the District Court.
Volunteer Lawyers Program Opportunities
VLP offers many rewarding ways private lawyers can volunteer.
VLP recruits, trains, coordinates, and supports volunteer lawyers to assist children, families, and adults who have civil (not criminal) legal issues and cannot afford legal help.
Opportunities For Attorneys Licensed to Practice in AZ
- Conduct interviews to evaluate matters for legal merit.
- Provide advice in-person or by phone.
- Assist consumers who have been treated unfairly or defrauded.
- Advise on debt issues or bankruptcy.
- Provide Direct representation for bankruptcy cases.
- Advise tenants about their rights and how to resolve issues with private landlords.
- Help homeowners with issues about home repairs, deeds, and homeowner associations.
- Help families become guardians for adult family members with disabilities who cannot make their own decisions.
- Represent grandparents or others seeking minor guardianship or adoption in order to care for their grandchildren/other.
- Provide family law advice to people representing themselves.
- Provide representation for victims of domestic violence needing Family Court action to protect themselves and their children.
- Represent people with low incomes who need help to present their defense and protect themselves from unjust and unfair claims.
- Serve as a consultant or mentor to assist a volunteer attorney with less experience in an area of law.
- Present continuing legal education training.
- Write or contribute to a monthly Maricopa Lawyer VLP article.
- Provide transactional help to a nonprofit organization.
- Educate the public.
Opportunities for Law School Graduates and others with Law-related skills
Law graduates assist licensed attorneys to allow more people to receive help.
Interpreters help VLP provide language access.
Private investigators assist volunteer attorneys representing clients.
Process servers help volunteer attorneys and reduce costs for clients with limited resources.
Volunteers and law students conduct legal research to support staff and volunteer attorneys.
Rewards and Benefits of Volunteering through VLP
Community Legal Services screens for eligibility so you know clients have financial need
Volunteer attorneys interview and evaluate requests for legal merit before they are referred so you know it is likely you can make a difference
Community Legal Services provides primary malpractice coverage for all volunteer attorneys
Experienced volunteer attorneys will assist as mentors or consultants
CLS’ Volunteer Lawyers Program can provide verification of pro bono hours so you can claim self-study CLE credits up to 5 per year for 25 hours of service
There are many different ways you can volunteer, including many that require only brief time commitments
VLP provides free continuing legal education training
CLS’ VLP provides recognition through publications and awards
It is rewarding to make a difference!