PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES
One of the best ways that our section members act as servant leaders in their communities is by volunteering to provide pro bono civil legal services to low-income individuals and families through the various volunteer lawyers programs in Alabama. (Criminal matters are not addressed by these organizations.) There is no minimum or maximum number of cases that a volunteer lawyer may take.
Volunteer Lawyer Programs
As the Alabama State Bar points out: “…volunteer attorneys gain excellent client and courtroom experience since they are fully in charge of their pro bono cases. For more seasoned attorneys, program participation provides an avenue for sharing expertise with newer members of the profession by serving as mentors or co-counsel to VLP attorneys. Most important of all, VLP attorneys gain great personal satisfaction from helping the less fortunate among us and from making a positive difference in their communities.”
In addition, a volunteer lawyer can earn three MCLE credits through his or her VLP organization. The Alabama’s MCLE Commission has approved one hour of MCLE credit for every six hours of pro bono work completed, for a maximum of three MCLE credit hours in a twelve-month period running from October 1 through September 30 of each year.
Locations
Birmingham:
Birmingham
Website: https://vlbham.org/
Executive Director: Nancy Yarbrough
Telephone: (205) 250-5198
Email: [email protected]
Madison County:
Huntsville, AL
Website: https://vlpmadisoncounty.com/
Executive Director: Nicole Schroer
Telephone: (256) 539-2275
Fax: (256) 533-1262
Email: [email protected]
Montgomery County:
Montgomery
Website: http://montgomeryvlp.org/
Executive Director: Laurel
Telephone: (334) 265-0222, ext. 2
Email:
South Alabama:
Mobile
Website: www.savlp.org
Executive Director: Ariana Moore
Telephone: (251) 438-1102
Toll-Free: (855) 99-SAVLP – (855) 997-2857
Fax: (251) 438-1982
Email: [email protected]
Statewide:
(serving 60 counties)
Website: https://www.alabar.org/programs/volunteer-lawyers-program/
Executive Director: Linda Lund
Telephone: (256) 690-1515
Email: [email protected]
Legal Services*
Website: www.legalservicesalabama.org
Telephone: (866) 456-4995
Fax: 334-241-8683
Email: [email protected]
Legal Services Alabama
The Alabama State Bar describes LSA as “ an independent, nonprofit organization that provides qualifying low-income families across all 67 counties of Alabama with free civil legal aid in a wide variety of areas. LSA operates from eight offices with one located in Anniston, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Selma and Tuscaloosa.” In some situations, LSA hires private lawyers to handle civil cases for LSA’s low-income clients.