PRO BONO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH

Pro Bono Volunteer Opportunities With

Legal Services of Northern Virginia

What is Legal Services of Northern Virginia? LSNV is the local legal aid program. It was established in 1980 by consolidating several existing local legal aid organizations into a regional service program. LSNV is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, now funded primarily by local governments in Northern Virginia, the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia, foundations and donations, and the Potomac Legal Aid Society. The mission of Legal Services of Northern Virginia is to provide legal services to low-income, elderly or disabled individuals, who, without legal assistance, face the loss or deprivation of a critical human need - food, shelter, medical care, income, family stability, or personal safety. LSNV seeks to provide equal access to the civil justice system for those residents of the City of Alexandria, the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William and the cities and towns adjacent to those counties, who are unable to afford private legal counsel. LSNV provides services in a variety of substantive civil legal areas, including: family law, housing law, elder law, public benefits claims, access to health care, child advocacy, employment and civil rights law, consumer law, AIDS/HIV issues and tax disputes. Staff and volunteers provide legal advice, brief service, and representation in administrative hearings and in court, as well as community legal education, and advocacy before local and state governmental entities, without charge to our clients. Pro bono volunteers are covered by LSNV’s malpractice insurance coverage.

Adoption

The Law Center for Children at LSNV needs pro bono attorneys with expertise in adoptions to assist with adoptions by low-income stepparents or other relatives. LSNV’s staff will screen the cases and refer those where there is consent by the biological parents or where the parents’ whereabouts are unknown and publication is needed.

Bankruptcy and Debtor’s Rights Laws

LSNV eligible applicants seeking help with debt problems are offered an opportunity to attend a monthly debtor’s rights clinic, at which they are given advice on a wide variety of topics, including the possibility of filing for bankruptcy. These clinics are presented by an experienced bankruptcy practitioner. The people who attend the clinic and believe they may have a need for bankruptcy relief are provided an opportunity for individual consultations with LSNV staff attorneys, to discuss matters not appropriate to address in a group setting and to explore whether they may need to file for bankruptcy relief. LSNV utilizes a screening process to determine when resort to bankruptcy court is necessary. This analysis focuses on whether there are alternatives that may be sufficient, and whether the timing of a filing is appropriate–to protect income or property. Those applicants for whom bankruptcy makes sense are given “homework” to complete. This “homework” is designed to assist the applicants to gather the required information and documentation for a final assessment. Applicants who appear to meet need criteria for bankruptcy are referred to members of a panel of private bankruptcy attorneys who have agreed to offer pro bono assistance. The pro bono volunteers make the final decision about need for bankruptcy relief. At present, the pro bono panel only offers help with Chapter 7 filings, not with Chapter 13 cases. Attorneys experienced in handling either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases are needed, to handle cases and to assist with training of volunteers. Currently, no training is offered.

Consumer Protection Law

Alexandria Housing and Consumer Clinic

Attorneys are needed on Mondays between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in LSNV’s Alexandria Office to meet with applicants with housing and consumer problems. The assistance may be limited to offering advice or brief service, or full representation, at the option of the volunteer. Training is provided, and a housing and consumer law attorney on LSNV’s staff is on site to provide mentoring.

Fairfax Consumer Clinic

Attorneys are needed to consult with applicants on alternate Wednesday mornings [either on the phone or in LSNV's Fairfax Office]. The assistance may be limited to offering advice or brief service, or full representation, at the option of the volunteer. Training is provided, and a consumer law attorney on LSNV’s staff is on site to provide mentoring. This project is co-sponsored by the Fairfax Bar Pro Bono Program.

Fairfax County Court Outreach

LSNV has a court outreach office at the Fairfax County Courthouse, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. The outreach office is at Room 203, and is open from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Monday through Friday. On Monday through Thursday LSNV provides legal assistance to walk-ins primarily in consumer matters. On Friday LSNV provides assistance on housing matters. We need volunteers to assist us in staffing this office.

Consumer Protection Cases

Attorneys are needed to provide representation to LSNV applicants with Consumer Protection cases, when LSNV staff is unable to represent. Training and mentoring are available.

Employment Law

Fairfax Employment Clinic

Attorneys are needed on Thursday afternoons [either on the phone or in LSNV's Fairfax Office] to advise applicants with employment problems. The volunteers are not committed to provide more than counsel or brief service, although representation–when warranted–is encouraged. Only the consultation is pro bono; if a merited fee-generating case is identified, the volunteers are encouraged to offer assistance if they choose to, on a compensated basis. Merited, non fee-generating cases are referred to staff, are co-counseled with staff or may be handled on a pro bono basis. Training is provided, and a staff attorney is on site to provide mentoring and to accept referrals for staff representation. This project is co-sponsored by the Fairfax Bar Pro Bono Program.

Employment Law Initial Interview Pilot Program of Legal Services of Northern Virginia and Troutman Sanders LLP

Since the summer of 2006, volunteers from the law firm of Troutman Sanders LLP have conducted initial interviews of those scheduled for the Fairfax Employment Clinic. Within minutes after being scheduled for the clinic, the applicant will contact the Troutman Sanders receptionist, to be interviewed. Frequently, a volunteer will be able to conduct the initial interview right away, eliminating the “phone tag” problem. Son thereafter, the Troutman Sanders volunteer will email LSNV a memorandum of the interview. The text of that memorandum will be cut and pasted into the applicant’s file, to be reviewed by the attorney who will then provide legal advice to the applicant. Prior to the time the Troutman Sanders program was implemented, I discussed with VSB Ethics Counsel Jim McCauley to determine that Rule 6.5, which exempts hotline activities from conflicts checks or subsequent bars for representing the original applicant, would apply to this program. Jim advised me that even a call back multiple times during the same day or within the next business day need not do a conflicts check. Notwithstanding that protection, I believe that the Troutman Sanders receptionist does a quick check on the adverse party before soliciting interest from one of the attorneys or paralegals to do the initial interview. One of the beauties of the Troutman Sanders Pilot Program is that the Troutman Sanders receptionist does the job of handling the incoming calls from the applicants and the linking the applicants up with the interviewer. LSNV simply does not have the staff resources to handle that aspect of the program.

Employment Cases

Attorneys are needed to conduct screening interviews for LSNV applicants who have employment law problems in Washington, D.C. or who live in the City of Alexandria, and the counties of Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William. Attorneys who are willing to provide representation on either a compensated or pro bono basis (depending upon the matter) are also needed to consider/review referral of screened, potentially merited legal problems that have been identified by staff and pro bono volunteers. LSNV staff does not generally offer representation with legally-merited fee-generating cases, unless private counsel is unavailable for reasons other than insufficient merit. All types of employment cases (except worker’s compensation claims) are handled by staff, as are some employment-related issues (expungement of criminal records, assistance with identity theft, restoration of driving privileges, etc.). Training and training materials are provided.

Family Law

Civil Protection Orders for Victims of Domestic Violence

Attorneys are needed to represent low-income victims of domestic violence at hearings before Northern Virginia Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts. These cases usually will have been scheduled for a date and time certain before the applicant comes to LSNV seeking assistance. A minimal time commitment is involved, usually including one brief court appearance. Training and mentoring are available. Attorneys new to the process would shadow an experienced attorney prior to being asked to handle a case alone. Advance notice before the court date is often quite limited.

DV attorney of the day in Fairfax JDR Court

LSNV has launched a new domestic violence project in Fairfax County which would provide an unparalleled litigation opportunity for a good cause, while involving a finite time commitment. The way the project works is that the lawyer commits to be the lawyer of the day representing victims of violence on a set day for protective orders. Then, when cases are assigned for that day (two weeks in advance), the lawyer will have two weeks to work up the cases and will try them on the assigned day. LSNV is offering a CLE for lawyers interested in participating in this project.

Contested Child Custody or Visitation, Child Support, and Divorce Cases

LSNV’s limited funding means that LSNV staff can meet only a fraction of the needs of applicants for representation in contested child custody, visitation, child support, and divorce cases. LSNV is always interested in experienced attorneys willing to volunteer to accept pro bono cases in contested child custody, visitation and/or contested divorce cases. LSNV is committed to evaluate applicants seeking pro bono representation in contested child custody or visitation cases and/or contested divorce cases, to select those applicants whose cases are most meritorious.

Hotline Phone Consultations for Family Issues

Attorneys are needed to perform telephone consultations on non-emergency family law issues on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The attorneys may make the calls from their office/home or from the LSNV Falls Church Office.

This project is co-sponsored by a student group at GMU School of Law called the "VBA Pro Bono Society". Initiated as a pilot project in the spring of 2007, LSNV and the VBA Pro Bono Society have now partnered with LSNV in what is proving to be a very successful initiative.

25 volunteer GMU Law students have signed up for 1 hour slots in which to conduct preliminary interviews and write 1-2 page summaries for the hotline attorney's review prior to the consultations. The students are making five calls a day, noon - 5pm, Monday - Friday.

Applicants who are distressed, long winded, or have problems in clearly expressing their situations are given an ample opportunity to vent their frustrations thereby freeing up the hotline attorney to focus on the legal issues and possible solutions to their problems.

Uncontested Divorces

Attorneys are needed to file Uncontested Divorce cases on behalf of low-income applicants. These cases have been pre-screened to ensure that all potentially contested issues, such as custody, support and property disputes have been resolved before being referred to an attorney. These cases can be completed on the attorney's own time, as fits their schedule. A minimal time commitment is involved, usually including one brief court appearance. Training and forms are available.

Alexandria Uncontested Divorce Clinic

Paralegals are needed in LSNV’s Alexandria Office on Saturday mornings of alternate months to interview applicants for participation in LSNV’s Pro Bono Uncontested Divorce Project, including reviewing the information and documents the applicants are to provide. Training is provided, and new participants will shadow an experienced paralegal before being asked to interview an applicant alone. This project is co-sponsored by the Alexandria Bar Association.

Fairfax Uncontested Divorce Clinic

Paralegals are needed in LSNV’s Fairfax Office on the fourth Saturday mornings of most months to interview applicants for participation in LSNV’s Pro Bono Uncontested Divorce Project, including reviewing the information and documents the applicants are to provide. Training is provided, and new participants will shadow an experienced paralegal before being asked to interview an applicant alone. This project is co-sponsored by the Fairfax Bar Pro Bono Program and National Capital Area Paralegals Association (NCAPA).

Prince William Uncontested Divorce Clinic

Paralegals are needed monthly in LSNV’s Prince William Office to interview applicants for participation in LSNV’s Pro Bono Uncontested Divorce Project, including reviewing the information and documents the applicants are to provide. The clinics are generally held the third Monday of each month, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This project is co-sponsored by the Prince William County Bar Association and the Association of legal Professionals.

Housing Law

Alexandria Housing and Consumer Clinic

Fairfax County Court Outreach (See Consumer above)

Fairfax Housing Clinic

Attorneys are needed on Wednesday afternoons [either on the phone or in LSNV's Fairfax Office]. They deal with housing problems, including eviction, substandard housing concerns, landlord abuses, and government-sponsored housing assistance terminations. The assistance may be limited to offering advice or brief service, or full representation, at the option of the volunteer. Training is provided, and a housing law attorney on LSNV’s staff is on site to provide mentoring. This project is co-sponsored by the Fairfax Bar Pro Bono Program.

Landlord-Tenant Cases

Attorneys are needed to provide representation to LSNV applicants with Landlord-Tenant cases, who LSNV staff is unable to represent. Training and mentoring are available.

Immigration

In conjunction with the Arlington County Bar Association, LSNV is considering a pilot program of providing representation to applicants needing representation concerning immigration issues. Currently, no training is available.

Mediation/Arbitration

Attorneys and others with competence in mediation and arbitration are needed to assist LSNV applicants and their adverse parties attempt to mediate or arbitrate their disputes without the need to seek judicial resolution of their issues. Currently, no training is available.

Social Security Law

Attorneys are needed to provide representation to LSNV applicants with Social Security and SSI cases, who LSNV staff is unable to represent. Training and mentoring are available.

Will Project

Pro bono attorneys are assisting elderly and other LSNV clients with wills, advance medical directives, durable powers of attorney for health care [including advance medical directives] and other related documents.

CAIR Legal Clinic

The Council on American-Islamic Relations [CAIR] has partnered with LSNV as part of an outreach that will to provide assistance to poor members of the Muslim community who might feel more comfortable dealing with another Muslim [although non-Muslims are also welcome to participate]. One part of a program that has been developed by CAIR involves matching volunteer attorneys with participants in the CAIR program. Those who come to CAIR who need more than legal information can be tentatively scheduled for the CAIR Legal Clinic for a legal consultation with a CAIR volunteer attorney. The applicant for legal services would then be referred to LSNV, to be qualified as an LSNV client. Once qualified, the CAIR Legal Clinic would be informed of the applicant’s qualification as an LSNV client, with the CAIR Legal Clinic noted in the LSNV database as the pro bono attorney for that applicant. This procedure will provide the CAIR volunteer with malpractice coverage under LSNV’s malpractice policy.

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