find a lawyer who will take your case pro bono

by Esmeralda White 9 min read

One way to look for attorneys who work pro bono cases is to contact your state or county bar association. Associations represent lawyers and will know of counselors in your area that are currently waiving their fees to help lower-income individuals. If you make little money, you have a good chance of getting a pro bono lawyer.

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How can I obtain a pro bono attorney,?

Method 2 Method 2 of 3: Searching on Your Own

  1. Talk to family and friends. An attorney might be more willing to donate time to your case if you are related, or if you have close mutual friends.
  2. Ask your social worker for a recommendation. If you receive public benefits, your social worker may be able to give you names of local attorneys who volunteer their services.
  3. Look at attorney websites. ...

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How do I find pro bono civil rights attorney?

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Where can I find a pro bono immigration lawyer?

If you are not a current pro bono volunteer with one of the Host Organizations, please contact us about available pro bono opportunities if you would like to request access to the library:

  • Ayuda: Lauren Wert, lauren.wert@ayuda.com
  • Catholic Charities of DC – Immigration Legal Services: Jim Feroli, james.feroli@cc-dc.org
  • Whitman-Walker Health: Lee Hicks, lhicks@whitman-walker.org

How to obtain a pro bono attorney?

Pro Bono Service Providers

  • The Whitman-Walker Health Legal Services Program (WWH) Whitman-Walker Health provides free legal services to the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities in the D.C. ...
  • Northern Virginia Pro Bono Law Center. ...
  • Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) LSNV is a local legal aid program for individuals unable to afford private legal counsel. ...

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How to contact Pro Bono?

Paper applications should be submitted to: For additional inquiries, please contact the Pro Bono List Administrator by phone at: 703-756-8020 or by email at ProBono.List.Admin@usdoj.gov.

What is pro bono legal services?

Pro Bono legal services are “those uncompensated legal services performed for indigent aliens or the public good without any expectation of either direct or indirect remuneration, including referral fees (other than filing fees or photocopying and mailing expenses).” 8 C.F.R. § 1003.61 (a) (2). The List is not to be used by organizations or attorneys for the purpose of solicitation for paid legal services.

How many hours of pro bono legal services are required for immigration court?

The List is provided to individuals in immigration proceedings and contains information on non-profit organizations and attorneys who have committed to providing at least 50 hours per year of pro bono legal services before the immigration court location where they appear on the List. The List also contains information on pro bono referral services that refer individuals in immigration court proceedings to pro bono counsel.

Does EOIR endorse attorneys?

EOIR does not endorse any of these organizations, referral services, or attorneys. In addition, EOIR does not participate in, nor is it responsible for, the representation decisions or performance of these organizations, referral services, or attorneys. Federal Register (amended 8 C.F.R § 1003.61 et seq .)

How to find a pro bono lawyer?

To find a pro bono lawyer, you can visit the official American Bar Association map to look for a local pro bono lawyer near you. In 1974, Congress established Legal Service Corporation, which can also assist you in finding a legal firm at a local level. The corporation is committed to providing legal aid to 133 legal clinics across the United States.

Why do lawyers take pro bono cases?

Some pro bono lawyers take pro bono cases as an investment at a firm that provides them multiple opportunities to collaborate and practice with other experienced lawyers whom they might not be able to know otherwise. This opens the doors for future career opportunities and the experience that they may need to become a licensed attorney.

What is pro bono service?

Essentially, using a pro bono legal service is all about how to protect your rights without paying for the attorney’s fees. But there are limitations for the defendants that they have to qualify for the pro bono service.

What does "pro bono" mean?

It is taken from the Latin term, “pro bono publicia” which translates “for the public good ”. The main rationale behind the term is (but is not limited to) a free legal service that is offered by a lawyer to people who cannot afford it.

How to get legal help with civil law?

For legal queries related to civil laws, you can log in to the ABA Free Legal Assistance website. You can post your question and a qualified lawyer will review the query under the legal matter and inform you if you need additional legal help regarding your issue. You will be then contacted by a volunteer lawyer who can help you resolve your legal issues.

Do criminal trials have public defenders?

Because of the constitutional provisional requirements, defendants of the criminal trials are represented by the lawyers as public defenders. But, the lawyers will only be allotted to those defendants of the criminal trials who cannot pay for a private lawyer. These public defenders offer their services to indigent defenders only. The indigent clients must show that their income is less than 125% of the poverty level set by the federal government.

Do lawyers work for free?

Professional lawyers, as well as students, are often advised to work as pro bono lawyers and offer free legal assistance. They also get a certification of helping the general public that eventually increases their knowledge about the law. Serving the public free of cost, interviewing clients, writing briefs, going to court, and much more that is involved in a case trial, it becomes a great hands-on experience for naïve lawyers before they get their official license. It is a great way of gaining recognition in courts and being informed of what real life in the courtroom looks like.

What happens if a defendant cannot afford to retain private counsel?

If a defendant in federal court cannot afford to retain private counsel, which happens very frequently, the court will appoint an attorney either from the Federal Defender Office or from a Criminal Justice Act appointment panel. Appointed attorneys are paid by the court, and are not required to serve "pro bono." Believe me, you do not want to be represented in federal court (or anywhere else, for that matter) by an unpaid volunteer attorney who cannot afford to put in the enormous amount of time required to defend such a case adequately.

Do federal criminal cases need retained counsel?

Anyone facing a federal criminal case does need retained or appointed counsel to achieve the best outcome, so the question is a good one. However, few if any attorneys undertake federal criminal cases pro bono, as lawyers simply cannot afford to work for free and make a living. The good news is that the federal judiciary has established an indigent defense system, with local Offices of the Federal Public...

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