A Guide to San Francisco Bay Area Volunteer Opportunities for Lawyers

Transcription

1 A Guide to San Francisco Bay Area Volunteer Opportunities for Lawyers The Pro Bono and Community Service Committee of the Barristers Club

2 For more information about the Pro Bono and Community Service Committee of the Barristers Club, contact Barristers Club Director Kallie Donahoe at

3 2015 PRO BONO RESOURCE GUIDE We created this Pro Bono Resource Guide to encourage young attorneys and their law firms to work with local charitable organizations and give back to the community we call home. Please contact a provider that matches your interests and find out how to get involved. CREATED BY The Pro Bono and Community Service Committee of the Barristers Club COMMITTEE CHAIR Lorin Kline WORKING COMMITTEE Sean Herman Lien Payne John-Paul Deol Paula Eisenburg Alison Cordova Ehren Halse Lorin Kline Michael Bland TABLE OF CONTENTS Top Five Reasons You Should Do Pro Bono Pages 1-2 Search for Pro Bono Opportunity by Organization/Project in Alphabetical Order Page 3-4 Search for Pro Bono Opportunities by Area of Practice Pages 5-12 Organization Descriptions Pages 14-47

4 TOP FIVE REASONS TO DO PRO BONO TOP FIVE REASONS TO DO PRO BONO 1. GIVE A VOICE TO THE UNREPRESENTED Pro bono service stabilizes the lives of low-income people, prevents homelessness, protects survivors of domestic violence, keeps families together and guards individuals limited income from unscrupulous debt collectors. With an ever-widening justice gap, economic inequality and limited public resources pro bono attorneys are a precious resource to low-income people attempting to navigate a complex legal system without representation. Each year in San Francisco over 800 households facing eviction have not secured representation four days before trial. In California 80% of litigants in family matters, including child custody cases, do not have counsel. Your pro bono service will provide access to justice for these low-income people whose basic human needs are at risk. 2. TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, AND OPPORTUNITY Pro bono service gives you valuable training and hands on experience in case strategy and management, client communications, negotiations, document drafting, discovery, and hearings. Pro bono projects, such as JDC s, offer training in procedures and substantive law, malpractice coverage, and mentoring by experienced staff attorneys or practitioners lending their expertise to pro bono attorneys. Handling your own pro bono case allows you the opportunity to manage all components of a case and gives you hands-on experience in discovery, law and motion, negotiation, drafting documents, and perhaps even a jury trial. 3. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: PRO BONO SERVICE IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS Pro bono service increases visibility and helps you build your business. Whether you re a solo practitioner or a law firm attorney, your pro bono service makes it known that you and your law practice are good community citizens and strong advocates. While the connections made doing pro bono work often result in business and 1

5 TOP FIVE REASONS TO DO PRO BONO client referrals. Established pro bono programs, including JDC, publically recognize exceptional volunteers through on-line and print media as well as nominations for local, state, and national pro bono awards. 4. PRO BONO SERVICE IS HIGHLY REGARDED BY JUDGES Judges appreciate that pro bono attorneys are needed for the courts to provide meaningful access to justice. Judges and court staff also recognize that pro bono attorneys save them time that they would have spent helping unrepresented litigants. Many state and federal judges publicly thank pro bono counsel in the courtroom and during pro bono appreciation events as well as grant preference on motion calendars or grant continuances when pro bono counsel enters a case. 5. MEET NEW AND INTERESTING PEOPLE Pro bono service is good for your well-being and helps build a sense of community with others. Pro bono service is legal yoga focused on helping others. As you develop and hone your legal skills you employ your education and talent helping others while meeting a new community of people you otherwise may not have occasion to meet. That community includes your clients, the attorneys and experts involved in the matter, and your co-workers. Working on pro bono projects together can be a team-building experience for colleagues and gives a connection with your community from giving back, and a chance to use your legal skills to truly change lives. 2

6 Organizations/projects - Alphabetical order AIDS Legal Referral Panel, Page 8 HIV/AIDS, Labor/Employment, General Civil, Poverty/Civil Rights, Family/Children, Landlord/Tenant, Transactional/Business, Government Benefits, Tax, Personal Injury Alameda County Homeless Action Center, Pages 8-9 Nonprofit Organizations, Disability, Homeless, Public Benefits Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus, Pages 9-11 Criminal Justice Reform, Landlord/Tenant, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Education, Immigration, Public Policy, Human Rights, Constitutional, Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach, Page 18 Domestic Violence, Immigration, Elder, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, General Civil Bay Area Legal Aid, Pages Government Benefits, Landlord/Tenant, Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Consumer, General Civil California Lawyers for the Arts, Page 20 AREAS OF LAW*: Primarily Art, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Entertainment, Transaction/Business, Intellectual Property, Immigration, Bankruptcy, Landlord/Tenant, Non-Profit, Patent, etc. *CLA can assist those in the creative arts community facing any type of legal issue. California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc., Pages Immigration, Poverty/Civil Rights, Elder, Disability, Family/Children Child Care Law Center, Page 21 Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, Public Policy Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, Pages Consumer Law, Housing, Immigration, Bankruptcy, Domestic Violence, Family/Children 3

7 Organizations/projects - Alphabetical order Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic, Pages Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, General Civil Disability Rights California, Page Disability, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, General Civil, Public Policy Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc., Page 24 General, Civil Rights, Consumer, Disability, Education, Health, Housing, Public Benefits Electronic Frontier Foundation, Page Arts, Public Policy, Intellectual Property, Privacy, Civil Rights, Constitutional, Civil Liberties Eviction Defense Collaborative, Pages Housing Housing and Economic Rights Advocates, Page 26 Consumer, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, Landlord/Tenant, Public Policy, Bankruptcy Justice & Diversity Center - The Bar Association of San Francisco, Pages Family/Children, Domestic Violence, Wills/Trusts/Estate Planning, Transactional/Business, Labor/Employment, Tax, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Non Profit Incorporation & Governance, Consumer, Bankruptcy, General Civil, Poverty/Civil Rights, Homeless, Government Benefits, Landlord/Tenant, Housing Rights, Eviction Defense, Public Benefits Advocacy (SSI, Medi-Cal, and Medicare), Consumer and Probate Matters La Casa De Las Madres, Page 31 Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Elder Law, General Civil La Raza Centro Legal, Pages Immigration, Senior Law, Worker s Rights 4

8 Organizations/projects - Alphabetical order Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Page 33 Public Policy, Criminal, Constitutional Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, Pages Immigration, Poverty/Civil Rights, Human Rights, General Civil, Transaction/Business, Intellectual Property, Labor/Employment, Real Estate, Criminal Records Remedies, Labor/Employment, Landlord/Tenant Legal Aid Association of California, Pages XX Varies Legal Aid of Marin, Page 35 Labor/Employment, Bankruptcy, General Civil, Wills/Trusts/Estate Planning Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center, Page 36 Landlord/Tenant Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, Pages Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, General Civil, Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Family, Probate, Landlord/Tenant Legal Services for Children, Pages Probate Guardianship, Education, Immigration Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, Page 39 Children/Family, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, Domestic Violence, Criminal, Health, Human Rights National Housing Law Project, Page 40 Public Policy, Constitutional, Poverty, Landlord/Tenant, Domestic Violence 5

9 Organizations/projects - Alphabetical order OneJustice, Page 41 All People with Disabilities Foundation, Page 42 Disability, Public Benefits, Labor/Employment, SSI/SSDI Advocacy Pro Bono Project, Page 42 Debt/Credit/Bankruptcy, Housing, Family/Children, Prisoners, Homeless Public Advocates Inc., Page 43 K-12 Education, Higher Education, Housing, Community Development, Public Transportation, The intersection between climate change laws and social justice San Francisco Tenants Union, Page 44 Foreclosures, Housing, Tenant s Rights South Asian Bar Association of Northern California - Pro Bono Committee, Pages Various including Consumer, Debt/Credit/Bankruptcy, Education, Employment, Family & Juvenile, Foreclosures, Health, Elder Care, Immigration Tax-Aid, Page 45 Tax Volunteer Legal Services Corporation of the Alameda County Bar Association, Page 46 Family/Children, Bankruptcy, Consumer, Immigration, Landlord/Tenant, Domestic Violence, Wills & Trusts Women s Earth Alliance, Page 47 6

10 7

11 AIDS LEGAL REFERRAL PANEL (ALRP) A AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP) is the only institution in the San Francisco Bay Area whose entire mission is dedicated to providing free and low-cost legal assistance and education on virtually any civil matter to persons living with HIV/AIDS. This is accomplished through either direct representation of clients by one of ALRP s nine attorneys or by careful placement of clients with one of ALRP s Panel attorneys. Training: There is no training requirement needed to join the Panel, but ALRP has several training programs/resources available to volunteer attorneys, including: Free MCLE trainings by and for ALRP volunteers in a wide variety of areas; Training manuals are available to Panel Attorneys, including the recently revised AIDS Law Manual and sample legal forms; and Experienced ALRP volunteer attorneys are available to serve as mentors to Panel attorneys. Alex Taylor, Volunteer Coordinator alext@alrp.org x Mission Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA Phone: Malpractice Insurance: ALRP carries malpractice insurance to cover all clients accepted through ALRP. Type of Work: ALRP needs volunteer attorneys in all areas of civil law to aid clients by means of consultation, representation or mentorship. In particular, ALRP is in need of volunteer attorneys with language skills in the areas of family law, housing, insurance, personal injury and tax. Time Commitment: ALRP asks that volunteer attorneys accept two referrals a year; the amount of time required will vary depending on the case. Requirements: Attorneys must be licensed by the State Bar of California. Applicable Areas of Law: HIV/AIDS, Labor/Employment, General Civil, Poverty/Civil Rights, Family/Children, Landlord/ Tenant, Transactional/Business, Government Benefits, Tax, Personal Injury ALAMEDA COUNTY HOMELESS ACTION CENTER (HAC) HAC s mission is to provide high quality legal representation using a clientcentered, harm reduction model, always respecting the dignity of the individual. HAC assists people in obtaining public benefits. Specifically, we help people who are living in poverty with disabilities to obtain public benefits. Most of our clients are mentally ill, and are either homeless or living in precarious situations on the brink of homelessness. Mary Gilg mgilg@homelessactioncenter.org x Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, California info@homelessactioncenter.org Training: Training is provided to and required of volunteer lawyers. CLE credit is provided for free for pro bono lawyers, for the one day-long training, with 5.75 total credits, including three hours of ethics. Lawyers will also be provided supervision in casework. Malpractice insurance: Malpractice insurance is offered to volunteer lawyers. Type of work: Our practice focuses on helping clients obtain Social Security Disability Benefits and/or Supplemental Security Income Alameda County Homeless Action Center (SSI). We represent clients from the beginning of the process, through hearing before an administrative law judge, and beyond that at the Appeals Council and sometimes the District Court. Volunteers would be asked to handle one or two SSI cases. This involves obtaining and submitting records, preparing a persuasive pre-hearing brief, and representing the client before an ALJ at an administrative hearing. At the hearing, advocates generally conduct a direct and redirect examination of the client, and a cross examination of a medical expert and a vocational expert. 8

12 Alameda County Homeless Action Center (HAC) continued Time commitment: Hours are flexible. Hearings are held between 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, but most work can be accomplished at anytime. Requirements: Volunteers must be comfortable working with clients with mental illness, and clients who are currently using drugs and alcohol. Volunteers must be willing to follow a harm reduction model. Volunteers must complete a training at HAC. Applicable areas of law: Nonprofit Organizations, Disability, Homeless, Public Benefits Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Lawyers and Law Students (full-time summer opportunities) Need for non-english speaking services: We occasionally need interpreters to assist our clients during medical and psychological examinations. ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE - ASIAN LAW CAUCUS Founded in 1972, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus defends and empowers the Asian Pacific American community through an integrated strategy of direct legal services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community building. Training: ALC has training programs for volunteer attorneys. Malpractice Insurance: ALC does carry malpractice insurance for volunteer attorneys while acting on behalf of the organization and within his/her role. Please complete a volunteer form online volunteer-opportunities Or, a completed application and resume to: apply@advancingjustice-alc.org Immigrant Rights Program The Immigrant Rights Program offers opportunities for attorneys to counsel people on immigration issues through our semi-monthly evening clinics; 2) directly represent individuals in an administrative deportation proceeding; and/or 3) assist with the Program s impact litigation. Type of Work: Our evening clinics take place on the first and third Tuesday of every month from 5:30pm until 7:30pm. At the clinics, attorneys provide advice to immigrants who have questions about their deportation, naturalization, and other immigration-related questions. Pro bono attorneys seeking to volunteer are not required to have expertise with immigration law as there will be several attorneys there providing guidance. Attorneys looking to get more involved with the Immigrant Rights program can also provide direct representation to individuals in their administrative deportation proceedings under the guidance of the Program s staff attorneys or assist with the Program s impact litigation. Interested attorneys should contact the Program s staff. Time Commitment: There is no minimum hour requirement to volunteer. Each situation that requires pro bono assistance is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Requirements: Bilingual attorneys who speak Tagalog, Vietnamese, Tongan, and Punjabi are especially encouraged to volunteer. 9

13 Asian Americans Advancing Justice (continued) A Workers Rights Program The Workers Rights Program offers opportunities for attorneys to: 1) counsel low-income immigrant workers through ALC s workers rights clinics; 2) directly represent individuals on an administrative wage and hour claim, unemployment insurance benefits appeal, or administrative employment discrimination claim; and/or 3) assist with the Program s impact litigation. Clinic: We have semi-monthly workers rights counseling clinics for low-income workers, both in San Francisco and San Jose. Clinic nights generally run from approximately 5 pm until 8:30 pm. The clinics rely on staffing support from volunteer attorneys and interpreters. Volunteer attorneys generally handle three worker appointments each clinic night. They conduct intake and provide legal counseling to the worker after consultation with a supervising attorney. Volunteers are required to attend an orientation/training session and ideally commit to at least six clinic nights each year. Direct Services: We provide direct legal services to low-income workers on administrative wage and hour, unemployment benefit appeal, or employment discrimination claims. These administrative cases can present ideal opportunities for direct client contact and hands-on experience preparing and presenting a case at a mediation or hearing, including the opportunity to direct and cross examine witnesses, and/or engage in oral argument. Worker s Rights staff are available to the volunteer attorney throughout the process to provide guidance, consultation and support on the case. Volunteer attorneys interested in taking on a direct service case must commit to seeing the case through the administrative process. Impact Litigation: There are legal research and drafting opportunities for volunteer attorneys related to the Program s impact litigation work. The time commitments required for such assignments are assessed on an assignment-by-assignment basis. Volunteer attorneys who are interested in formally co-counseling with their firm or organization on an impact litigation case are also needed. Housing Rights The Housing Rights Program offers opportunities for attorneys to represent tenants in eviction defense cases and in Rent Board administrative proceedings against landlords for substandard housing conditions, illegal rent increases and other wrongful landlord conduct. Eviction defense cases provide significant litigation experience for attorneys, including experience with discovery, motion drafting and argument, and jury trials all in a short timeline (cases can go from complaint to trial in less than a month). Type of Work: For eviction defense, volunteer attorneys will research and write legal memoranda, draft pleadings and briefs, and work with staff attorneys in other aspects of litigation, such as discovery, motion practice, and trial. For Rent Board proceedings, attorneys will handle all aspects of the case, including witness and exhibit preparation, appearing at the fair hearing, negotiations with opposing counsel and legal briefing. Time Commitment: There is no minimum hour requirement to volunteer. Each situation that requires pro bono assistance is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applicable Areas of Law: Landlord/Tenant Criminal Justice Reform The Criminal Justice Reform Program offers pro bono opportunities for attorneys to work on local, state, and federal policy reform that disentangles local police from enforcement of the broken federal immigration system. The CJR Program also has opportunities for pro bono attorneys to provide legal assistance to youth and their families to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. In the education system, attorneys will provide legal research and litigation assistance to youth who have been harassed or discriminated in our K-12 public schools. In the juvenile justice system, attorneys will provide direct representation to limited English proficient immigrant families who have youth in the juvenile system and will receive opportunities to appear in court to support the families and to use any bilingual language skills. 10

14 Asian Americans Advancing Justice (continued) Type of work: Volunteer attorneys will research and write legal memoranda and work with staff attorneys in all aspects of policy advocacy, legal services, and litigation. Volunteer attorneys may also provide legal representation, policy advocacy, and legal education to low-income immigrants. Attorneys can assist with (1) disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline, (2) providing direct representation to limited English proficient immigrant families who have youth in the juvenile system (bilingual skills preferred), (3) promoting restorative justice as an alternative to punitive approaches to criminal justice, and (4) limiting local law enforcement collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Language capacity in Spanish or an Asian language is preferred, but not required. Time commitment: There is no minimum hour requirement. Each situation that requires pro bono assistance is assessed on a caseby-case basis. Applicable areas of law: Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Education, Immigration, Public Policy National Security and Civil Rights The National Security and Civil Rights program offers occasional opportunities to assist individuals subjected to inappropriate scrutiny when they return to the United States after traveling abroad, or who are subjected to intrusive questioning by the FBI or other law enforcement officials. The National Security and Civil Rights program also focuses on speech issues, including speech used to discriminate against vulnerable populations and attempts to limit the speech and activism of college and university students. Bilingual attorneys who speak Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Dari, Farsi, Arabic and other South Asian and Middle Eastern languages are also encouraged to volunteer with community outreach. Type of Work: Volunteer attorneys will research and write legal memoranda, draft pleadings and briefs, and work with staff attorneys in other aspects of litigation, such as depositions, hearings, and trials. There may also be opportunities to represent clients at administrative hearings. Time Commitment: There is no minimum hour requirement to volunteer. Each situation that requires pro bono assistance is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applicable Areas of Law: Human Rights, Constitutional, Poverty/Civil Rights 11

15 ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER LEGAL OUTREACH (APILO) A Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (APILO) offers legal clinics in which attorneys can volunteer and provide free legal assistance in elder and immigration law and to victims of domestic violence, crime and human trafficking. APILO also has a pro bono panel where attorneys can partner with APILO staff to handle immigration cases (U-visa, VA WA/I-751 waiver, and T-visa). Training: Volunteer attorneys are required to familiarize themselves with a written manual provided by APILO. In person training is also available and may be required depending on the matter. Christine Hoang, Pro Bono Coordinator choang@apilegaloutreach.org 1121 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA Phone: Fax: Malpractice Insurance: Malpractice insurance is provided for all volunteer attorneys. Type of Work: Litigation and/or transactional work depending on the matter. Time Commitment: Time commitment varies, but hours per case is typical, lasting one to six months. Litigation matters can require more time. Requirements: California Bar admission is preferred but not required. Hours for Pro Bono Opportunities: Flexible CLE Credit: Possibly, depending on the project. Applicable Areas of Law: Domestic Violence, Immigration, Elder, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, General Civil BAY AREA LEGAL AID (BAYLEGAL) Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal) is the largest provider of free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families throughout the Bay Area. We are a regional law firm with regional offices and clinics in: Contra Costa; Alameda; Santa Clara; San Mateo; Marin; Napa; and San Francisco counties. Our services include: advice; referrals; limited scope assistance; extended representation; public policy and impact advocacy; trainings; and community education. Staci Lambright, Director of Pro Bono Activities probono@baylegal.org Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA Domestic Violence Prevention: Assist domestic violence survivors escape the violence and create a safe and stable environment for themselves and their families through family law, restraining order, and immigration assistance. Housing Preservation: Assist clients to access and preserve safe affordable housing free of discrimination, with specific focus on eviction defense and fair housing. Access to Health Care: Assist clients to obtain healthcare services from county and state programs. Economic Security: Assist clients secure public benefits and eliminate the barriers to employment and self-sufficiency. Consumer Law: Protect low-income consumers of financial products against unfair collection practices, predatory loans, wrongful foreclosure, inaccurate credit reporting and ensure economic stability by protecting exempt income from garnishment and levy. Training: Training includes webinars, live trainings, as well as manuals and samples. Malpractice insurance: Malpractice insurance is provided for volunteer attorneys. 12

16 Bay Area Legal Aid (continued) Type of work: Pro bono attorneys can assist either in an area where they have expertise, e.g., family law, or on a limited scope basis, such as representing a client for a particular hearing. Pro bono attorneys can participate in one of our clinics and assist on any pending impact litigation cases. Time commitment: Varies by case. Hours for pro bono opportunities: Opportunities are available throughout the year and in multiple Bay Area counties. Applicable areas of law: Government Benefits, Landlord/Tenant, Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Consumer, General Civil Pro bono opportunities for: Interpreters, Law School Clinic, Lawyers, Mentors, Senior Lawyers, Paralegals, Nonlitigation Projects and Law Students (full-time summer and part-time opportunities) CLE credit: Yes Domestic Violence Restraining Order Clinics BayLegal staff and volunteers assist self-represented domestic violence survivors complete the paperwork and understand the process to request a restraining order and important custody, visitation and support orders. Limited Scope Representation of Domestic Violence Survivors Volunteer attorneys provide limited scope representation (appx. 1 or 2 hearings) for domestic violence survivors seeking permanent restraining orders and important related child custody, visitation and support orders. Volunteers receive training, a practice manual and sample pleadings and ongoing mentorship.time commitment is about 25 hours. San Mateo Domestic Violence Collaborative Partnership with Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County (LASSM) and Communities Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) (hearings are: Wed afternoons and Friday mornings) Immigration Relief for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Violent Crime VAWA Self-Petitions and U Visa Non-Immigrant Petitions are means to immigration relief for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and other Violent Crimes who are either immediate family members of abusive US Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents OR who cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation and/or prosecution of the crimes. Youth Justice Pro Bono Project BayLegal is a dedicated and integral member of the Alameda County Juvenile Collaborative Court (ACJC), which involves a multidisciplinary team of community members (ex. Public Defender; District Attorney, Probation, Social Services, and BayLegal as the civil legal services provider) who focus on a therapeutic approach to better serve youth with mental health issues who are involved with the juvenile delinquency system. Many of the children have a range of civil legal services needs and volunteers can play an integral 13

17 Bay Area Legal Aid (continued) C Family Law Pro Bono Advocacy Program BayLegal provides training and mentorship to attorneys interested in assisting low-income family law litigants with limited and/or full scope representation in obtaining essential family law orders, including Dissolution, Domestic Violence, Child Custody/Visitation, and Support. Consumer Rights BayLegal Consumer Rights Clinics assist low-income consumers with pro per litigation in limited civil superior court and help protect exempt income from execution of judgment at five clinics throughout the Bay Area held in partnership with community-based organizations and the court. BayLegal provides know-your-rights workshop to consumers at each clinic. Volunteer attorneys are encouraged to attend a substantive training on consumer rights, held bi-annually. CALIFORNIA LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS California Lawyers for the Arts is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit service organization providing legal services, alternative dispute resolution, educational programs, advocacy, and more -- to creative artists, arts organizations and independent inventors. Founded in 1974 by lawyers and artists, CLA programs and services are designed to help the creative arts community understand and assert their legal rights. There are numerous opportunities for attorneys to become involved with CLA. They include working on a wide range of pro bono matters, along with serving as mediators and arbitrators through our dispute resolution program the Arts Arbitration and Mediation Service (AAMS). Finally, volunteer attorneys often serve as speakers for our many in-person and online educational workshops and seminars. Training: California Lawyers for the Arts offers numerous in-person and online educational programs on various entertainment, arts, and technology law topics. Also, there are mediation/arbitration training programs for attorneys interested in serving as AAMS mediators or arbitrators. Robert G. Pimm, Esq Chief Learning Officer & Director of Legal Services bob.pimm@calawyersforthearts.org CLA Legal Referral Service ncalegal@calawyersforthearts.org Wells Fargo Building 2140 Shattuck Avenue, Ste 310 Berkeley, CA Malpractice insurance: California Lawyers for the Arts provides basic coverage to in-house counsel and government attorneys taking on pro bono cases. Coverage is not available for lawyers at firms and solo practitioners. Type of work: CLA assists all types of creative people (visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, writers, etc.), arts organizations of all sizes, and independent inventors through the new California Inventors Assistance Program (CIAP). The types of issues handled include intellectual property (copyright, trademark, trade secrets, patent), contracts, business formation, nonprofit, landlord-tenant, immigration, bankruptcy -- and many more! Time commitment: Varies by matter. Hours for pro bono opportunities: Volunteers, interns, and law fellows may work locally in the office (Monday- Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) or remotely (at all times). Applicable areas of law: Primarily Art, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Entertainment, Transaction/Business, Intellectual Property, Immigration, Bankruptcy, Landlord/Tenant, Non-Profit, Patent, etc. However, CLA can assist those in the creative arts community facing any type of legal issue. Pro bono opportunities for: Lawyers, Mentors, Paralegals and Law Students (full-time summer and part-time opportunities) CLE credit: Yes 14

18 CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE, INC. (CRLA) California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) was founded in 1966 as a nonprofit legal services program. Our mission is to strive for economic justice and human rights on behalf of California s rural poor. Each year, we provide more than 40,000 low-income rural Californians with free legal assistance and a variety of community education and outreach programs. Half of our resources are committed to multi-client cases that grapple with the root causes of poverty. The impact of CRLA s litigation has touched the lives of literally millions of low-income individuals, improving conditions for farm workers, new immigrants, single parents, school children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and entire communities. Training: Training is available but varies from project to project. Volunteer attorneys should check with the Volunteer Coordinator. Jeff Ponting, Pro Bono Coordinator jponting@crla.org Franklin Street, Suite 103 Oakland, CA Malpractice Insurance: Malpractice insurance may be available, but volunteer attorneys should check with the Volunteer Coordinator. Type of Work: Varies by case and project Time Commitment: Varies by case and project Applicable Areas of Law: Immigration, Poverty/Civil Rights, Elder, Disability, Family/Children CHILD CARE LAW CENTER (CCLC) Child Care Law Center (CCLC) is a national nonprofit legal services organization that uses legal tools to make high quality, affordable child care available to children, families, and communities. Our diverse substantive work encompasses public benefits, housing, economic development, as well as regulation and licensing. Kim Kruckel, Executive Director kkruckel@childcarelaw.org x2 info@childcarelaw.org CCLC serves as a legal resource for local legal services programs on child care issues in California. Our primary clients are families and children. We also engage in legal and policy advocacy and offer training and information to parents, non-profit child care centers, family child care providers, policy makers, community, and government agencies. We work in collaboration with legal services and other public interest advocates who directly serve children, families, and child care providers. Training: There is no formal training program, but individual assistance from CCLC staff attorneys is available upon a case by case basis. Malpractice Insurance: CCLC provides malpractice insurance coverage for volunteer attorneys. Type of Work: Volunteer attorneys can expect to assist with legal research and writing and client representation. Time Commitment: CCLC is open to any level of commitment. Applicable Areas of Law: Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, Government Benefits, Public Policy 445 Church Street, San Francisco, CA

19 COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES IN EAST PALO ALTO (CLSEPA) C Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) provides legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in East Palo Alto and surrounding communities in the Lower Peninsula where there are large populations that lack access to legal services. Since CLSEPA s founding in 2002, our agency has grown to serve more than 1,300 clients per year. CLSEPA s practice areas reflect the most urgent needs among our communities: a Housing practice that assists tenants in disputes with landlords; an Immigration practice that assists undocumented individuals, many of whom are survivors of violent crime; an Anti-Predatory Lending Initiative that assists borrowers victimized by illegal and predatory loans; and a General Civil/Consumer program that assists clients with a wide range of legal problems, including identity theft, debt collection, and general civil litigation defense. While our agency and staff are small, our reach is not. Training: CLSEPA provides trainings, materials, and on-going mentorship to volunteer attorneys for each practice area.for Immigration and Housing, we offer periodic volunteer attorney trainings on U visa and VAWA and Unlawful Detainers with full MCLE credit. For Anti-Predatory Lending and Consumer Law, we have a wide collection of training materials and resources in-house that are always available for our volunteer attorneys. Malpractice Insurance: CLSEPA provides malpractice insurance for volunteer attorneys. Time Commitment: Varies by case and program area. Requirements: Although Spanish speaking ability is not a requirement it is very helpful. Joyce Song, Pro Bono Director jsong@clsepa.org Bay Road, East Palo Alto CA Applicable Areas of Law: Consumer Law, Housing, Immigration, Bankruptcy, Domestic Violence, Family/Children Housing Program CLSEPA advises and represents tenants in disputes with landlords. Attorneys assist tenants throughout the eviction process by representing tenants in unlawful detainer trials, settlement conferences (under limited-scope-retainers), and post-settlement stay of evictions. Attorneys may also assist tenants with habitability issues, Section 8, housing discrimination, retaliation and recovering security deposits. Immigration Program Our immigration program assists immigrant victims of violent crime obtain U visas when they have been helpful to law enforcement in prosecuting those crimes. We also assist survivors of domestic violence with VAWA self-petitions. Additionally, CLSEPA assists clients with applications for work authorization, and some removal defense. Attorneys assist clients through affirmative representation for an immigration benefit or defensive litigation practice in removal defense before an Immigration Judge. Predatory Lending and Home Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention CLSEPA represents victims of illegal loans in anti-predatory loan litigation, and provides counseling for borrowers with loan modifications. Volunteer attorneys can assist in all aspects of the program, from intake to full-scope representation. Volunteer Attorney Program CLSEPA conducts client intakes under the supervision of an experienced consumer law attorney and provides advice, brief services, or full legal representation for various consumer law matters, including: consumer fraud, debt collection, insurance, vehicle repossessions, contract disputes, identity theft, and general civil litigation. Pro bono attorneys can volunteer at our clinics, or take cases by referral. 16

20 COOPERATIVE RESTRAINING ORDER CLINIC (CROC) The Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic (CROC) assists survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in obtaining restraining orders against their abusers. If the parties have children together, we also assist in obtaining child custody and support orders. Volunteers individually interview clients at our weekly clinics in order to assist us in completing the legal forms necessary to apply for restraining orders. After the interview, volunteers type the client s declaration in support of her request for a restraining order. Emberly Cross emberly@roclinic.org th Street, Box #5 San Francisco, CA Training: This training is a two-stage process, including both a day-long training and a period of shadowing current volunteers or staff by sitting in on their interviews over several weeks time. Clinics take place once a week, alternating between Saturdays during the day (from 10:30 until 2:30ish, emphasis on the ish ) and Thursday evenings (from 5:30 to 9:30ish). The entire training process can take some time to complete, based both on your availability to come to our weekly clinics and on whether we have clients who are willing to have new volunteers sit in to observe their interviews. We are aware that this lengthy training period can be frustrating for folks who want to jump right in; the sensitive nature of the work that we do and the vulnerable state of our clients require this process. Malpractice insurance: Although our volunteers are not representing clients and are not giving legal advice to our clients, we do have malpractice insurance through our fiscal sponsor, the Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco. Type of work: Volunteers individually interview clients at our weekly clinics in order to assist us in completing the legal forms necessary to apply for restraining orders. If volunteers are interested in providing full representation to our clients in contested restraining order hearings, we encourage you to seek training through the Justice & Diversity Center, whose volunteer attorneys provide pro bono representation to our clients who have that need. Time commitment: Volunteers are needed on Saturdays and on Thursday evenings. Given our extensive training process, we ask all of our volunteers to make two commitments: (1) To commit to volunteer with us for at least six months after their training is completed; and (2) To come to at least two clinics a month (on a Saturday or on a Thursday night). Requirements: We are always in need of volunteers who are knowledgeable about domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; have excellent interpersonal skills; and have excellent writing skills. We are especially interested in recruiting volunteers who are bi- or multilingual (for example, in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or Russian). Applicable areas of law: Domestic Violence, Family/Children, Poverty/Civil Rights, General Civil CLE credit: CROC is not accredited, but it is sometimes able to offer CLE credit through its fiscal sponsor, the Justice & Diversity Center (but not generally for our volunteer trainings). DISABILITY RIGHTS CALIFORNIA Disability Rights California is a nonprofit civil rights law office, with five of fices throughout California, which provides legal assistance to people with disabilities, including mobility, sensory, intellectual and mental health dis abilities. Services available include: counsel and advice; representation in mediation, administrative and judicial proceedings; class action litigation; investigation of abuse and neglect; and legislative advocacy on disabilityrelated civil rights matters. Training: Provided as necessary. Jung Pham Jung.pham@disabilityrightsca.org Broadway, Suite 500, Oakland, CA TTY: Toll Free: Malpractice insurance: Disability Rights California carries legal malpractice insurance which covers volunteer attorneys. 16