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Volunteer Recommendations

Related Information

Why Volunteer?

We've assembled a few recommendations that may help you choose the pro bono path that's right for you.

Law Firm

VLSP offers attorneys and law firms a large spectrum of areas in which to volunteer, from business law and civil litigation, to family law and public benefits work.

We recognize that your firm has specific needs and goals for your pro bono work, and we work with you to design a successful program, including:

  • free continuing legal education (CLE) training
  • training and experience (including courtroom experience) for newer associates
  • malpractice insurance (primary to your firm's insurance)
  • ongoing mentoring

For more information or to request a presentation, please contact:
Megan Low, VLSP Recruitment Coordinator
mlow@sfbar.org
(415) 782-8958

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New Attorney

If you are a new attorney and are looking for experience, we suggest the Family Law or Eviction Defense Projects.

Both projects have:

  • extensive training programs designed for new attorneys
  • courtroom experience and client contact
  • the chance to consult with more experienced attorneys as needed

The Family Law Project is an excellent opportunity to help families with children and battered women. The Eviction Defense Project offers a procedure that is just like business litigation but more condensed. Volunteering with these projects is a great way to gain experience and help change lives at the same time!

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Transactional Attorney

If you are a transactional attorney we suggest volunteering with our Community Organizations Representation Project (CORP).

CORP assists nonprofits with their various business issues, including employment, corporate governance and real property.

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New Business Attorney

If you are a new business lawyer, please consider taking our nonprofit incorporation training.

You might also want to consider volunteering to help negotiate settlements in our Eviction Defense Project, or helping clients with uncontested guardianships in our Family Law Project.

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Law Graduate

If you graduated from law school and have not yet passed the California Bar, or are admitted to practice in a state other than California, we suggest volunteering with our Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP).

Much of HAP's work is administrative public benefits advocacy with the Social Security Administration and does not require California Bar admission.

Your work at HAP can mean the difference between having a place to live and a life on the streets for one of our clients.

College or law student, paralegal or other professional

If you are a law student, college student or other professional who is interested in law, please consider volunteering as a legal interviewer with our Legal Advice and Referral Clinic (LARC). We also suggest volunteering with our Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP).

If you speak a second language, please also consider volunteering with our Interpreter Project.

We also have student internships available each semester. We recruit for interns every August / September, January and April / May. We post internship announcements at Bay Area colleges and law schools during these times. Please do not send us unsolicited resumes.

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