1. ethics: i know i should do pro bono, i want to, but i ... · 1. ethics: i know i should do pro...
TRANSCRIPT
1. Ethics: I Know I Should Do Pro
Bono, I Want to,
But I Don’t Know Where to Start
Moderator:
Wallace B. Wason, Jr.
Jones, Blechman, Woltz & Kelly, P.C.
P.O. Box 12888
Newport News VA 23612-2888
Tel: 757-873-8018
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.jbwk.com/
Panelists:
Karl A. Doss
Virginia State Bar
1111 E. Main St.
Suite 700
Richmond VA 23219
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.vsb.org
John Edward Whitfield
Blue Ridge Legal Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 551
Harrisonburg VA 22803-0551
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.brls.org/
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I Know I Should Do Pro Bono,
I Want to,
But I Don’t Know Where to Start
VTLA 2017 Annual Convention
Karl A. Doss, VSB Access to Legal Services Director
Wallace B. Wason, Jr., Jones, Blechman, Woltz & Kelly, PC
John E. Whitfield, Executive Director & General Counsel,
Blue Ridge Legal Services, Inc.
Early 20th Century America.Early 20th Century America.Early 20th Century America.Early 20th Century America.
“Without equal access to the law, the system not only robs the poor of their only protection, but it places it in the hands of their oppressors the most powerful and ruthless weapon ever created.”
- Reginald Heber Smith,
Justice and the Poor, 1919
Prepared by John E. Whitfield, Executive Director, BRLS
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MidMidMidMid----20202020thththth Century America.Century America.Century America.Century America.
“There can be no equal justice where the kind
of trial a man gets depends on the amount of
money he has.”
- The United States Supreme Court in
Griffin v. Illinois, 1956
Prepared by John E. Whitfield, Executive Director, BRLS
The Civil Rights Movement
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
-Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Prepared by John E. Whitfield, Executive Director, BRLS
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Correlation Between Representation and
Outcomes in Eviction Cases
Percentage of Tenants Retaining Possession
of their Homes in Eviction CasesSource: The Importance of Representation in Eviction Cases and Homelessness Prevention, Boston Bar Association Task Force on
the Civil Right to Counsel, March 2012.
Prepared by John E. Whitfield, Co-chair, Virginia Access to Justice Commission
Correlation Between Representation and Outcomes for Tenants in Landlord -Tenant Cases
Study #1: Court Study Group of the Junior League of Brooklyn, Report on a Study of the Brooklyn Landlord and Tenant Court 21 (1973).
Study #2: Steven Gunn, Note, Eviction Defense for Poor Tenants: Costly Compassion or Justice Served?, 13 YALE L. & POL’Y REV. 385, 411 (1995). Study #3: Chadha, Lisa Parsons. 1996.
Time to Move: The Denial of Tenants' Rights in Chicago Eviction Court, Chicago: Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, Inc.
Study #4: Rebecca Hall, Eviction Prevention as Homelessness Prevention: The Need for Access to Legal Representation for Low-Income Tenants (1991).
Study #5: Seron, Carroll, Greg Van Ryzin, Martin Frankel, and Jean Kovath. 2001. The Impact of Legal Counsel on Outcomes for Poor Tenants in New York City's Housing
Court: Results of a Randomized Experiment. Law and Society Review 35(2): 419-34.
Study #6: Anthony J. Fusco, Jr. et al., Chicago’s Eviction Court: A Tenant’s Court of No Resort, 17 URB. L. ANN. 93, 114-16 (1979).
Study #7: Boston Bar Ass’n Task Force on Unrepresented Litigants, Report on Pro Se Litigation, 17 (1998), available at http://www.bostonbar.org/prs/reports/
Study #8: Mass. Law Reform Inst., Summary Process Survey, 14 (2005)
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Prepared by John E. Whitfield, Co-chair, Virginia Access to Justice Commission
Correlation Between Representation and Custody Outcomes
Source: The Women’s Law Ctr. of Md., Inc., Families in Transition: A Follow-up Study Exploring Family Law Issues in Maryland (2006), available at
http://www.wlcmd.org/pdf/FamiliesInTransition.pdf.
Prepared by John E. Whitfield, Co-chair, Virginia Access to Justice Commission
Correlation Between Representation and Unemployment Benefit Hearings Outcomes
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Employer Only is
Represented
Neither Party Represented
Both Parties Represented
Claimant Only is
Represented
Claimant gets benefits Claimant loses
Source: Herbert M. Kritzer, Legal Advocacy: Lawyers and Nonlawyers at Work 111-20 (1998)
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Prepared by John E. Whitfield,
Co-chair, Virginia Access to
Justice Commission
Correlation Between Representation and Favorable Outcomes in Other Types of Cases Frequently
Involving Low-Income Litigants
Social Security Appeals Unemployment Claims
Immigration Removal Domestic Violence
Represented
Unrepresented
Source: Russell Engler, Connecting Self-Representation to Civil Gideon: What Existing Data Reveal About When Counsel is
Most Needed, to be published in an upcoming edition of the Fordham Law Review. Virtually all of the outcome studies cited
in these materials were referenced in this very helpful work by Professor Engler, who is currently Professor of Law and
Director of Clinical Studies at New England College of Law.
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Contemporary AmericaContemporary AmericaContemporary AmericaContemporary America
“Poor people have access to the American courts in the same sense that the Christians had access to the lions when they were dragged into a Roman arena.”
- California Court of Appeals Justice Earl Johnson Jr.
Prepared by John E. Whitfield, Executive Director, BRLS
The Documented Unmet Civil Legal Needs of the Poor
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WHAT IS “PRO BONO”? – ETHICAL
RULES AND PROFESSIONAL
REGULATIONS
“The basic responsibility for providing legal services for those
unable to pay ultimately rests upon the individual lawyer, and
personal involvement in the problems of the disadvantaged can
be one of the most rewarding experiences in the life of a lawyer.
Every lawyer, regardless of professional prominence or
professional workload, should find time to participate in serving
the disadvantaged.” ABA Model Code of Professional
Responsibility, EC 2-25.
VSB Professional Guidelines - Rules of Professional Conduct
Preamble: A Lawyer’s Responsibilities
A lawyer is a representative of clients or a neutral third party, an officer of the
legal system and a public citizen having special responsibility for the quality of
justice.
. . .
As a public citizen, a lawyer should seek improvement of the law, the
administration of justice and the quality of service rendered by the legal
profession. As a member of a learned profession, a lawyer should cultivate
knowledge of the law beyond its use for clients, employ that knowledge in
reform of the law and work to strengthen legal education. A lawyer should be
mindful of deficiencies in the administration of justice and of the fact that
the poor, and sometimes persons who are not poor, cannot afford adequate
legal assistance, and should therefore devote professional time and civic
influence in their behalf. A lawyer should aid the legal profession in pursuing
these objectives and should help the bar regulate itself in the public interest.
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VSB Professional Guidelines - Rules of Professional Conduct
Preamble: A Lawyer’s Responsibilities (cont.)
Many of a lawyer's professional responsibilities are prescribed in the Rules of
Professional Conduct, as well as substantive and procedural law. However, a
lawyer is also guided by personal conscience and the approbation of
professional peers. A lawyer should strive to attain the highest level of skill, to
improve the law and the legal profession, and to exemplify the legal
profession's ideals of public service.
. . .
Lawyers play a vital role in the preservation of society. The fulfillment of this
role requires an understanding by lawyers of their relationship to our legal
system. The Rules of Professional Conduct, when properly applied, serve to
define that relationship.
Prepared by John E. Whitfield, Co-chair, Virginia Access to Justice Commission
But we have Legal Aid.
Why is there a problem?
Why is pro bono still necessary?
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Who Does Legal Aid Help?
In FY 2015-2016, Virginia’s legal aid programs closed a total of 28,574 cases for low-income Virginians with civil legal problems, benefitting 66,694 people.
• Family Law – 46%
• Housing – 22%
• Consumer/Finance – 14%
• Income Maintenance – 6%
• Other – 12%
Source: Legal Services Corporation of Virginia, Report to the Commonwealth and the General Assembly FY 2015-2016
Why can’t Legal Aid help everyone
who qualifies for their assistance?
Prepared by John E. Whitfield, Co-chair, Virginia Access to Justice Commission
Sources:
Number of active Virginia
Lawyers practicing in the state
(23,851), VSB Membership
Report, 8/3/15.
Number of Virginia Legal Aid
Attorneys (130), LSCV Grant
Applications, May 2014.
Virginia Population figure
(overall population, (8,326,289)
and poverty population
(940,871), US Census website,
2014 estimates.
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A Worsening Situation
In FY 2015-2016, Virginia’s legal aid programs closed a total of 28,574 cases for low-income Virginians with civil legal problems, benefitting 66,694 people.
• 28,504 cases closed, 66,764 people helped (2014-2015)
• 28,688 cases closed, 68,857 people helped (2013-2014)
• 31,132 cases closed, 74,936 people helped (2012-2013)
• 35,015 cases closed, 86,698 people helped (2011-2012)
• 38,204 cases closed, 87,548 people helped (2010-2011)
• 39,390 cases closed, 92,680 people helped (2009-2010)
Source: Legal Services Corporation of Virginia, Report to the Commonwealth and the General Assembly FY 2009-2010 through FY 2015-2016
A Worsening Situation
In just six years time, both the
number of cases closed and the
number of people helped are
down by 27-28%
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Modified from slide initially prepared by John E. Whitfield, Co-chair, Virginia Access to Justice Commission
Federal LSC Funding Levels 2009-2015
Source: Legal Services Corporation
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
Mill
ion
s
Annual LSC Appropriations
Annual LSC Appropriations
Declining IOLTA Revenue in Virginia 2007-2016
$0
$100,000
$200,000
$300,000
$400,000
$500,000
Mo
nth
ly R
ev
en
ue
Month
Source: Legal Services Corporation of Virginia (LSCV)
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Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct
RULE 6.1 Voluntary Pro Bono RULE 6.1 Voluntary Pro Bono RULE 6.1 Voluntary Pro Bono RULE 6.1 Voluntary Pro Bono PublicoPublicoPublicoPublico ServiceServiceServiceService
(a) A lawyer should render at least two percent per year of the
lawyer’s professional time to pro bono publico legal services. Pro
bono publico services include poverty law, civil rights law, public
interest law, and volunteer activities designed to increase the
availability of pro bono legal services.
(b) A law firm or other group of lawyers may satisfy their
responsibility collectively under this Rule.
(c) Direct financial support of programs that provide direct
delivery of legal services to meet the needs described in (a)
above is an alternative method for fulfilling a lawyer’s
responsibility under this Rule.
Not Mandatory but….COMMENTCOMMENTCOMMENTCOMMENT
• [1] Every lawyer, regardless of professional prominence or professional
work load, has a personal responsibility to provide legal services to those
unable to pay, and personal involvement in the problems of the
disadvantaged can be one of the most rewarding experiences in the life of
a lawyer. The Council for the Virginia State Bar urges all Virginia lawyers to
contribute a minimum of two percent of their professional time annually
to pro bono services. Pro bono legal services consist of any professional
services for which the lawyer would ordinarily be compensated, including
dispute resolution as a mediator or third party neutral.
• [10] To provide legal services beyond those available through the pro bono
efforts of individual lawyers, the legal profession and government have
established additional programs to provide such services. Lawyers who
are unable to fulfill their pro bono publico obligation through direct,
legal representation should support programs that provide legal services
for the purposes described in (a) through financial contributions in
proportion to their professional income.
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Voluntary Pro Bono Publico Service
(a)Rule 6.1 (a) says “…. Pro bono publico
services include poverty law, civil rights law,
public interest law, and volunteer activities
designed to increase the availability of pro
bono legal services.”
ConPngency Fee Cases ≠ Pro Bono
(Even on Unsuccessful Cases)
[6] Service in any of the categories described is
not pro bono publico if provided on a contingent
fee basis. Because service must be provided
without fee or expectation of fee, the intent of
the lawyer to render free or nominal fee legal
services is essential. Accordingly, services for
which fees go uncollected would not qualify.
Virginia Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1, comment 6
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The
Estimated
Pro Bono
Gap in
Virginia
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
Potential pro bono hours if Rule 6.1's goal was met annually Estimated pro bono hours actually donated
VIRGINIA'S PRO BONO GAPTotal Potential Pro Bono Hours Annually under Rule 6.1
vs. Estimated Actual Pro Bono Hours
Estimated ad hoc pro bono hours donated
Pro bono hours reported as donated through Independent pro bono programs
Pro bono hours reported as donated through Legal Aid Pro Bono programs
The EstimatedPro BonoGap in Virginia
What Kind of Help Is Needed?
The picture can't be displayed.
http://www.vsb.org/docs/probono/topprobononeeds2014.pdf
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Michelle Stockberger
Pro Bono Developer
Blue Ridge Legal Services
540.433.1830
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Kathy G. Brigman
Director of Volunteers Services
Central VA Legal Aid Society
804.518.2131
[email protected]://www.justiceserver.org/
Mary C. Bauer
Executive Director
Legal Aid Justice Center
434.977.0553 X823
[email protected]://www.justice4all.org/get-involved/pro-bono/
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Tameeka M. Williams, Esq.
Director of Pro Bono & PAI
Legal Aid Society of Eastern VA
757.627-5423
[email protected]://apps.kempscaseworks.com/LASEVA-portal/Account/NewRegistration.aspx
Jennifer Fulmer
Pro Bono Managing Attorney
Legal Services of Northern VA
703.778.6800
[email protected]://apps.kempscaseworks.com/LSNV_PBI/Account/NewRegistration.aspx
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Contact the pro bono coordinator
at any of our three offices:
Fredericksburg: 540-371-1105 (Carolyn Ross);
Culpeper: 540-825-3131(Sarahi Johnson);
Tappahannock: 804-443-9393 (Kim Wilkins).
http://www.legalaidworks.org/pro-bono/
Cassandra Turner
Pro Bono Coordinator
Southwest VA Legal Aid Society
276.762.9354 X2207
[email protected]://www.swvalegalaid.org/volunteer-attorneys
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Debby Hudgins
Pro Bono Coordinator
Virginia Legal Aid Society
434.846.1326
[email protected]://vlas.org/get-involved/become-a-pro-bono-attorney/
Text of Virginia Proposed
Reporting Rule Changeb) Pro Bono Publico Legal Service Reporting Requirement. In order to make
available information about lawyers’ pro bono public legal service, each active
member of the Virginia State Bar shall provide the following annual
certification:
1. Pro Bono Hours. I have personally provided approximately ____hours of
pro bono public legal services during the previous 12 months beginning July 1
of the preceding year and ending June 30 of the current year.
2. Financial Contribution. I have personally contributed $______to support
programs that provide the direct delivery of legal services to meet the needs
described in Rule 6.1 (a) of the Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct, as an
alternative method for fulfilling my responsibility to render pro bono legal
services.
3. Exempt Persons. . .
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Florida Experience With
Mandatory Pro Bono Reporting
https://virginia.freelegalanswers.org/
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National PageUsers select their state of residence here.
State HomepageA Virginian who’s never used the site would select “Get Started”
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Clients -Ask a question pageTo reach this page, clients complete:
• New client information page (name, email, county)
• New client information page OPTIONAL (requests demographic information)
• New client information page REQUIRED (age and income screening)
Attorneys -Pick a questionWhen a client posts a question, it is sent to the queue of questions and attorneys can select which question they’d like answer.
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Attorney RespondsAn attorney answers the question and decides if they will leave the queue open for additional questions or close the conversation.
Client –Question closedWhen an attorney closes a question, the client is notified that a question has been closed and is prompted to take a survey.
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What about Conflicts of Interest?
Will the client know who I am or vice versa?
� The only conflicts of interest that would preclude a lawyer from answering a question for an eligible user of Virginia.freelegalanswers.org are conflicts of interest that the lawyer actually knows of at the time that they receive or answer a client's question. This means that the possibility exists, and the clients agree that they understand, that a lawyer who answers a question, or another lawyer with whom they practice in a firm, may actually be representing other parties with an interest in the question.
� The client name, the name of the opposing parting and legal deadline/court date will be provided to the lawyer so that the lawyer can make sure not to answer the question if the lawyer knows that he would have a conflict of interest. If based on the information the client provides, whether client name or any details of the question, the lawyer actually knows of a conflict of interest precluding him from answering, the question will be referred to another volunteer lawyer.
� Users will not know the name of the lawyer who answers their questions (they will see “Volunteer Lawyer”).
� The lawyer should not take any further action to help the user except to respond to the request for advice and information that the user posted on the web site.
Data – 8/22/2016- 2/23/2017
Virginia.freelegalanswers.org launched on August 22, 2016
Total Users 598� Attorneys Registered 174� “Moderated” Attorneys 5� Clients Registered 214� “Moderated” Clients 152� Ineligible Clients 53
Questions Asked 173� Questions Accepted by Attorneys 171� Questions Closed 169
(NOTE – Attorneys and Clients are “moderated” if they fail to complete the registration process, i.e., confirm an e-mail address or click the “I agree” or submit buttons. The ABA is creating a feature that will advise moderated users that they need to complete the registration process. Clients are “ineligible” if their income and assets exceed the financial threshold of 250% of the federal poverty guidelines )
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More Data
• Most Frequently Asked Categories of Questions: Family/Divorce/Custody – 35%; Housing/Property Law –17%; Debts and Purchases – 7%; Constitutional/Civil Rights – 7%; Employment – 7%
• Percent of Use/Questions by Jurisdiction: Virginia Beach –25%; Loudoun County – 8%; Fairfax County – 6%; Norfolk –5%; Richmond City – 4%; Chesapeake – 3%; Prince William County – 3%; Chesterfield County – 3%
• Number of Attorneys Answering Questions: 36 Attorneys (3 attorneys have answered 10+ questions to date)
https://www.probono.net/va/oppsguide/
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VSB Access to Legal Services
Committee� Formed during 1992- 1993 bar year
� Mission is to foster support for free and reduced fee legal services with the goal of improving access to the legal system for all Virginians and for nonprofit charitable and civic groups that serve the public good.
� Promotes pro bono publico services by Virginia lawyers and encourages the integrated development of like contributions by law school faculty and students, lay mediators, court reporters, interpreters, tax accountants, paralegals and members of related professions
� 15 members
� 6 subcommittees: Pro Bono Training and CLE; Social Media; Legal Aid Funding; Legal Education Access; Awards; and (new) Unbundling Legal Services
For more information - http://www.vsb.org/site/pro_bono/resources-for-attorneys or 804.775-0522
VSB Pro Bono Initiatives
The Access to Legal Services Committee of the Virginia State Bar encourages participation in pro bono through:
� Meeting with access to justice stakeholders, including legal aid project directors and staff, nonprofit legal services organizations directors, law school administrators, leadership and membership of state, local, and specialty bar organizations to ascertain how VSB’s Access to Legal Services can assist them in addressing deficiencies in meeting the legal needs of the indigent.
� Increasing pro bono participation and engagement by members of the private bar by developing and conducting free webinars and seminars covering topics related to pro bono work. In exchange for free CLEs, participants certify that they will accept pro bono work referrals or make donation to legal aid or non-profit legal services organizations.
� Collaborating with legal aid programs , non-profit legal services organizations, and state/local/specialty bar associations to develop strategies to mobilize volunteer lawyers to provide legal assistance in response to urgent access to justice challenges, i.e., Virginia SIJS Project.
� Using social media, the VSB website, and print and online publications to increase awareness of access to justice issues, galvanize support for pro bono, recognize exemplary pro bono efforts, and promote pro bono service and training opportunities.
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About the Virginia SIJ Project
� In October 2014, the VSB Access to Legal Services Committee, Legal Aid Justice Center, Ayuda, and Poach Law Firm collaborated to conduct a free webinar, “Pro Bono and Special Immigrant Juveniles: Best Practices for Family Court Practitioners”. Over 150 lawyers from across Virginia attended the webinar and many of them agreed to accept referrals from the newly created Virginia SIJ Project, which increases pro bono capacity to represent immigrant juveniles seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
� The project matches family court lawyers practicing in J&DR courts with immigration lawyers practicing in Northern Virginia to provide continuity of representation of undocumented youth in the family court and immigration court proceedings.
� Each case that the SIJ Project is able to place with a pro bono attorney will help an immigrant minor at imminent risk of deportation and start them on the path towards lawful permanent residence and eventually obtaining U.S. citizenship.
� For more information, please contact:
Tanishka Cruz, Staff Attorney,
Legal Aid Justice Center,
6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 520,
Falls Church, VA 22041,
Phone: (703) 778-3450,
Fax: (703) 778-3454,
e-mail – [email protected]
Greater Richmond Bar Foundation
� The Greater Richmond Bar Foundation (GRBF). GRBF’s mission is to expand public access to the justice system in central Virginia by facilitating the delivery of pro bono legal services and service projects. Through its programs, GRBF helps the Central Virginia region with its priority needs for pro bono services and helps connect lawyers with pro bono clients. (804) 780-2600
• Pro Bono Clearinghouse – a referral service linking volunteer attorneys with nonprofit organizations in need of legal representation on a variety of transactional matters.
• Pro Bono Promise – law firms and law departments are invited to join Pro Bono Promise with a pledge to commit a percentage of time to the provision of pro bono legal services to the disadvantaged and/or to include financial support to legal services organizations annually.
• JusticeServer – an all-inclusive case management and referral system that enables private attorneys to accept and work on pro bono cases from their own computers. Attorneys are able to create a confidential profile, view pro bono opportunities available in designated practice areas/jurisdictions, and find the resources to assist with handling the legal matter.
• Other Volunteer Opportunities – GRBF also provides a menu of volunteer opportunities available in the greater Richmond area.
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Other Volunteer Opportunities• Virginia Trial Lawyers Association – The VTLA has a Pro Bono Committee that puts on
programs like this one and other activities to encourage pro bono involvement by
VTLA members. https://www.vtla.com/index.cfm?pg=Committees
• American Bar Association - The ABA’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public
Service includes a directory of pro bono service providers in Virginia.
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/probono_public_service.html
• Virginia Bar Association – The VBA serves the public through a number of legal
advocacy and volunteer service opportunities including the Veterans Initiative and
ProsforKids. http://www.vba.org/?page=how_we_help
• Legal Information Network for Cancer (LINC) - LINC is a non-profit, community-based
organization that provides information, education and referral services for legal,
financial, and community resources to cancer patients, survivors, and their families
confronted with the overwhelming issues that arise from the diagnosis and treatment
of cancer. http://www.cancerlinc.org/
• Fairfax Law Foundation – Northern Virginia Pro Bono Center assists individual
residents of Fairfax County, as well as Northern Virginia nonprofits
http://www.fairfaxlawfoundation.org/general/custom.asp?page=9
• ProBono.net/va – This website offers a Pro Bono Opportunities Guide.
http://www.probono.net/va/
Law School Pro Bono Programs
� University of Richmond’s Carrico Center: http://law.richmond.edu/academics/skills/pro-bono/programs.html
� University of Virginia School of Law: http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/publicserv/probono.htm
� William & Mary Law:http://law.wm.edu/careerservices/currentstudents/probonoandpublicservice/index.php
� Washington and Lee Law: http://law.wlu.edu/students/service
� George Mason Law VBA Pro Bono Society: http://www.law.gmu.edu/students/orgs/vba
� Regent Law Public Service: http://www.regent.edu/acad/schlaw/careeralumni/publicservice.cfm#community
� Appalachian School of Law: http://www.asl.edu/JD-Program/Community-Service.html
� Liberty University Law: http://www.liberty.edu/law/experiential-learning/
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Rule 1.1 – Competence
A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client. Competent representation
requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary for
the representation.
Comment
[2] A lawyer need not necessarily have special training or prior experience to handle legal
problems of a type with which the lawyer is unfamiliar. A newly admitted lawyer can be as
competent as a practitioner with long experience. Some important legal skills, such as the
analysis of precedent, the evaluation of evidence and legal drafting, are required in all legal
problems. Perhaps the most fundamental legal skill consists of determining what kind of legal
problems a situation may involve, a skill that necessarily transcends any particular specialized
knowledge. A lawyer can provide adequate representation in a wholly novel field through
necessary study. Competent representation can also be provided through the association of a
lawyer of established competence in the field in question.
[4] A lawyer may accept representation where the requisite level of competence can be
achieved by reasonable preparation. This applies as well to a lawyer who is appointed as
counsel for an unrepresented person. See also Rule 6.2.
http://www.vsb.org/site/pro_bono/resources-for-attorneys
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http://www.vsb.org/site/pro_bono/pro_bono_webinar_recordings
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https://www.probono.net/va/civillaw/
http://law.richmond.edu/public-service/pro-bono/programs.html
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http://www.valegalaid.org/
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/probono_public_service.html
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Some Other Pro Bono Resources
� Immigration ? – Hogar Immigrant Services(http://www.hogarimmigrantservices.org/ ), Just Neighbors(http://www.justneighbors.org/ ), CAIR Coalition (http://www.caircoalition.org),
� Human Trafficking? (Girls and Women) – Tahirih Justice Center(http://www.tahirih.org/ )
� HIV/LGBTQ? – Whitman-Walker Health (http://www.whitman-walker.org/legal/)
� Restoration of Driving Privileges? – Drive to Work(http://www.drivetowork.org/index.cfm )
� Tax Relief? – Community Tax Law Project (http://www.ctlp.org/)
� Faith-Based? – Good Samaritan Advocates(http://www.goodsamaritanadvocates.org/ )
� Young or Newly Admitted Lawyer? – VSB Young Lawyers Conference(http://www.vsb.org/site/conferences/ylc/pro-bono) or VBA Young Lawyers Division (http://www.vba.org/?page=yld)
� Senior Lawyer? - VSB Senior Lawyers Conference (http://www.vsb.org/site/conferences/slc/about-us )
� Many state, local and specialty bar associations sponsor pro bono projects.
For More Information
• http://www.vsb.org/site/pro_bono/resources-
for-attorneys
• https://www.facebook.com/Virginia-State-
Bar-Access-to-Legal-Services-
715445355256426/timeline/
• https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Ridge-Legal-
Services-Inc-138544198288/