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American Bar Association Free Legal Answers Program – Massachusetts (Virtual Advice Clinic)
https://mass.freelegalanswers.org/
Volunteer:
https://mass.freelegalanswers.org/Attorneys/Account/Agreement
For more information, email info@masslao.org.
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Nature of opportunity: Virtual legal advice clinic.
General Information:
- Qualifying users post their civil legal question to their state's website. Users will then be emailed when their question receives a response.
- Attorney volunteers select questions to answer and provide legal information and advice.
- Volunteer attorneys will not answer criminal law questions.
Malpractice Insurance: Provided.
Training and/or mentoring: You can register as a volunteer and watch a brief video training before getting started.
Estimated time commitment: There is no required time commitment, although they encourage you to answer at least one question a month.
Opportunities for staff: No. Open to all attorneys in good standing who are licensed to practice law in Massachusetts or registered for pro bono status with the Board of Bar Overseers, including in house counsel.
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A Safe Place, Inc.
https://www.asafeplacenantucket.org/
Volunteer: https://www.asafeplacenantucket.org/get-involved/volunteer
Contact: info@asafeplacenantucket.org
A Safe Place, Inc
5B Windy Way
Nantucket, MA 02554
Phone: (508) 228-0561
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Nature of opportunity: Volunteer opportunities include Court Advocacy. Volunteers attend District and Probate Court to provide support and information to people in domestic-abuse situations.
General Information:
- Works to eliminate domestic violence and sexual assault in the Nantucket community.
Malpractice Insurance: Provided.
Training and/or mentoring: Provided and required.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes (outreach and office work).
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Ascentria Care Alliance
https://www.ascentria.org/our-services/services-for-new-americans/legal-services
Volunteer: https://www.ascentria.org/volunteer/inquire-about-volunteer-opportunities
Contact: https://www.ascentria.org/our-services/services-for-new-americans/legal-services/contact-us-ilap
11 Shattuck Street,
Worcester, MA 01605
Phone: 774.243.3045
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Nature of opportunity: Dependent upon the opportunity.
General Information:
- The Ascentria Immigration Legal Assistance Program provides free and low-cost legal services to immigrants in Massachusetts. Their team of legal professionals and lawyers offers legal advice and representation to complete immigration applications and petitions.
- Ascentria’s ILAP serves a wide range of new Americans and survivors of violent crime.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Unclear.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes.
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Center for Public Representation
https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/
Contact: info@cpr-ma.org
22 Green Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: (413) 586-6024
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Nature of opportunity: Case by case basis.
General Information:
- Center for Public Representation (CPR) is dedicated to enforcing and expanding the rights of people with disabilities and others who are in segregated settings. CPR uses legal strategies, advocacy, and policy to design and implement systemic reform initiatives to promote their integration and full community participation.
- Works on state, national, and international level.
- CPR relies upon pro bono for individuals with disabilities in civil rights damage actions, civil commitment, treatment guardianship, Medicaid, and Social Security matters.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Unclear.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: No.
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Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts
https://www.clcm.org/
Volunteer: https://www.clcm.org/volunteer-intern
Contact: Info@CLCM.org
P.O. Box 710
298 Union St.
Lynn, MA 01903
Phone: (781) 581-1977
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Nature of opportunity: Dependent upon the opportunity.
General Information:
- Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts (CLCM) aims to secure equal justice and maximize opportunity for low-income children and youth across the state by providing quality, culturally sensitive advocacy and legal services.
- The CLCM provides a comprehensive array of legal representation in the areas of education, child welfare (abuse & neglect), immigration, juvenile justice, and various other matters such as mental health, insurance access, family-law related issues, and support to victims of crime.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Unclear.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Unclear.
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Community Legal Aid
https://communitylegal.org/
Volunteer: https://communitylegal.org/get-involved/pro-bono/apply-to-volunteer/
Contact:
Meredith Palmer, Pro Bono Director, Community Legal Aid
mpalmer@cla-ma.org
One Monarch Place, Suite 400
Springfield, MA 01144
Phone: (413) 686-9010
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Nature of opportunity: Case by case basis.
General Information:
- Community Legal Aid, Inc. (CLA) is the free civil legal aid provider for residents of the five counties of Central and Western Massachusetts.
Malpractice Insurance: Provided.
Training and/or mentoring: Mentorship and free and fee-reduced trainings provided. Substantive toolkits and resources provided.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: No.
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Criminal Record Sealing Pilot Project
https://bostonbar.org/in-the-community/public-service/cori-sealing-project
Volunteer: Email Chane Vanes at cvanes@bostonbar.org
197 Friend Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 603-1604
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Nature of opportunity: Virtual clinic.
General Information:
- This bimonthly clinic connects low-income clients who have questions about their criminal records with volunteer attorneys who can help.
- Volunteers must then virtually attend at least one CORI Sealing Clinic where you will be matched with a client in a Zoom breakout room.
- After attending one virtual clinic, volunteers can be placed on our referral panel. As cases become available, clients will be referred to the panel.
- Volunteers are expected to take on the client on a pro bono basis. This includes helping intake clients and assist with CORI request forms, administrative sealing forms, and any administrative sealing hearings after the clinic.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Volunteers are trained in advance regarding CORI laws and procedures. Then they are able to sign-up for the clinic that works most with their schedule.
Estimated time commitment: At least one clinic.
Opportunities for staff: No.
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De Novo
https://www.denovo.org/
Volunteer contact: volunteer@denovo.org
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Nature of opportunity: Dependent upon the opportunity.
General Information:
- De Novo supports legal and counseling programs throughout Greater Boston and, for immigrant and refugee clients, statewide.
- Learn more about legal volunteer opportunities here: https://www.denovo.org/volunteer/legal.
Malpractice Insurance: Provided.
Training and/or mentoring: Training, ongoing supervision and long-term mentorship by staff and senior volunteers.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes. De Novo offers volunteer opportunities for lawyers, interpreters, paralegals, intake workers, law students and non-legal professionals.
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Greater Boston Legal Services
https://www.gbls.org/
Volunteer: https://www.gbls.org/get-involved/probono
For additional information, or to get started, please reach out to the Pro Bono Program at probono@gbls.org or (617) 603-1604.
Main Office
197 Friend Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-371-1234
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Nature of opportunity: Dependent upon the opportunity.
General Information:
- Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) provides free legal assistance and representation on civil (noncriminal) matters to hundreds of the neediest residents in the city of Boston and 31 surrounding cities and towns.
- Learn more about legal volunteer opportunities here: https://www.gbls.org/get-involved/probono.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Provided.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: No.
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Hampden County Legal Clinic
https://www.hcbarlegalclinic.org/
Volunteer: https://www.hcbarlegalclinic.org/get-involved
50 State Street
Springfield, MA 01102
Phone: 413-733-6500
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Nature of opportunity: Ranging from brief advice (phone, online, clinic) to longer term representation.
General Information:
The Hampden County Legal Clinic is a free legal assistance service that advises low income persons on issues relating to family, consumer and housing law. The clinic is sponsored by the Hampden County Bar Association with financial support from the Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Trainings provided.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: No.
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The Lawyers Clearinghouse
https://lawyersclearinghouse.org/
Volunteer & Contacts: https://lawyersclearinghouse.org/for-lawyers/pro-bono-opportunities/
7 Winthrop Square, 2nd floor
Boston, MA 02110
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Nature of opportunity: Ranging from clinics to longer term representations.
General Information:
- The Legal Referral Program connects Massachusetts nonprofits with volunteer lawyers. They also host a wide range of expert-led workshops for nonprofits and offer in-depth legal reviews of nonprofit operations through the Legal Assessment Program. Additionally, lawyers may volunteer with the Pro Bono Consultation Series, which offers an opportunity to assist a nonprofit on discrete topics such as policy review in a clinic-style setting
- The Legal Clinic for the Homeless program provides legal assistance to the homeless at eight shelter locations. Lawyers are also invited to join the Legal Clinic Panel, composed of volunteer attorneys that handle pro bono cases with the assistance of the Clearinghouse’s resources and mentoring capacity.
- The Access to Justice Fellows Program pairs lawyers who are retired or transitioning to retirement with non-profit and legal services organizations to provide critical assistance to underserved individuals and community and public interest groups.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Unclear.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: No.
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Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston
http://lawyersforcivilrights.org/get-involved/pro-bono-opportunities/
Volunteer: http://lawyersforcivilrights.org/get-involved/pro-bono-opportunities/
Contact: office@lawyersforcivilrights.org
61 Batterymarch Street
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 482-1145
Fax: (617) 482-4392
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Nature of opportunity: Ranging from clinics to longer term representation.
General Information:
- Business Legal Clinics: Pro bono attorneys meet with entrepreneurs for 30-minute one-on-one sessions to respond to questions.
- Pro Bono Legal Representation: Attorneys agree to represent individual entrepreneurs on discrete business law matters. The representation is limited to the resolution of these discrete legal needs.
- Workshops on Business Legal Issues: Pro bono attorneys can work with LCR to develop curricula and conduct legal workshops to classes of entrepreneurs at collaborating community organizations on legal topics relevant to small business owners.
- Training Community Organizations: LCR also uses the service of pro bono attorneys to train staff members at collaborating organizations who work with entrepreneurs to educate them on legal issues entrepreneurs confront in the formation and operation of their businesses.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Unclear.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: No.
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Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC)
http://massadvocates.org/volunteer/
Volunteer Contact: Laura Perez, (617) 357-8431 ext. 3221 or lperez@massadvocates.org.
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Nature of opportunity: Dependent upon the opportunity.
General Information:
- MAC is dedicated to being an independent and effective voice for children who face significant barriers to equal educational and life opportunities. MAC’s constituency are those children who face the greatest barriers to educational success, due to disability, race/ethnicity, language and/or poverty.
- MAC seeks attorney volunteers for its helpline and to provide pro bono or low-cost services to low-income families. Intake, mentoring and case handling volunteer opportunities available.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Mentoring by MAC staff and private attorneys, training manuals and videos are offered.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes.
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Medical-Legal Partnership | Boston (MLP | Boston)
http://www.mlpboston.org/partner-with-us
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Nature of opportunity: Ranging from research to clinics to longer term representation.
General Information:
- MLP | Boston improves the health and well-being of vulnerable populations by supporting the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of social needs with legal solutions. With the support of a network of pro bono partners and legal aid agency peers, MLP | Boston’s team of lawyers and paralegals provides direct legal assistance to eligible patients treated at participating health care institutions.
- Contributions by these volunteers include accepting individual case referrals; “adopting” a health clinic and staffing a weekly legal clinic there; conducting research on ethics and confidentiality issues arising in the MLP model; and engaging in systemic advocacy in partnership with clinicians.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Unclear.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes.
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MetroWest Legal Services
https://mwlegal.org/
Volunteer: https://mwlegal.org/getinvolved/volunteer-form
MetroWest Legal Services
63 Fountain Street, Suite 304
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone: (508) 620-1830
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Nature of opportunity: Variety of opportunities offered.
General Information:
- MetroWest Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to low-income people and victims of crime. Their priority practice areas include Family Law, Housing, Homeless Advocacy, Government Benefits (including Social Security), Education, Elder Law & Immigration.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Unclear.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes.
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Northeast Legal Aid https://www.northeastlegalaid.org/
Volunteer: https://www.northeastlegalaid.org/volunteer
Lawrence Office
50 Island Street
Suite 203A
Lawrence, MA 01840
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Nature of opportunity: Ranges from brief legal advice to longer term representation.
General Information:
- Northeast Legal Aid (NLA) helps low-income and elderly people of Northeast Massachusetts obtain justice and empowerment through skillful, creative, and persistent advocacy for systemic change and high-quality individual representation.
- NLA offers free civil legal services to low income and elderly individuals and families in northeast Massachusetts.
- Learn more about opportunities here: https://www.northeastlegalaid.org/pro-bono-opportunities.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Training and mentorship provided.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes.
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PAIR Project
https://www.pairproject.org/
Volunteer: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc4QRXrx-4MurvvcG4tFW2VUu9kWgvSU1-VJrynkuwBagRCjA/viewform?c=0&w=1
Contact: Elena Noureddine, Legal Director, enoureddine@pairproject.org
98 North Washington Street, Suite 106
Boston MA 02114
Phone: (617) 742-9296
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Nature of opportunity: Dependent upon the opportunity.
General Information:
- Asylum program.
- Community “Know Your Rights” Program.
- Detention facilities program.
- Justice for immigrant families program.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Unclear.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes.
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Project Citizenship
https://projectcitizenship.org/
Volunteer: volunteer@projectcitizenship.org
4 Faneuil South Market Building 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 694-5949
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Nature of opportunity: Ranging from brief advice to longer term representation.
General Information:
- Volunteer at a citizenship workshop for a few hours: help applicants review their N-400 citizenship applications for quality and accuracy.
- Represent an applicant at their naturalization interview who is seeking a disability waiver of the English and civics requirements.
- Review and revise a Disability Waiver for applicants seeking a waiver of the English and civics requirements due to a mental or physical disability.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Unclear.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes.
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Rian Immigrant Center
https://www.riancenter.org/
Volunteer: https://www.riancenter.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Contact: https://www.riancenter.org/who/contact-us/
One State Street
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 542-7654
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Nature of opportunity: Dependent upon the opportunity.
General Information:
- The Rian Immigrant Center’s expert legal staff and pro bono attorneys offer free legal consultations at weekly legal clinics to over 2,000 immigrants, refugees, and asylees, and provide full case representation before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for over 600 families.
- They help low-income and under-served immigrants to gain legal status, work authorization, and to reunite their families so they can become empowered, reach stability, and move out of poverty.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Unclear.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes.
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South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.
http://www.sccls.org/
Volunteer: http://www.sccls.org/volunteer.asp
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Nature of opportunity: Ranging from full representation referrals to pro se family law workshops, consumer debt clinics, and estate planning workshops.
General Information:
Malpractice Insurance: Provided.
Training and/or mentoring: Free trainings. Reduced fee MCLEs.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes.
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Veterans Legal Services (formerly Shelter Legal Services)
https://www.veteranslegalservices.org/
Phone: (857) 317-4474
Volunteer Contact: Lynn Girton,
VLS’s Pro Bono Director
Lynn@veteranslegalservices.org
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Nature of opportunity: Dependent upon the opportunity.
General Information:
- Accept pro bono case referrals
- Counsel veterans at Stand Down, Yellow Ribbon events, and other periodic events
- Conduct outreach presentations at shelters and social service agencies
- Mentor less experienced attorneys
Malpractice Insurance: Provided.
Training and/or mentoring: Mentorship and support on veterans' issues provided. Free access to trainings and networking events.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes.
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Victim Rights Law Center
https://www.victimrights.org/
Volunteer: https://www.victimrights.org/pro-bono-attorneys
Contact: vrlc@victimrights.org
115 Broad Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 399-6720
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Nature of opportunity: Dependent upon the opportunity.
General Information:
- A variety of practice areas, such as privacy rights, sexual assault protection orders, housing, immigration, employment and education.
Malpractice Insurance: Unclear.
Training and/or mentoring: Training provided.
Estimated time commitment: 10-20 hours.
Opportunities for staff: Yes.
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Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
https://artsandbusinesscouncil.org/vla/
Volunteer Contact: Luke Blackadar, Director of Legal Services luke@artsandbusinesscouncil.org
617-350-7600 x7016
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Nature of opportunity: Dependent upon the opportunity.
General Information:
- Most VLA cases involve small business matters such as copyright, entity formation, corporate governance, and contracts.
- Some involve more “traditional” civil legal aid matters, including bankruptcy, landlord/tenant, labor and employment, immigration, family law, and tort.
- Patent opportunities also available.
Malpractice Insurance: Provided.
Training and/or mentoring: Unclear.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: Yes.
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Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP)
http://www.vlpnet.org/
(617) 423-0648
Volunteer Contact: Pro Bono Manager Miranda Black
(857) 320-6446
info@vlpnet.org
Interested volunteers should fill out the form.
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Nature of opportunity: Ranging from short-term projects to longer term representation.
General Information:
- VLP offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, from case handling to short-term projects (including Limited Assistance Representation court projects, clinics, and advice hotlines, so that volunteers can sign up for a discrete block of time on a particular day and the commitment does not extend beyond that day).
Malpractice Insurance: Provided.
Training and/or mentoring: Provided.
Estimated time commitment: Dependent upon the opportunity.
Opportunities for staff: No.
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