ACC NCR & Whitman-Walker Health Legal Services Pro Bono Opportunities

Celebrate PRIDE month by learning how you can provide critical pro bono legal services to low and no-income transgender members of our community. Whitman-Walker Health Legal Services (WWHLS) Director Amy Nelson, her colleagues, and experienced pro bono volunteers will share an update on trans-specific legal needs and details about pro bono opportunities, including assisting with name and gender change filings, insurance appeals, and more.

All are welcome! 

No experience required. Training, supervision, and insurance are provided by WWHLS.

For many years, ACC NCR volunteers from across our geographic footprint and with a wide variety of expertise have worked with Whitman-Walker Health Legal Services to assist transgender clients with the important work of legally changing their name and gender.  Pre-pandemic, volunteers met with clients in-person at a designed time and location.  Now you can do so from the convenience of your home, office, or other venue of your choice!  See below for details about this particular pro bono opportunity.  For information about other opportunities discussed during the program, contact WWHLS Operations Manager Lee Hicks at lhicks@whitman-walker.org.

Name & Gender Change Pro Bono Matters

Partners:  Whitman-Walker Health Legal Services (WWHLS)

Clients: Low-income transgender individuals

When: Overview on June 21, 10 AM – 11 AM. Interested volunteers then contact WWHLS Operations Manager, Lee Hicks.

Who: DC, Maryland, and Virginia-barred attorneys

Experience: None required

Training: For name and gender change matters, volunteer attorneys are asked to watch at least two online trainings prior to being assigned a client (first, Trans 101 [40 mins], and second, one or more local jurisdictional training for DC, MD, or VA*).  *The Virginia training provides the best overview of the process and it is recommended that DC and MD volunteers watch it along with the applicable local training.

Support: Volunteers may work in teams or alone.  A WWHLS staff mentor will be assigned to each case assigned.  Resource materials are readily accessible through Google Docs and WWHLS holds monthly virtual briefing sessions for all volunteer attorneys to answer questions and share tips and new guidance.

Time: For name and gender change matters, 6–10 hours total, spread out over several months.

Work: ACC NCR volunteers (alone or in teams) are assigned a single client to assist in completing name change documents and will help clients file the documents pro se with the relevant court system. Interested volunteers will be sent a formal case placement email with client contact information.  Volunteers will be asked to coordinate with the client to meet via Zoom, phone call, or work via email within a specified time period

Insurance: Provided by WWHLS for all volunteers; volunteers who sign-up for a matter will be asked to complete a volunteer application/confidentiality statement and return it to WWHLS.

*Please respond by June 19.