MVL Volunteers help to ensure that people in need get professional legal representation for their civil cases. Join in today!
Here’s how it works: When MVL staff identifies a client in need who has a case that fits within the practice and geographic areas that you tell us that you want to help with, we will send you the client’s described legal issue and contact information. The client will receive a letter with your contact information and an advisement that they must contact you to get started. The client remains pro se and responsible for his or her case unless and until you agree to represent them. You will interview the prospective pro bono client and perform your own conflict check and make an independent evaluation of their legal matter. You will determine whether you will represent them.
If you cannot represent a prospective client, contact us as soon as possible so that we can try to find another attorney to assist with that matter. If you take a case, it is always good practice to provide the client with an engagement letter or retainer agreement describing the scope of representation and the expectations of the parties, for example. Once you take a client’s case, you are the responsible attorney and will conduct the matter in the same manner as you would with any other private client.
Basic tips:
- Stay in communication with your client
- Manage the case
- Track your time
- Maintain a file for the client (If you get sick, injured, stuck in another country, or are otherwise unable to conduct your clients’ cases- it’s a good idea to have files that another attorney can pick up and cover for you).
- Do not abandon your client. (You will be covered under our liability insurance policy- but it is not “magic” liability insurance, just regular liability insurance.)
- If you need a more experienced attorney to help you think things through, call us and we will direct you to one of our experienced panelists.
- At the end of your case, please contact MVL to let us know how things went.
Thank you!
| “Equality of justice. Courts of justice shall be open to every person, and a speedy remedy afforded for every injury to person, property or character; and right and justice should be administered without sale, denial or delay.”
~Article II, Section 6 of the Colorado Constitution. |
You can also volunteer to assist with MVL’s Family Law Court Program Clinics:
If you’d like to volunteer to assist clients in a clinic, then the Family Law Court Program (“FLCP”) program may be what you are looking for. The FLCP provides attorneys, law students, and paralegals with the perfect means to meet with and help different clients every month – without taking on any new cases, avoiding a long-term or heavy time commitment, but still providing much needed legal assistance to indigent clients in divorce or custody proceedings.
To assist with the FLCP please complete the FLCP Sign-up Sheet and schedule and return it to this office. Paralegals and law students are also welcome to volunteer for FLCP.
Click here to download the schedule and sign-up sheet for the FLCP.
Why Should You Volunteer with MVL?
Watch this Prezi to find out. Let your mouse hover over the bottom right corner and you can choose full-screen and/or auto play for viewing this Prezi presentation. (It may take a few seconds to load.)
