Current Pro Bono Opportunities

Here are the latest pro bono opportunities. Please note that federal government attorneys do not need to be members of the DC Bar to do pro bono work in DC. Before accepting any pro bono work, all DOT employees must receive approval from their supervisors, ethics officers, and, in some cases, the heads of their components. Employees are reminded that they are prohibited from acting as an agent or attorney for any person before any agency, department, or court in any matter in which the United States has a direct or substantial interest. Some of the pro bono opportunities listed may not be appropriate for employees in certain components, due to the nature of the work and the component's area of responsibility. Employees should understand that, in doing pro bono work, they are acting in their individual capacity and not as representatives of the Department of Transportation and should act accordingly. Employees should be familiar with the DOT Pro Bono Policy and Frequently Asked Questions. Contact Helen Serassio, Pro Bono Services Committee at 366-1974 with questions or for more information.

Clinics:

1. DC Bar Pro Bono Program Advice & Referral Clinic - December 10th from 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. at Bread for the City SE, 1640 Good Hope Road SE. Volunteers assist low-income individuals by assessing their legal claims and giving general information and advice. You don't take a case, so what could be easier? No particular expertise is required; many resources onsite to help volunteers. Nonlawyer volunteers are needed as well! It is a fun and rewarding way to spend a Saturday morning. Please contact Laura Klein, 3-7529, if you'd like to participate.
2. Whitman-Walker Monday evening legal clinics - 6:30-8:30 at 1701 14th Street, NW. Providing advice to clients with legal problems related to HIV/AIDS. These clinics are not just advice and referral. Attorneys are expected to do follow-up work with the clients they advise at the Monday clinics (usually one or two clients). The clinic is organized into two separate substantive tracks, which run on alternating Mondays. DOJ attorneys can handle the following issues: Track 1 - employment discrimination, insurance, and confidentiality; Track 2 - child custody. For more information, call Candace Beck at 202-939-7627.
3. Employment Justice Center Workers' Rights Clinic - Every Wednesday from 6-9 pm at Bread for the City NW, 1525 7th Street NW, or every second and fourth Monday of the month at Bread for the City SE, 1640 Good Hope Road SE. This is an advice and referral clinic for assisting low-income residents with employment issues. You must have attended a training workshop to participate (held first Tuesday of every month at the Employment Justice Center). There is a great need for lawyers and nonlawyers who speak Spanish. Call David Colodny, 202-828-9675 x 13, for more information.
4. Domestic Violence Pro Se Clinic - WEAVE holds an advice clinic for pro se victims of domestic violence who have questions about what to expect at their hearing for a civil protection order. The clinic is held Tuesdays, 5-6:30 pm and Thursdays, 12-1:30 pm at WEAVE’s offices, 1111 16th Street NW, Suite 410. Attorneys must have attended a WEAVE training, have domestic violence legal experience, or volunteer with someone who has training or experience. For more information, contact Laura Klein, 3-7529.

Nonlawyer Opportunities:
Paralegals, secretaries, and people with foreign language translation skills are needed to assist DOJ attorneys with pro bono cases. If you would like to volunteer, email or call Laura Klein, Pro Bono Program Manager, 3-7529, to join the support staff resource pool. I will match you with an attorney who needs assistance. Nonlawyers are also welcome to volunteer at the DC Bar Pro Bono Program clinics.
Paralegals interested in receiving recognition for their pro bono efforts should report their hours to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. For more information, contact Lori Thompson, FDIC, at lthompson@fdic.gov.

Translators Needed! Legal Services of Northern Virginia is looking for people with foreign language skills, preferably native speakers, in many different languages. They are compiling a dictionary of commonly used terms that arise in legal proceedings (such as health-related terms, financial terms, and much more). You can work with them by phone. If you know legal terms in another language, that is an added bonus! If you can help or need more information, call Eric Moe, Language Access Coordinator, at 703-778-6806.