Pro Bono Project
By: Source: AARP Foundation Date Posted: 2007-01-05
The Pro Bono Project is one of six demonstration projects that helped launch the pro bono movement in the late 1970s. The Pro Bono Project resolves legal problems confronting older residents of Washington, D.C.. The project refers the cases to the private sector and government attorneys who handle them on a pro bono basis. The proejct monitors all cases until closure, providing substantive guidance and support.
The Pro Bono Project handles cases covering a wide array of civil issues for eligible older D.C. residents, such as:
- wills
- powers of attorney
- consumer health
- housing
- public benefits
- guardianships
- conservatorships
Generally, the Pro Bono Project only refers cases that require extended representation, such as drafting legal documents, appearances in court or representation before governmental agencies.
If you are a lawyer in good standing, licensed to practice law in D.C., and want to be added to our periodic e-mail distributions of pro bono cases available for referral, please send an e-mail to vlp@aarp.org.
Pro Bono Project staff have helped other legal services programs to replicate this model that is now used by over 900 programs nationwide. LCE maintains ongoing relationships with many of the larger law firms in Washington, and each year over 500 in-depth legal cases are handled by pro bono lawyers from these firms.
Case Placement by Email
Legal Counsel for the Elderly's Pro Bono Project sends lists of cases for pro bono placement via email to private practitioners and pro bono coordinators at larger law firms. These lists contain brief summaries of the cases without identifying the client or disclosing confidential information. The cases sell themselves and many of these attorneys call the Pro Bono Project and agree to handle the cases.
Newsletter
The Pro Bono Project of LCE produces the award-winning newsletter, Pro Bono Publico, featuring articles by LCE staff and volunteer attorneys together with descriptions of the cases handled by LCE’s pro bono attorneys. This newsletter has won the Apex Award for excellence in newsletters every year since 1998. Volunteer attorneys receive recognition in the newsletter.
Recruitment of Volunteer Attorneys Through Training
LCE sponsors a variety of substantive law trainings for legal services advocates and members of the private bar. In exchange for taking the courses, each private bar member agrees to accept two cases on a pro bono basis involving the issues that are covered in the training. Courses are typically offered in areas such as social security, public benefits, wills and advance directives, bankruptcy, consumer law, and predatory lending. To take advantage of training opportunities, go to www.dcbar.org to register.
Active Intake Project
We use "active intake" for two purposes:
- to find matters that can be handled by some of our volunteer attorneys; and
- to identify common problems at an earlier stage, before they become crises, when they can be resolved with fewer LCE resources.
This intake is conducted at specially scheduled clinics (held where seniors congregate) and community events (e.g. health fairs).
"Active Intake for Legal Services" is a guide to developing a legal outreach program that identifies cases in targeted areas to match the interests of pro bono attorneys and reaches otherwise hard-to-serve populations.
Download: Active Intake for Legal Services (PDF)
Other Related Projects Involving the Private Bar
Reduced Fee Panel
LCE has contracted with a number of attorneys in private practice to provide services in such areas as wills and personal injury matters to LCE callers who are not eligible for free legal services. These reduced fee panel attorneys charge about $60 per hour for most services and there are fee caps on a number of services such as simple wills.
AARP Legal Services Network (LSN)
AARP Legal Services Network is a network of private practitioners nationwide who have agreed to charge AARP members 20 percent less than their normal billing rate for legal services. In addition, they agree to provide a free 30-minute consultation and low flat rates for simple wills and powers of attorney.
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