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Pro Bono Service Providers
You can find a pro bono lawyer through the American Bar Association or your local bar association, or online through organizations that connect people with pro bono legal volunteers. You can also speak directly to local attorneys and law schools.
There are two ways how senior citizens and their caregivers can find a pro bono lawyer in their area: they can either visit the website of LawHelp or go to the pro bono directory map from American Bar’s Association. Discuss your case with the lawyer, and he/she will come up with the ideal solution for your legal problem.
Method 2 Method 2 of 3: Searching on Your Own
The Federal Pro Bono Program is a program in the District of Nevada which allows the court to appoint pro bono (unpaid) counsel for unrepresented, income-eligible litigants in certain civil cases.
The judges look at a variety of factors before selecting the cases to be considered for pro bono counsel, including the pro se (unrepresented) litigant’s ability to obtain counsel, the merits of the case, and the type of complexity of the case.
The federal judges presiding in the District of Nevada recognize that appointing counsel to represent indigent civil litigants in appropriate cases will enhance our legal system by improving access to justice while increasing court efficiency.
If the litigant agrees to be represented by the lawyer, the judge will order the appointment. The District of Nevada’s General Order 2019-07 has more information on the program and the process.
Depending on the case, you might have the opportunity to represent your client during a jury trial in federal court. Cases in the past have included issues arising under Section 1983, Title VII, Hague Convention, and the Social Security Act, as well as cases presenting constitutional issues.
Nevada recently instituted a rule that allows attorneys to obtain CLE credit, up to 4 hours, for taking on a pro bono case. Click here to request a list of our current pro bono options to start earning your CLE credit today! Want to take a case but need a mentor? Let our Pro Bono Program staff know and we will set you up with an attorney that can help you navigate one of our pro bono cases!
October is Pro Bono Month culminating with Pro Bono Week as the last week in October every year. During this month Nevada Legal Services will offer special recruitment lunches, CLEs, legal education classes for the public, and other opportunities for attorneys to volunteer. We also plan to provide virtual estate planning events for those attorneys who cannot travel and will work with local organizations to assist with recruitment of potential clients.
These Ask a Lawyer events last approximately 4 hours and are currently held virtually – by Zoom or telephone. NLS staff set up volunteer attorneys at each event to speak with our low income clients for 30 minutes about a legal issue with which they need guidance. Help one of our low income clients navigate the legal system by signing up to help with an Ask-A-Lawyer today!