Volunteer

You will provide advice to a client either over the phone or in person. You may decide to accept a case for full representation or provide brief service at a one day clinic (ask-a-lawyer event).

For a clinic, the time commitment is one or two hours (depending on your availability). If you take a case, the time commitment depends on the scope of your representation, just like with a paying client.

Yes. We frequently have general advice, pro se, and advanced directive clinics.

You may work at your own office or at our office. Clinics are held at different locations around the community.

Yes. We offer free CLE training for any attorney willing to take a pro bono case. We may also provide a mentor or co-counsel with you on a pro bono case.

Absolutely! There are many ways to volunteer. Your local pro bono coordinator can speak with you to determine how to best utilize your skills. Also, many clients require relatively simple assistance that you can handle with minimal training or supervision.

Yes! You can provide pro bono services under the Florida Bar Emeritus Rule.

Yes. Free CLEs are available to anyone willing to commit to taking a pro bono case.

No. By signing up you are giving us permission to contact you and ask you to review a pro bono matter. We will NEVER refer a case to you without asking you first. If we ask you to take a case and you are too busy, just say “no” and we will ask another attorney.

When you say “yes” to a pro bono request, you are only agreeing to an initial consultation with the client. We ask that you meet with the client with a specific goal in mind, like representing the client pro bono for a specific issue, but the scope of your relationship with the client will be determined by you after the first meeting.

No. FRLS covers your malpractice insurance including deductible. We will also pay certain expenses such as postage, mileage, copies, depositions, transcripts, etc. For any individual costs over $200.00 you will contact your local pro bono coordinator for prior approval.

You will receive an Opening Letter, Case Open Report (this triggers your malpractice coverage), Cost Reimbursement Form, and a Close Case Report. We will request a status update each quarter to determine if the case is ready to be closed. You will close the case when you feel it is appropriate just like with any paying client.

Most likely. We will do our best to find a replacement pro bono or in-house attorney in order to allow you to withdraw seamlessly. However, whether you can withdraw in some litigation cases will still depend on an order granting withdrawal from the judge.

YES! We encourage you to ask for attorney fees. If fees are awarded, you may keep the fees or choose to donate part or all of your fees to FRLS. If you are able to obtain fees and choose to keep them, we will simply not report the case to our funders as a pro bono case.

Yes. As long as the client is determined eligible for pro bono services under federal poverty guidelines. You will contact us and we will conduct an intake interview with your client over the telephone. If your client falls within our eligibility guidelines, the case can be processed as a pro bono case through our office. If a determination is made that the client is not eligible for pro bono services, maybe the client should be paying you!

Complete our registration form and your local pro bono coordinator will contact you. Or you can contact us.

You can make a tax-deductible donation to our program.
 

Contact us:
Carolyn Fabrizio
Director of Private Attorney Involvement
888-582-3410 Ext. 7024
carolyn.fabrizio@frls.org