Pro Bono Opportunities
The Law Foundation's Pro Bono Program offers attorneys and non-attorney legal professionals, such as paralegals or legal secretaries, a meaningful opportunity to use their skills to give back to the community. Many of our opportunities are virtual and participation in all pro bono work is covered under the Law Foundation’s malpractice insurance. Time commitment varies, but all opportunities are limited scope.
Training and Support
The Law Foundation will provide you with the training and support needed to effectively represent your pro bono client. All volunteers will receive online training and support materials when they accept a pro bono case. In addition, the Law Foundation will assign one of our expert attorneys to serve as a mentor throughout the case.
Professional Development
Volunteering on a case is an excellent opportunity to develop legal skills. Pro bono attorneys gain experience interviewing clients, providing advice, negotiating settlements, completing forms and pleadings, and in some situations, representing clients in court.
Ongoing Projects
Security Deposit Project
For many of our clients, recovering their security deposit from a landlord can determine whether they secure another place to live or become homeless. Tenants are entitled to receive their security deposits back within 21 days after they move out. Their landlord must send either the full security deposit or an itemized statement of deductions for any remaining balance. Unfortunately, many landlords take advantage of low-income tenants, especially those with limited English proficiency and/or disabilities, by refusing to return their security deposit or taking out frivolous deductions.
In this Project, trained pro bono attorneys help tenants write demand letters to send to their landlords and prepare Small Claims Court forms in case the landlord doesn’t respond to the demand letter. Pro bono attorneys may also help the tenant negotiate with the landlord. If the tenant files in Small Claims Court, pro bono attorneys help the client prepare talking points and exhibits to use during the hearing, where the tenant will be self-represented. The Law Foundation provides MCLE training with an overview of security deposit law and the Small Claims Court process to enable pro bono attorneys to assist clients who seek the return of their security deposit from their landlord.
Virtual opportunity for licensed attorneys in any state; 5-10 hour, limited-scope commitment.
Name and Gender Marker Change Project
Identity documents are an important part of daily life—working, voting, traveling, accessing government institutions, and proving who you are. Having an ID that reflects one’s name and gender identity is especially important to access resources and public spaces and reduce the risk of abuse and harassment when having to show an ID. But because each document is overseen by a different government office, the process of updating identity documents to reflect a corrected name and gender marker after receiving a court order can be overwhelming. In response, we’ve created a two-part project to remove hurdles from an incredibly important and affirming outcome.
Two Options (volunteers can do one or both):
Help Obtain Court Order: Trained pro bono volunteers help clients complete necessary forms to petition the court for a name and/or gender marker change. A mentor attorney reviews the completed court forms and provides support to the pro bono volunteer. The Law Foundation then efiles the court forms for the client. Each pro bono volunteer should watch our Elimination of Bias MCLE webinar about how to interview transgender clients seeking to obtain a court-ordered name and gender marker change and how to fill out the forms to petition the court.
Identity Document Change: Support a client changing up to 4 main ID documents to match their new name and gender maker: Social Security card, Birth Certificate, Driver’s License/ ID, and Passport. Volunteers assist a client in navigating what can be an intimidating and highly procedural process. Provide help drafting forms, remotely scheduling appointments, identifying required supporting documentation, and explaining the next steps to the client to fill out the forms to petition the court.
Virtual opportunity; Attorneys (any state license) and non-attorneys; 3-5-hour, limited-scope commitment for each option.
““ I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to you & the Law Foundation team & the lawyers who dedicated their time at the name & gender change clinic! It was such a useful resource and it was so valuable to have folks there who knew what they were doing to guide me through the process. I felt extremely supported. Please share my gratitude with your team!””
Domestic Violence Restraining Order Project
California-licensed pro bono attorneys represent child (12+) and adult survivors of domestic abuse who are seeking a civil Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) against their abuser. DVROs provide enforceable protection, empowerment, and peace of mind for survivors. Pro Bono attorneys may accept a case in one or more of the following stages, though our preferred and recommended experience is full case representation from start to finish. None of the cases involve custody issues. We provide thorough MCLE training, detailed materials, and a Law Foundation mentor attorney for each pro bono.
Stage 1 – Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) Phase: The pro bono attorney steps in at the outset of the case to review intake information, conduct an initial client call to explain the process and gather further information, draft the DVRO petition, and return the filed documents to the client with guidance on reporting violations.
Stage 2 – Initial Hearing Phase: The pro bono attorney ensures the Sheriff’s Office has served the temporary DVRO, prepares the client for the initial hearing (typically brief and remote), and appears at the hearing with the client, which generally sets the matter for trial, though in limited circumstances, a very short trial may occur at this stage.
Stage 3 – Trial Phase: Between the initial hearing and trial, the pro bono attorney drafts witness examinations, compiles and prepares evidence, prepares the client for trial, and represents the client at trial, with representation concluding once the judge issues a decision on whether a long-term DVRO is granted and for how long.
Full Rep: Pro Bono attorneys take a case from the TRO phase through trial and provide continuity and comprehensive support throughout the DVRO process.
Nonprofit Protection Project
Nonprofits face increasing legal challenges due to a rapidly changing landscape that includes new executive orders, changes in federal policies, and related issues. Through the Nonprofit Protection Project (NPP), the Law Foundation offers free legal advice and limited representation to help nonprofits navigate these issues so they can keep working toward their missions without unnecessary legal obstacles. Pro Bono attorneys provide advice to the Law Foundation NPP attorney, and the Law Foundation serves as a trusted intermediary. Pro Bono attorneys can also support the NPP by supporting clinics and participating in training opportunities.
As Needed Projects
Guardianship Representation Project
When children in our community are not able to live with a parent because of death, incarceration, abuse or neglect, pro bono attorneys can help a child achieve safety and stability by representing the youth or prospective guardian in a guardianship proceeding. Regardless of your level of experience, you have the tools to help a child achieve stability. Most first-time pro bono attorneys do not have a background in probate guardianship law. We provide the training and reference materials you will need to handle a guardianship case. Once you accept a case, you will be assigned an experienced Law Foundation attorney to answer your questions and provide technical support throughout the process.
California licensed attorneys. Requires 2 simple court appearances over about a 3-4 month period.
School Discipline Project
Many youth, particularly youth of color, are unfairly subjected to zero-tolerance policies and the harsh punishment of expulsion when accused of misbehaving in school. When expelled, students are removed from their learning environment and are more likely to fall behind, receive lower grades, and drop out. Pro bono attorneys can positively influence a child’s life by representing a student in discipline proceedings, ensuring their right to a public education is adequately protected. We provide online training for MCLE credit and pair volunteers with a mentor attorney.
Attorneys (any state license) 7–20-hour, limited-scope commitment.
Co-Counsel Opportunities
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley has a long history of partnering with law firms on impact litigation cases to create critical systems change. The Law Foundation relies on pro bono attorneys and law firms to enable us to achieve equity and justice through litigation. Through the efforts of our pro bono attorneys, the Law Foundation effectively leverages resources to handle significant and impactful litigation matters that our staffing capacity ordinarily might not allow.
One-Time Projects
The Law Foundation has the need for legal research assistance and technical support in areas such as data collection and public records requests. We also have the occasional need for advice and counsel to clients in areas such as estate planning and civil litigation.
Contact
For more information about the Law Foundation's pro bono opportunities, please email us at probono.info@lawfoundation.org.