Pro Bono Opportunities

NLS offers a myriad of opportunities for attorneys wishing to do pro bono work. We have opportunities with very limited time committments to opportunities for complex case representation with training and mentoring. We are constantly looking for new ways to incorporate the knowledge and expertise of private practitioners, so if you don't see something that fits your interests, contact us and we will see if we can accomodate your desires. For general information or to suggest a new option contact Jim Breslauer at jbreslauer@nlsma.org

Our most recent offer is a free bankruptcy training on May 26th, 2010. Presenters will be:The Honorable Joan N. Feeney, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, District of Massachusetts,

Kathleen P. Dwyer, Trustee, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Massachusetts, John Rao, Esq. National Consumer Law Center, David McLoon, Esq. Ipswich, Michael C. Raabe, Senior Attorney, Neighborhood Legal Services.

The training is free in exchange for agreeing to take two Chapter 7 Bankruptcy cases from NLS within one year of the training. If interested contact Henriette Perkins at hperkins@nlsma.org

Every Tuesday (Lynn), Wednesday (Salem) and Thursday (Lawrence) we run a Mediation Project in the Northeast Housing Court. Attorneys first get trained in landlord/tenant law, then represent low income litigants in mediation. The obligation is for only that day, usually 9 - 12. Some attorneys volunteer weekly, some monthly some every other month. We can accomdate your schedule. It is a great way to get hands-on experience in mediation and/or trial work with experienced mentors always present. If you might be interested contact Mark Sampson at msampson@nlsma.org

We have a panel of attorneys taking domestic relations cases. Cases are usually divorce matters involving some level of domestic violence. We run a training program and provide mentoring. If interested contact Henriette Perkins at hperkins@nlsma.org

Interested in family law but not able to take on a full pro bono case? We run a family law helpline in which practitioners can sign up for a specified week. We will send you up to six clients whom you can call as your schedule permits during that week. The committment is to give 15 (or so) minutes of telephonic advice on a variety of family law questions. If interested contact Henriette Perkins at hperkins@nlsma.org

Social Security cases are a good way to assist disabled people and maybe make some money. The arrangement with our panel members is to take one pro bono case for each fee generating case we send you. If interested contact Cathy Willard at cwillard@nlsma.org

Interested in teaching pro se classes? Another way to limit your time committment. We offer classes in handling your own divorce for simple, uncontested divorces several times a year. We also run consumer debt clinics. If interested contact Henriette Perkins at hperkins@nlsma.org

Are you an immigration law practitioner? We offer an immigration helpline similar to the family law helpline. If interested contact June Beack at jbeack@nlsma.org