Pro Bono Opportunities for Attorneys
Rule 6.1 creates an aspirational goal that Virginia lawyers take professional time – at least 2% per year – to do pro bono publico legal services.
JUSTICE SERVER
JusticeServer is a comprehensive, web-based case management system designed to connect pro bono attorneys with clients who need legal assistance. It serves as the primary hub for pro bono opportunities, including in Virginia, where it collaborates with local legal aid organizations. Through JusticeServer, attorneys can easily browse and select cases that match their skills and availability.
JusticeServer allows attorneys to filter cases based on their interests and areas of expertise, making it easier to contribute to the legal community without a significant time commitment. It also provides technical support & resources for volunteers, ensuring they have the guidance needed to succeed in each case.
CENTRAL VIRGINIA LEGAL AID SOCIETY
CVLAS depends on volunteers to help expand their services and help achieve their goals of providing free legal help to as many individuals and families as possible. Whether it’s a lawyer working pro bono on a case or dedicated volunteers to come to the CVLAS office to answer phones, type correspondence, file documents, make copies and handle mail, these altruistic offerings are integral to CVLAS success.
Housing | Family Law | Consumer Protection | Public Benefits | Employment | Health Care
LEGAL AID JUSTICE CENTER
The Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC) offers pro bono opportunities for attorneys to assist low-income clients in areas such as consumer protection, education, elder law, employment, and housing disputes. In Richmond, LAJC’s Pro Bono Housing Unit engages volunteer attorneys to provide advice and counsel to tenants facing evictions and other landlord-tenant disputes. Volunteers meet with clients at LAJC’s Richmond office during scheduled sessions, typically held from 4-6 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Civil Rights | Housing | Immigration | Family Law | Employment | Consumer Protection | Health Care
VIRGINIA POVERTY LAW CENTER
The Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) is a statewide nonprofit advocating for low-income Virginians through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and education. VPLC focuses on issues such as housing, consumer rights, healthcare access, domestic violence, and public benefits. The organization provides training and support for legal aid attorneys and pro bono lawyers, particularly in consumer protection and tenant advocacy. Attorneys interested in getting involved can access educational resources, participate in advocacy efforts, and stay informed about future pro bono opportunities.
Low Income | Consumer Protection | Public Benefits | Housing | Employment | Health Care | Civil Rights
THE COMMUNITY TAX LAW PROJECT
The Community Tax Law Project (CTLP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free legal assistance to low- and moderate-income Virginians facing federal or state tax disputes. CTLP offers pro bono opportunities for attorneys, accountants, and enrolled agents to represent clients in various tax-related matters, including examinations, appeals, refund claims, collections, and negotiations of payment plans. Volunteers are supported through in-depth client screenings, technical guidance from CTLP staff and mentors, and professional liability coverage.
Tax Law | Low Income | Consumer Protection | Bankruptcy
HARRY L. CARRICO CENTER FOR PRO BONO & PUBLIC SERVICE
The University of Richmond School of Law’s Harry L. Carrico Center for Pro Bono & Public Service connects law students with the greater Richmond community and various programs at regional, national, and international levels. The center offers a variety of pro bono opportunities that employ the diverse skills and interests of the student body. By cultivating such service, the center not only provides a valuable resource for the community but also prepares students for a life of purposeful citizenship.
Family Law | Housing | Guardianships | Civil (Uncontested Divorce, Name Changes)
CANCERLINC
CancerLINC is a Richmond-based nonprofit organization that connects cancer patients and their families to legal, financial, and community resources to address non-medical challenges arising from a cancer diagnosis. Founded by two attorneys who are cancer survivors, CancerLINC collaborates with over 200 volunteer attorneys and financial professionals to provide free services to eligible clients. Legal assistance includes estate planning (wills, powers of attorney, advance medical directives), uncontested guardianships and custody issues, public benefits denials, employment issues, housing disputes, and bankruptcy. Financial services encompass budgeting, financial counseling and planning, medical debt management, credit counseling, and debt consolidation.
Health Care | Estate Planning | Family Law (Guardianship, Custody) | Housing | Public Benefits | Employment | Bankruptcy
GREATER RICHMOND BAR FOUNDATION
The Greater Richmond Bar Foundation (GRBF) is committed to expanding access to justice by mobilizing, training, and connecting attorneys with pro bono clients. Through the Triage Project, attorneys assist legal aid organizations by handling referrals in high-need practice areas. The Pro Bono Clearinghouse enables experienced transactional attorneys to provide legal counsel to nonprofits on matters such as contract review, employment law, and governance. GRBF’s Eviction Diversion Program helps address Richmond’s eviction crisis by training volunteers to serve as neutral conciliators in eviction cases. The organization also hosts Wills Clinics, where attorneys prepare essential estate planning documents for low-income seniors, veterans, and frontline workers. Additionally, GRBF manages JusticeServer, an innovative case management system that connects volunteer attorneys with pro bono referrals from legal aid organizations.
Housing (Evictions) | Family Law (Wills) | Nonprofit Assistance | Consumer Protection | Bankruptcy | Civil Rights | Public Benefits
THE VETERANS CONSORTIUM PRO BONO PROGRAM
The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program offers attorneys the opportunity to provide pro bono representation to veterans, VA claimants, or their family members before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The program provides free, comprehensive training, assigns cases that have been screened for merit, and supplies a detailed screening memorandum outlining the issues involved. Volunteers are paired with experienced mentors in veterans’ law who offer guidance and share sample pleadings. Additionally, attorneys receive the Veterans Benefits Manual and other pertinent resources. In exchange for this support, participating attorneys commit to handling at least one appeal before the Veterans Court. Most cases can be completed in 50 to 60 hours over approximately one year. This opportunity allows attorneys to gain appellate litigation experience while providing invaluable assistance to veterans seeking rightful benefits.
Veterans | Military Law | Disability Benefits | Appellate Litigation
THE DISABILITY LAW CENTER OF VIRGINIA
The disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV) advocates for Virginians with disabilities and offers several volunteer opportunities. Volunteers can assist with administrative support, including front desk duties and data entry, or participate in committees like the Coalition for Community Safety and the PAIMI Council. Legal professionals can take on pro bono cases or provide legal research support, while others may help update referral guides or educate on disability rights. Volunteers are also needed for ongoing projects, such as reviewing reports from the Computerized Human Rights Information System.
Disability Rights | Public Benefits | Housing | Employment | Civil Rights | Mental Health | Education
THE MID-ATLANTIC INNOCENCE PROJECT
The Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project (MAIP) is dedicated to preventing and correcting wrongful convictions in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Attorneys can contribute by screening cases, drafting Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, responding to FOIA denials, preparing legal filings, and conducting case law research. Law students may assist by drafting FOIA requests, performing case law research, writing client letters, and creating forensic science primers. Individuals with other skills can support by handling administrative tasks, providing technical assistance with media production, or utilizing artificial intelligence to aid in case management.
Criminal Defense | Wrongful Convictions | Civil Rights | Criminal Law