Kentucky Volunteer Lawyer Program
News
Celebrate Pro Bono!
The ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service is excited
to announce plans for the second annual National Pro Bono Celebration.
Scheduled for October 25 through 30, 2010, the National Pro Bono Celebration
is designed to be a coordinated national effort to showcase the incredible
difference that pro bono lawyers make to our nation, to our system of
justice, to our communities and, most of all, to the clients they serve.
Each of the local pro bono programs are making plans to recognize those
who have donated their legal services. Be sure to check with your local
program for events or the opportunity to volunteer.
For more information visit www.celebrateprobono.org
or contact your local pro bono office. If you need any other information,
please contact jduncan@ajfky.org.
Support the KBA New Mentoring Pilot Program
The Kentucky Supreme Court has approved a new pilot program to help
new lawyers develop skills, judgment and values critical to the practice
of law. A portion of that program requires the mentor to introduce the
new lawyer to legal services and pro bono opportunities. The KyVLP and
local pro bono programs look forward to helping participants in the
Mentoring Program find opportunities. Please feel free to contact your
local pro bono program or the KyVLP with any questions you may have.
Services for volunteer attorneys
Coordinating pro bono online! The KyVLP makes it
easy for lawyers to volunteer. Lawyers can now come to this website
and sign up with their local pro bono program. Signing up on this website
is the same as signing up with your local program. After filling out
a brief sign-up page on this website, you may receive weekly emails
of persons in need of legal representation in your designated practice
and geographic areas if you choose. If you prefer to be advised of volunteer
opportunities by telephone, your coordinator will contact you accordingly.
You are not obligated to take a case simply by signing up to receive
the emails. When you are ready to take a case, simply reply to the email
notice or web link. You will then be contacted for a conflicts check
by your local pro bono coordinator. After clearing the conflicts check,
additional information may be available to you. Once the case is completed,
you will be able to close the case online as well. Try it out and let
us know your opinions and suggestions so together we can help those
in need.
Forms and mentors. By working through your local pro
bono program, often forms are available, particularly in family law cases,
to assist you. If your local program does not have the needed forms, your
local coordinator may be able to find what you need by contacting the
KyVLP or through another pro bono program. If need further assistance
or would like to discuss a legal issue, the pro bono coordinator will
try to help by finding another lawyer who practices in that particular
area of law.
Court Reporter Services. The
Kentucky Court Reporters Association is generously offering free services
on pro bono cases. If you are in need of court reporting services on your
pro bono case, contact your local legal aid office to see if members of
the association are available in your area.
