The Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program
Bay Area Legal Services' Volunteer Lawyers Program (BAVLP) coordinates the efforts of attorneys who want to donate legal services to assist low-income residents of Hillsborough and Pasco County. BAVLP offers a wide variety of pro bono projects to suit the interests, availability, and expertise of its volunteer attorneys. If you are an attorney practicing in Hillsborough or Pasco County and in good standing with the Florida Bar, please complete the on-line enrollment form at the bottom of this page and click on "Yes I want to Help!" to submit your form. If you have questions about participating in a pro bono project, please contact BAVLP at (813) 226-8685, ext. 110.
BAVLP offers pro bono opportunities for attorneys who have limited time to volunteer, who have little or no expertise in the legal issues facing indigent clients, or who are not interested in handling a case on a pro bono basis. If you are concerned about whether you have the time to do pro bono work or worry that you don't have the expertise to help low-income clients, one of the following pro bono projects may be just right for you!
1. Client Intake: 2 hours/once a month
Interview and advise legal aid applicants at the George Edgecomb Courthouse, downtown Tampa Courthouse on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. No experience or expertise needed. Training and supervision provided.
2. Mentor Panel: 1 to 2 hours/as needed
Attorneys experienced in family law, probate, consumer, guardianship, real property, employment, tax, insurance and general civil litigation assist less experienced volunteer attorneys handling pro bono cases or Bay Area advocates. Assistance can be provided by telephone.
3. Family Forms Clinic: 1 to 2 hours/once a month
Assist pro se family law litigants in completing court approved family law forms. No experience or expertise is needed. Training DVD provided. Volunteers provide assistance at the George Edgecomb Courthouse, Downtown Tampa, Monday through Friday.
FFC Clinic Services.pdf
4. Family Forms Clinic in Spanish: 1 to 2 hours/once a month
The clinic is designed for non-English speaking pro se family law litigants whose primary language is Spanish. Spanish-speaking volunteer attorneys from the Tampa Bay Hispanic Bar Association assist Spanish-speaking pro se family law litigants with completion of the court-approved family law forms packets that the litigants have already purchased. The clinic services will be offered one evening a month from 5:30 pm to 8 pm. at the George Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs St., Jury Services Auditorium, Room 201, Tampa, FL. NO advice or representation will be provided. Clinic services will be provided to pro se litigants who are involved in or will be involved in a Hillsborough County family law case. For more information, please contact Clara Rokusek, Esq. TBHBA Pro Bono Liaison, at crokusek@allenlawpa.com
5. Domestic Violence Assistance Project: 1 hour/once a month
Assist victims of domestic violence in completing form petitions for injunction. No experience or expertise needed. Training DVD provided. Volunteers provide assistance at the Domestic Violence Assistance office, George Edgecomb Courthouse, Downtown Tampa, Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 7am to 10am.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pro Bono:
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Are Florida Attorneys required to provide pro bono service?
The Florida Pro Bono Rule, Section 4-6 of the Florida Bar Rules, encourages Florida Bar members to provide pro bono legal services to the poor. The professional responsibility to provide pro bono help is aspirational, not mandatory. The Rule suggests attorneys satisfy the responsibility by donating 20 hours or more annually or making an annual contribution of $350 or more to a legal aid organization.
Although there is no statewide requirement that attorneys do pro bono, all Florida Bar attorneys are required to report whether they have done any pro bono on their annual Bar dues statement. In addition, some local bar associations in Florida do require members to provide pro bono assistance as a condition of membership. -
If I help someone for free, isn't that pro bono?
Pro bono service is legal assistance provided without charge or expectation of fees at the time the service commences. Legal services written off as a bad debt or cases in which an attorney cannot collect fees do not qualify as pro bono. -
Community service, public service, pro bono service - what's the difference?
Pro bono service involves the provision of free legal services. Participating in bar association activities, volunteering to serve on the board of a charity, or serving on a professional organization's committee are community or public service because attorney volunteers do not provide free legal assistance as a part of their activities. -
If I provide legal help to a non-profit organization or community group, does it count as pro bono service?
Pro bono legal services to the poor need not be provided only to individuals; it can be provided through legal services to charitable, religious, and educational organizations whose overall mission and activities are designed predominantly to address the needs of the poor. -
What if I don't have the time to provide pro bono assistance?
Most pro bono programs provide a variety of pro bono opportunities that include options for attorneys who have limited time. Some projects offer hours during lunch time, after work, or on weekends. Donating time to translate legal materials or draft legal information handouts can be done when convenient for the volunteer attorney. Mentoring less experienced volunteer attorneys or legal aid staff can be done by telephone. -
What if I don't have the expertise to help indigent clients?
Many pro bono projects require little specialized expertise. Training is offered for some pro bono projects and many projects are supervised by experienced legal aid staff attorneys. Experienced volunteer attorneys are available to mentor less experienced attorneys handling cases. Acting as a guardian ad litem requires no legal expertise. -
Why should I participate in an organized pro bono program when I can do it on my own?
Legal aid organizations and pro bono programs have developed pro bono projects to address the legal needs of the community. Clients are screened to ensure that they qualify for pro bono assistance and cases are assessed to confirm they have merit. Many pro bono programs offer liability coverage for volunteer attorneys. Pro bono programs collect and record the hours donated by volunteers and can provide this information to attorneys for reporting to the Florida Bar.
Pro Bono Projects for Hillsborough and Pasco County Attorneys:
ANN/CLE/CLC FLYER
The HCBA and Children's Law Center of Bay Area Legal Services (CLC) invites you to attend a CLC Seminar. Each Volunteer Lawyer will be supported by CLC Attorney's and Staff throughout the Commitment to Adoptions Needed Now (ANN). This CLE will be FREE of charge if you commit to 10 hours of Pro Bono service. Click here to read more about this event.
ASK A LAWYER
Volunteers handle calls from residents seeking legal help. Participants appear on Fox 13's television show, "Good Day Tampa Bay" or on Univision/Channel 62 (Spanish speaking volunteer attorneys) on the first Thursday of the month from 7am to 9am. Contact Hillsborough County Bar Association (813) 221-7777.
CASE REFERRAL PANEL
Experienced volunteer attorneys in Hillsborough and Pasco agree to accept case referrals in those areas of the law that they have designated on an enrollment form. Clients are screened for eligibility and legal merit prior to referral. In Hillsborough contact BAVLP (813) 226-8685 ext 102. In Pasco contact Elaine Holmes (727) 847-5494 ext 102.
CLIENT INTAKE
Volunteers interview legal aid applicants at the George Edgecomb Courthouse two Tuesday evenings a month. Contact BAVLP (813) 226-8685 ext.110
COMMUNITY COUNSEL
Volunteer attorneys in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota provide legal assistance to community groups or non-profit organizations that provide services to indigent residents. Contact Susan Sandler at Bay Area (813) 232-1222 ext 116 or ssandler@bals.org.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE PROJECT
Volunteers assist victims of domestic violence in completing form petitions for injunction. Participation does not require court appearances or representation. The project is located at the George Edgecomb Courthouse and the West Pasco Judicial Center (New Port Richey). In Hillsborough contact BAVLP (813) 226-8685 ext 110. Pasco attorneys contact Elaine Holmes (727) 847-5494 ext 102.
FAMILY FORMS CLINIC
Volunteers assist self-represented family law litigants in completing family law forms. The clinic is located at the George Edgecomb Courthouse. Training and supervision provided. Contact BAVLP (813) 226-8685 ext 110.
FEDERAL LITIGATION PROJECT
The project is organized by the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Volunteer attorneys provide limited one-time consultation to pro se litigants in federal court. There is a need for attorneys with expertise in general civil rights and federal employment issues, but all attorneys with federal law experience are welcome to participate. Contact Julie Sneed at (813) 222-2350 or jsneed@fowlerwhite.com
FOSTERING INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM
Volunteer attorneys assist at-risk teens in foster care. Training DVD available. Contact Charlie Nelson, Guardian Ad Litem Program (813) 272-6802
GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM
Volunteer attorneys are appointed as guardians for children. Training available through the Guardian Ad Litem Program. Contact Tami Dodd, Guardian Ad Litem Program (813) 272-5505 or Tami.Dodd@gal.fl.gov.
GUARDIAN ADVOCATE PROJECT
Volunteers assist the relatives of developmentally disabled adults to be appointed as Guardian Advocates. Contact BAVLP at (813) 226- 8685 ext 102
H.E.L.P. (Helping the Elderly with Legal Problems)
West Pasco attorneys consult with low-income seniors. Contact Elaine Holmes (727) 847-5494 ext 102.
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ATTORNEY AD LITEM PROGRAM
Volunteers are appointed as attorneys ad litem for juveniles charged with criminal offenses. Volunteers act as the juvenile's representative in the absence of a parent or guardian. Contact Judge Ashley Moody, (813) 272-5775.
KINSHIP CARE PROJECT
Volunteer attorneys provide legal assistance to non-parental caregivers, answering questions related to their rights as caregivers and those of their dependents. Topics include adoption, parental consent, power of attorney forms for medical treatments, and guardianship issues. Contact: Amy Caparratto at University of South Florida acaparra@cas.usf.edu.
MEDIATION PANEL
Volunteer certified mediators provide free mediation services in cases involving indigent clients. Contact BAVLP (813) 226-8685 ext. 102.
MENTOR PANEL
Volunteer attorneys with specialized expertise assist less experienced volunteer attorneys handling pro bono cases and Bay Area staff attorneys. Contact BAVLP (813) 226-8685 ext. 102
MILITARY LIAISON COMMITTEE
Volunteers provide legal assistance to military personnel. Contact Hillsborough County Bar Association, (813) 221-7777 for more information.
PEOPLE'S LAW SCHOOL
Volunteer attorneys provide legal information to the public on a variety of legal topics. These public legal education seminars are located at the Chester Ferguson Law Center. Contact: HCBA at (813) 221-7777
TEEN COURT
Volunteer attorneys serve as judges and mentors in the Teen Court Program, a diversionary program for juvenile first offenders. Contact Lora Karas, 13th Judicial Circuit, Administrative Office of the Courts (813) 272-6177 or apply online at www.fljud13org/jdp/teencourt.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA LEGAL AID
Volunteer attorneys assist students and graduate students with legal problems that include: landlord/tenant, consumer, DUI, traffic, and family law. Contact: Student Resource Agency at USF (813) 974-5012
VA Homeless Women Veterans Assistance Project
Volunteers provide pro bono or reduced fee assistance to women veterans with civil and some criminal-related legal problems. This project is organized by the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers. Contact: Liz Lanier (813) 350-7966 or liz@lanierlawoffice.com
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
If you are interested in volunteering, please complete and email the enrollment form below.