Welcome to the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project Website.

The DC Volunteer Lawyers Project (DCVLP) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to provide civil legal services to needy children and families in the District of Columbia on a no fee (pro bono) or reduced fee basis. There are vastly more cases involving low-income individuals in our community than there are lawyers who can provide services, and nowhere is this more critical than in the area of family law. The most vulnerable members of society -- indigent women and children -- all too frequently lack legal representation in domestic violence, custody and adoption cases. In order to accomplish its mission, DCVLP has recruited a cadre of experienced volunteer attorneys who are not currently affiliated with law firms, in most cases because they are taking time off from the full-time practice of law in order to focus on their families. These lawyers seek to give back to the community by providing legal services to those most in need.

DO YOU HAVE A LAW DEGREE YOU’RE NOT USING?

We need you! Now that the kids are back in school, the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project (DCVLP) is hosting its fall recruitment meeting on Thursday, September 18 from 10:30 to noon at the law offices of Boies, Schiller & Flexner, LLP, 5301 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20015 (in Friendship Heights).

The DCVLP is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that provides pro bono legal services to indigent clients in Washington, DC. It was started this year by a group of lawyers who left private practice to stay home with their families, and who wanted to give back to the community by taking pro bono cases. These lawyers started the DCVLP to recruit and support other lawyers-at-home who are interested in helping indigent clients in family law cases, such as adoption, custody and domestic violence.

The DCVLP will train you and partner you with another attorney on cases. We also provide malpractice insurance, an office (located in Friendship Heights) for client meetings, mentoring and reimbursement for litigation expenses. In addition, we hold monthly brown-bag lunches as a forum for informal discussion and support (see www.dcvlp.org).

The time commitment can be as little or as much as you like, depending on the type of case you take. Note that you do not need to be an active member of the DC Bar to handle pro bono matters (D.C. Court of Appeals Rule 49(b)(9)).

We hope you’ll join us at our September 18th meeting, and also forward this invitation to other lawyers you know who may be interested. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Marla Spindel at marlaspindel@cox.net.

This event is co-sponsored by the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia and the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia Foundation.