Providing Pro Bono opportunities for members of the private bar, paralegals and government attorneys has long been an important element of NLSP’s service delivery model. Pro Bono opportunities at NLSP are unparalleled, and we seek to engage Pro Bono attorneys and paralegals in Public Interest work in the following random-listed areas:

• Special Needs Education
• Child Custody & Support
• Domestic Violence
• Predatory Lending
• Foreclosure Defense
• Home Equity Skimming
• Real Property Tax Sales & Redemption
• Consumer Finance
• Debt Collection Defense
• Wills and Advance Directives
• Powers of Attorney
• Health Care
• Public Benefits
• Landlord-Tenant
• First-time Home Purchase for Low-income Individuals & Tenant Organizations
• Divorce

Services include legal advice, in-court and administrative representation before local and federal courts, as well as governmental agencies. Additionally, in conjunction with Housing Counseling Services, Inc., NLSP sponsors the first and only Free Wills Clinic to advise clients about the wills and probate process in the District of Columbia. NLSP also supports a Free Foreclosure Defense Clinic in its Nannie Helen Burroughs Office. Additionally, NLSP participates in the Small Claims Clinic held at DC Superior Court and sponsored by the DC Bar Pro Bono Program.

Priorities for client service are defined by the low-income community NLSP serves. Historically, this resulted in a concentration of client legal cases in the housing/landlord-tenant and income maintenance areas. NLSP staff members and pro bono attorneys and paralegals also conduct community legal education and outreach to potential and current clients in the neighborhoods we service. NLSP supports a volunteer’s efforts from case assignment to closure, screening each pro bono matter carefully, providing a staff mentor/co-counsel, case materials and periodic training programs. NLSP's professional liability coverage extends to volunteer assignments whenever the program is the Attorney of Record.

If you are interested in volunteering with the Neighborhood Legal Services Program, please contact Heather Hodges, NLSP Pro Bono Counsel at hhodges [at] nlsp.org or (202) 269-5100 Ext. 241.