Pro Bono Lawyers in San Diego

If you’re looking for pro bono lawyers in San Diego, you’ve come to the right place. You can find a list of legal organizations here. Community Law Project, Casa Cornelia Law Center, and the Legal Aid Society of San Diego are just a few of the many legal institutions that provide free legal assistance to people in need. But what about the other legal services available to the public? How do you find them?

Community Law Project

If you’re seeking legal help, you can contact the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP). For more than ten years, SDVLP has provided free legal advice to hundreds of low-income people. Its volunteers have received positive feedback from clients, law students, and community members. Here are just a few of the reasons to consider volunteering for SDVLP. We hope you’ll consider it!

For instance, if you have a child with autism, you can turn to the Community Law Project for free legal advice. Their attorneys help children with autism find appropriate treatment and obtain their rightful due process. They can also help children with mental disorders obtain legal aid through nonprofit organizations. Many students at California Western School of Law also volunteer with the Community Law Project. By providing legal advice to low-income people, they foster a strong commitment to public service. Additionally, many of these attorneys work in legal clinics in San Diego communities.

Casa Cornelia Law Center

The Casa Cornelia Law Center pro bono attorneys in San Diego serve low-income, immigrant families in need of legal assistance. The organization was founded in 1993 and provides free legal services to qualified clients. Currently, the organization works with three primary populations of immigrants: immigrant children detained in immigration detention, children who have committed serious crimes, and children who are separated from their parents. Casa Cornelia also educates the public about immigration law and relies on a network of 200 volunteer attorneys who are trained and supported in the process.

Klinedinst PC is an alumnus of the Latham & Watkins LLP Pro Bono Program. The law firm has supported Casa Cornelia for two decades, and this year alone, the firm donated more than 1,200 hours to its nonprofit mission. This pro bono program helps victims of violent crimes, migrant children, and asylum seekers in Southern California. The firm will also receive the Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year Award. The La Mancha Awards, which recognize the work of pro bono attorneys, will be held virtually this year.

Legal Aid Society of San Diego

The Legal Aid Society of San Diego pro bono attorneys assist low-income citizens who are unable to pay attorneys’ fees. These lawyers specialize in areas including family law, immigration, and federal tax issues. While the eligibility criteria vary by program, all participants must meet a strict income requirement. Pro bono lawyers help San Diego residents resolve legal disputes for free. The organization’s services range from drafting contracts to defending against lawsuits.

The organization offers limited legal assistance to low-income individuals and businesses. Its Legal Aid Society Pro Bono Project helps low-income individuals with tax disputes with the IRS and other state agencies. Clinic students represent clients facing sales tax appeals. It also offers legal help to homeless youth and strives to end relationship violence. Several pro bono programs have been implemented by the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, and most attorneys provide a minimum of ten hours a week in pro bono work.

Resolve Law San Diego

Resolve Law San Diego is a group of retired judges and attorneys who are willing to provide free legal services to low-income residents. The nonprofit was created in response to the crisis in the local civil justice system. Through this organization, individuals in need can access legal advice and services, including mediation, in less than a week. To get involved, individuals can register online and choose a volunteer professional. They can then choose the type of service they want and have a meeting scheduled.

If you are interested in starting a new pro bono program, you can contact the Association of Corporate Counsel-San Diego Community Service Committee. They welcome general comments and ideas and will help you get connected to other local providers of pro bono legal services. By doing so, you will have the opportunity to help those in need. If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of pro bono legal services, contact the ACC San Diego Community Service Committee chair.

Guardian Ad Litem Program

The Guardian Ad Litem Program for pro bono attorneys in San Diego is an important part of the local bar’s public interest practice. This program helps children in foster care and other circumstances where their parents can’t or won’t care for them. The program works with local courts to appoint guardians for children in need. GALs serve as representatives for children in court and provide legal counsel to the children and their families.

The GAL program in San Diego is managed by the San Diego County Bar Association and the Lawyer Referral and Information Service. Volunteer attorneys who have law school training are eligible to be appointed by a juvenile court as Guardian Ad Litem. Guardian Ad Litems advocate for children in foster care and represent their best interests. These individuals also oversee civil litigation and the work of the civil attorney representing the child. Their duties continue even after the child’s dependency on court jurisdiction ends.

AIDS Legal Clinic

You can help the AIDS Legal Clinic and gain valuable legal experience by volunteering your time. The clinic offers free legal services to HIV/AIDS patients every Monday. You’ll work under the supervision of a staff attorney and will interview clients. You’ll also receive free MCLE from a local bar association. The AIDS Legal Clinic and SDVLP are separate nonprofit organizations, but both works to help the AIDS community in San Diego.

Dustin Helmer, a native of San Mateo County, began his legal career as a JusticeCorp intern. During law school, he focused on pro bono opportunities, placing third in the ABA Labor and Employment Mock Trial Competition. He went on to work at a few boutique law firms, practicing criminal defense and housing law. Afterward, he was a volunteer with the AIDS Legal Referral Panel as an eviction defense attorney for three years. He is also an active member of the San Diego LGBTQ bar association.