There are several ways to find pro bono lawyers in San Diego. The AIDS Legal Clinic is one example. There are also domestic violence prevention clinics and Student Pro Bono Legal Advocates. The Association of Corporate Counsel -San Diego Community Service Committee is another. Both organizations promote diversity and pro bono opportunities. To learn more about the organization, contact any of its members. In addition, you can search its website for volunteer opportunities.
AIDS Legal Clinic
Interested in volunteering to become a pro bono lawyer in San Diego? Consider joining the AIDS Legal Clinic, also known as SDVLP. This program offers low-income residents of San Diego County the opportunity to acquire legal experience and give back to their community. Legal services are free and offered to HIV/AIDS patients every week. Volunteers will be responsible for interviewing clients and assisting local pro bono lawyers in court.
Dustin Helmer, a lifelong resident of San Mateo County, began his legal career as a JusticeCorp intern. While attending law school, he focused on pro bono opportunities and placed 3rd nationally in the ABA Labor and Employment Mock Trial Competition. After graduation, he worked in various boutique firms that practiced criminal defense and housing law, and he also served as an eviction defense attorney for three years. Additionally, Dustin is involved in his community through his involvement with LGBTQ and allied organizations.
Domestic Violence Prevention Clinic
Domestic violence is a growing issue in San Diego, and the Family Justice Center provides a valuable resource for victims and survivors of violence. The center offers counseling, victim services, and criminal defense. Pro bono attorneys in San Diego can help with these cases and more. If you or someone you know has been a victim of domestic violence, consider joining the Center today. It may just save your life. You can even receive free legal advice.
The SDVLP trains students to staff the Domestic Violence Restraining Order Clinic at the Family Court in downtown San Diego. Students help clients obtain temporary restraining orders, explain the legal system, and provide referrals to social services. The clinic also allows students to observe family court proceedings. Pro bono attorneys help people who are victims of domestic violence to gain legal protection. The clinic is open to people who are victims of abuse and/or are family members.
The Domestic Violence Prevention Clinic is a nonprofit that offers free legal services to victims of intimate partner violence. The nonprofit organization serves more than 21,000 individuals a year and operates a rape crisis center in San Diego and a 24-hour bilingual crisis helpline. It also provides emergency domestic violence shelters and hospital accompaniment. In addition to legal assistance, the organization also offers counseling and family law consultations to those in need of assistance.
Student Pro Bono Legal Advocates
The University of San Diego School of Law Pro Bono Legal Advocates (SDBLA) is a student-run organization that offers opportunities to law students to donate their time and expertise to the community. SDBLA works to promote charity, selflessness, and justice through its various programs and is supported by administrative staff at the School of Law. In addition to providing pro bono legal services to low-income residents, SDBLA also supports the AIDS home visit program, guardianship programs, mediation, and domestic violence prevention.
For the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, law students research frequently litigated issues, write sample motions and briefs, and advocate for clients and relevant stakeholders. In addition, they participate in the Saturday Academy of Law, which involves teaching lessons to ninth graders on constitutional challenges, the First Amendment, and the importance of volunteerism. While participating in SDBLP, law students can expect to be exposed to a variety of legal issues, including family law and bankruptcy.
IRAP volunteers assist Mexican national women with their VAWA application. IRAP volunteers collect evidence, statements from friends and family, and police reports. Volunteers also conduct intake interviews with incarcerated individuals and draft motions. In addition, IRAP volunteers work with the Elder Law and Disability Rights Center, where students review records, draft mitigation letters, and supervise the center’s Elder Law and Disability Rights Center.
