VLN uses volunteers to provides free legal services to people experiencing poverty.  These services are delivered by volunteer lawyers through phone advice clinics, courthouse and community clinics, full representation cases work, screening, and forms drafting workshops.

VLN provides services primarily in the following areas:
• Administrative Law (DHS Reconsideration)
• Bankruptcy
• Civil (general civil legal advice and conciliation court phone advice)
• Criminal Record Expungement
• Debtor/creditor
• Employment
• Family (divorce or custody)
• Immigration
• Landlord/Tenant
• Real estate
• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
• Tax
• Unemployment Compensation

Levels of services provided include:
• Advice Only – Attorney provides only verbal or written legal guidance and/or their legal opinion on a matter. Volunteers provide advice only services over the phone or clinics.
• Brief Services –Attorney provides a service other than just legal guidance, such as making a phone call, writing a letter, or drafting court forms, but does not take on any on-going representation in the matter Brief services can be provided over the phone or at clinics.
• Extended/Full Representation – Attorney provides service over multiple days or becomes attorney of record with the court on a case. Full representation is when an attorney represents a client from start to finish on a specific matter.

VLN provides a variety of support to its volunteers, including:
• Comprehensive trainings, manuals and forms available online
• Free or low-cost CLEs
• Tips of the Month
• Malpractice Insurance for all VLN clients
• Administrative support (conference rooms, use of our mailing address, etc..)
• Clinic assistants (at most clinics) to help provide brief services
• Assistance from VLN's resource attorneys
• Volunteer mentor attorneys (varies by program)
• CLE credit for your Pro Bono hours (up to six per cycle)

VLN has been placing low-income clients with pro bono attorneys for over 60 years. We look forward to working with you too!