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Working on Your Pro Bono Case


Receiving Case Materials and Scheduling Initial Client Interview

When a case is assigned, the case file containing client information, case facts, and relevant papers collected at the screening interview is duplicated and sent to the Participating Attorney. The Participating Attorney also is sent a copy of this Handbook and contact information on the Legal Aid mentor for the case. Training materials in many of the substantive areas of our practice also are available on Pro Bono.Net. After reviewing the case file, the Participating Attorney will contact the Legal Aid mentoring attorney, who is indicated in the assignment materials, regarding the case. Together, they will coordinate scheduling the initial interview between the Participating Attorney and the client and will discuss additional materials that will assist the volunteer in learning the subject area, including online access to relevant CLE training manuals.


Initial Client Interview

The interview is generally conducted at the originating Legal Aid office, which is the place most accessible to the client, has available interpreters, and offers the Participating Attorney and Legal Aid staff an opportunity to meet and discuss case strategy prior to, or immediately following, the interview. Click here for a list of Legal Aid offices including addresses, telephone numbers, and directions.

The Participating Attorney should seek to establish an appropriate attorney-client relationship, listening generously and learning as much as possible about the matter before advising the client about the applicable law and proposed actions. Often there are new facts or additional papers that Participating Attorneys will want to share with their Legal Aid counterparts before finalizing case strategy and advising their clients about next steps.

The attorney-client relationship thus established, Participating Attorneys schedule subsequent meetings directly with their clients. These may be held at the Legal Aid office (provided the Legal Aid mentor is notified beforehand to insure the availability of office space and presence of an interpreter) or at the law firm. Participating Attorneys must provide their clients with their name, firm address, and telephone number, and should confirm the best way to communicate with the client.


CLE Pro Bono Training Program

Legal Aid annually presents training sessions for attorneys interested in volunteering in Legal Aid’s pro bono program. More than 20 sessions, hosted by participating firms, cover diverse aspects of the pro bono program. Each session typically provides two hours of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Credit (CLE), including Bridge the Gap. A copy of Legal Aid’s 2007-2008 Training Program for Volunteer Attorneys is Exhibit C in the Appendix. Future Training Program calendars will be located on the Legal Aid website, as well as on Pro Bono.net, in the NYC Pro Bono Center Calendar.

While these sessions – conducted by an outstanding faculty from Legal Aid and the private bar – offer valuable training, they are not prerequisites to accepting a pro bono matter from Legal Aid. There is no charge for the trainings. The expectation is that those attending will accept a pro bono case within the following months. For your reference, manuals as well as an increasing number of webcasts of the training sessions are available on the NYC Pro Bono Center website.


Working Relationships with Legal Aid Staff

The Legal Aid mentor is generally the lawyer who initially screened the case. The attorney is experienced in the relevant field of practice and can aid the volunteer in becoming a more knowledgeable advocate. Participating Attorneys are expected to provide the Legal Aid mentor with copies of all pertinent Court papers and to check with the mentor on major strategy decisions before resolving cases. Unless there is a specific understanding to do so, Legal Aid attorneys generally do not participate in Participating Attorneys’ interviews with clients or make court appearances.


Noting Appearances and Other Practice Information

Appearances should be noted as follows:

  • Steven Banks, Attorney-in-Chief of The Legal Aid Society
    Name of Legal Aid Attorney, Esq., Of Counsel.
    Name of Participating Attorney, Esq., Of Counsel
    The Legal Aid Society
    Name of Legal Aid Office
    Office Address

On court papers and correspondence, it is advisable to add:

  • Name of Participating Attorney, Esq.
    Firm Name
    Firm Address
    Firm Tel. No.

Court papers are filed on Legal Aid’s blue backs or on plain backs with the above appearance. Correspondence should be either on Legal Aid or law firm stationery. Volunteers are also required to conform to their law firm’s procedures for tracking pro bono hours.