Explore pro bono opportunities for legal professionals
Supporting community and lawyer wellbeing through pro bono
Why Volunteer?
Well-Being Benefits of Pro-Bono Work
Pro bono work is not only good for a lawyer's client and community, it's also supports lawyer well-being. Here is just a sample of the positive benefits pro bono work can bring:Decreases blood pressure and lowers risk of heart disease (a recent study from the University of Exeter showed that volunteers had a 22% lower mortality rate than non-volunteers)
• Combats depression
• Helps develop emotional intelligence and social awareness
• Encourages emotional connections through social interaction
• Increases self-confidence
• Fosters a sense of purpose and self-esteem
• Enables a solid support system
Providing pro bono legal services can also improve skill level and allow lawyers to gain experience in different practice areas.
Pro bono work is not only good for a lawyer's client and community, it's also supports lawyer well-being. Here is just a sample of the positive benefits pro bono work can bring:Decreases blood pressure and lowers risk of heart disease (a recent study from the University of Exeter showed that volunteers had a 22% lower mortality rate than non-volunteers)
• Combats depression
• Helps develop emotional intelligence and social awareness
• Encourages emotional connections through social interaction
• Increases self-confidence
• Fosters a sense of purpose and self-esteem
• Enables a solid support system
Providing pro bono legal services can also improve skill level and allow lawyers to gain experience in different practice areas.
If you are a licensed attorney in Utah, please see below for some of the ways you can lend a hand.
Opportunities
Brief Advice Sessions (30 minutes)
Virtual Legal Clinic (Utah State Bar)
Sign up to give clients 20-30 minutes of legal advice over the phone or via email. You will receive an email with a description of the client's issue and be asked to respond to the client within 48 hours.
Contact: [email protected]
More information
Lawyer of the Day (Utah Courts' Self-Help Center)
Volunteer to make yourself available to give legal advice over the phone during a scheduled time. Openings available most days.
Contact: [email protected]
More information
Utah Free Legal Answers (ABA)
At your convenience, sign in to answer questions by email for those who cannot afford a lawyer. Free Legal Answers is an online brief advice service to increase access to advice and information about non-criminal legal matters.
Contact: [email protected]
More information
Pro Bono Initiative (UofU)
Work with law students and give brief legal advice to clients. Areas of need include family law, employment law, debt collection, immigration, and others. Various clinics held every week.
Contact: [email protected]
More information
Timpanogos Legal Center
Volunteer to help clients through the domestic violence shelter clinics or the virtual document review clinic.
Contact: [email protected]
More information
Sign up to give clients 20-30 minutes of legal advice over the phone or via email. You will receive an email with a description of the client's issue and be asked to respond to the client within 48 hours.
Contact: [email protected]
More information
Lawyer of the Day (Utah Courts' Self-Help Center)
Volunteer to make yourself available to give legal advice over the phone during a scheduled time. Openings available most days.
Contact: [email protected]
More information
Utah Free Legal Answers (ABA)
At your convenience, sign in to answer questions by email for those who cannot afford a lawyer. Free Legal Answers is an online brief advice service to increase access to advice and information about non-criminal legal matters.
Contact: [email protected]
More information
Pro Bono Initiative (UofU)
Work with law students and give brief legal advice to clients. Areas of need include family law, employment law, debt collection, immigration, and others. Various clinics held every week.
Contact: [email protected]
More information
Timpanogos Legal Center
Volunteer to help clients through the domestic violence shelter clinics or the virtual document review clinic.
Contact: [email protected]
More information
Limited-Scope Hearings (2-4 hours)
Debt Collection Defense Pro Se Calendar (3rd District)Represent a client on a limited scope basis at their debt collection defense hearing. May be done in person or over the phone. Held virtually every Wednesday afternoon. Sign up to volunteer on the Serve Our Communities form.
Contact: [email protected]
Family Law Pro Se CalendarsRepresent a client on a limited scope basis at their divorce, custody, or child support hearing. May be done in person or over the phone. Opportunities for volunteering are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Sign up to volunteer and find specific resources, support and calendars on the Legal Aid Society's website.
Contact: [email protected]
Family Law Pro Se CalendarsRepresent a client on a limited scope basis at their divorce, custody, or child support hearing. May be done in person or over the phone. Opportunities for volunteering are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Sign up to volunteer and find specific resources, support and calendars on the Legal Aid Society's website.
Full Case Representation (Varies)
Pro Bono RepresentationTake on a full pro bono case. The Utah State Bar allows lawyers to provide pro bono full representation to low-income clients in the following legal areas: bankruptcy, elder law, expungements, family law, guardianship, habeas corpus, housing, Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA), probate, public assistance, Utah Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act (SCRA), and will, trust, & estate planning.
Contact: [email protected]
Family Law Cases (Utah Legal Services)Take on a full family law case with guidance from Utah Legal Services. Specific cases may involve divorce, child support, or custody issues.
Contact: [email protected]
Immigration Cases (Utah Immigration Collaborative)Represent a client who's facing deportation or seeking to gain permanent status in the United States. Mentoring available through the Utah Immigration Collaborative.
Contact: [email protected]
Contact: [email protected]
Family Law Cases (Utah Legal Services)Take on a full family law case with guidance from Utah Legal Services. Specific cases may involve divorce, child support, or custody issues.
Contact: [email protected]
Immigration Cases (Utah Immigration Collaborative)Represent a client who's facing deportation or seeking to gain permanent status in the United States. Mentoring available through the Utah Immigration Collaborative.
Contact: [email protected]
Other Opportunities
Utah@EaseUtah@EASE is a referral program led by the Office of the Utah Attorney General in partnership with the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs and the Utah State Bar; a public-private partnership offering pro bono legal assistance and representation to veterans and current service members for Utah issues.
Contact: [email protected]
ALIGHTThe Alliance to Lead Impact in Global Human Trafficking (ALIGHT) provides discrete pro bono services to human trafficking victims and survivors. You can join this program to help them unlock a fresh start. To express your interest and learn more about getting involved, fill out this short form: http://bit.ly/alightaba. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Visit the website for more information: https://alightnet.org.
Contact: [email protected]
ALIGHTThe Alliance to Lead Impact in Global Human Trafficking (ALIGHT) provides discrete pro bono services to human trafficking victims and survivors. You can join this program to help them unlock a fresh start. To express your interest and learn more about getting involved, fill out this short form: http://bit.ly/alightaba. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Visit the website for more information: https://alightnet.org.