VOLS Pro Bono Library

Welcome to the VOLS Pro Bono Library. To find Project-specific volunteer support resources, navigate the tabs below.

Immigration Project

Immigration Project

Volunteers with the VOLS Immigration Project provide immigration services to undocumented youth in New York City including DACA Initials & Renewals, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, asylum, adjustment of status, and naturalization as well as derivative citizenship applications.

Immigration Project Resources

Incarcerated Mothers Law Project

Incarcerated Mothers Law Project

Volunteers with the Incarcerated Mothers Law Project provide legal advice to incarcerated and recently released women in Taconic, Rikers, and Bedford Correctional Facilities. Family law topics include visitation, contact, custody, and reunification.

Incarcerated Mothers Law Project Resource List

Basics of Family Law for Incarcerated Mothers and Parents
Family Law Deeper Dives
Requesting Court Records
Court Resources
Client Information Release Forms
Setting Up Legal Calls in Prisons and Jails in NYS
For IMLP Volunteer Attorney Use
Other Links

Videos

Further Reading

Microenterprise Project

Microenterprise Project

Volunteers with the VOLS Microenterprise Project counsel underserved microentrepreneurs in transactional matters related to the start up or operation of their business, engage in community legal education through workshops and creation of accessible resources, and provide critical COVID-19 crisis recovery services to ensure small business survival.

Microenterprise Project Resources

Senior Law Project

Senior Law Project

Volunteers with the VOLS Senior Law Project work with low-income seniors and older veterans to draft and execute critical documents to help them plan for end of life and/or incapacity, including Last Wills & Testaments, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Proxies and other advance directives.

The VOLS Senior Law Project includes our Veterans Initiative and La Extensión Comunitaria Para Adultos Mayores.

Senior Law Project

Documents

Checklists

Videos

 

Small Estate Administration

Documents

 

 

The Senior Law Project team hosts virtual office hours over Zoom every Thursday from 1-2PM. The office hours do not require pre-registration, and you can join the meeting any time during the hour. Please find the Zoom link here.

Benefits Law Project

Benefits Law Project

Volunteers with the VOLS Benefits Law Project provide culturally competent legal services to help low-income New Yorkers more equitably access the benefits to which they are entitled.

Benefits Law Project Resources

Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Trainings :

 

 

Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption &
Disability Rent Increase Exemption

Trainings :

Important Forms and Samples

Unemployment Insurance Benefits

 

Tools :

 

Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption &
Disability Rent Increase Exemption

Current Pro Bono Opportunities

   VOLS Pro Bono Opportunities

Pro bono volunteer service powers VOLS’ mission. Pro bono volunteers contribute valuable legal support while VOLS’ legal team provides training and ongoing mentorship. We support pro bono on matters that fit our volunteers’ legal background, interest areas, or both. VOLS’ six legal projects empower older adults, veterans, immigrant youth, individuals entitled to public benefits, microentrepreneurs, incarcerated mothers, children and their families in New York City. Our programs rely on trusted partnerships with pro bono volunteers and community-based organizations to reach underserved communities in New York City inclusive of age, race, gender and LGBTQIA+ identity, ability, and veteran and immigration status.

When You Partner With VOLS, You Will:
  • Provide civil legal services to New Yorkers
    who otherwise could not afford a lawyer.
  • Receive matters that are pre-screened and
    ongoing support from VOLS’ legal team.
  • Work directly with clients.
  • Learn a new area of law or contribute your
    existing legal knowledge

Pro bono lawyers also have opportunities to
contribute to VOLS’ legal education
presentations, legal research, public
comments, and impact litigation.

Non-attorney volunteers can contribute:

  • Pro bono paralegal support
  • Translation and interpretation
  • Data analysis and visualization
  • Program evaluation and monitoring

 

“The VOLS staff is truly wonderful – organized,
friendly and professional. I always appreciate
how VOLS attorneys explain the big picture with
our cases and participate hand-in-hand with us
as we plan clinics. They show both expertise in
their area of the law and dedication to clients.”

— PRO BONO VOLUNTEER

As a Volunteer of Legal Service, You Can:

Senior Law Project

Work with older adults to draft and execute
documents that help them plan for incapacity and
end-of-life, including, Last Wills & Testaments, Powers
of Attorney, Health Care Proxies, and other advance
directives.

Benefits Law Project

Help New Yorkers access and secure essential public
benefits, including Unemployment Insurance, New
York Rent Freeze Programs (SCRIE/DRIE), and New
York City and State rent benefits.

Immigration Project

Support immigrant youth and families in resolving
immigration law matters including, asylum, DACA
renewals, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status,
Temporary Protected Status, U-Visas, T-Visas, VAWA
petitions, Employment Authorization, Advanced
Parole, and removal defense.

Microenterprise Project

Assist small businesses and non-profit organizations in
transactional matters including, but not limited to,
entity selection and formation, corporate governance,
501(c)(3) compliance, establishing worker
cooperatives, reviewing and negotiating vendor
agreements and other commercial agreements,
including commercial leases, obtaining licenses and
permits, protecting intellectual property,
cybersecurity and data protection, preparing
employment agreements, handbooks and policies.

Incarcerated Mothers Law Project

Work with mothers and parents in and
recently released from New York State
women’s prisons and jail who seek
information about their family law rights.

VOLS PRO BONO RESOURCE POLICY

The materials posted here are proprietary and were developed by VOLS for use by its pro bono attorneys. These materials are intended to be used by licensed attorneys who have been trained in the subject matter and who are properly supervised by VOLS or another expert in the field. By accessing the resources in the VOLS Pro Bono Library, you acknowledge that you are currently taking on a pro bono matter with VOLS, and that you will not share or use the materials in the library with anyone outside of your firm or use them for any other purpose. Please contact our Pro Bono Specialist, Adama Fonah (afonah@volsprobono.org), with any questions.

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