Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1984, when leaders in the private bar responded to severe federal government budget cuts to legal services. They committed through VOLS to dramatically increase pro bono service in New York City’s underserved communities. Across decades and through crises such as the 1980s HIV/AIDS epidemic, 2008 financial crisis, and COVID-19 pandemic, VOLS’ legal services have helped to anchor the safety net in our city. Today, VOLS harnesses the power of New York City’s private bar and community-based organizations to provide free, civil legal services through six VOLS law projects and initiatives.

The VOLS Model begins by identifying pressing civil legal issues affecting New Yorkers. We structure our programs, staff, and pro bono resources around these needs. Our approach is continually refined through feedback and guidance from the communities we serve, ensuring our efforts effectively address our clients’ civil legal challenges. We are a Pro Bono First Organization – every VOLS project and initiative is designed to maximize support for our clients by incorporating pro bono volunteers from private law firms and companies. That’s how one VOLS attorney becomes many. We can take more cases, serve more New Yorkers, and tap into more resources for our clients than we could through our nonprofit staff alone.

Learn More about our Legal Projects:

• Senior Law Project
  • La Extensión Comunitaria Para Adultos Mayores
  • Veterans Initiative
• Benefits Law Project
• Children’s Project
• Immigration Project
• Incarcerated Mothers Law Project
• Microenterprise Project