Pro Bono
Fight for Individual Rights and Systemic Change
Be a part of NLSLA’s pro bono network and help expand access to justice for individuals and families across Los Angeles County. Attorneys, retired attorneys, law students, law graduates, and paralegals all play an important role in supporting our mission.
Each year, NLSLA provides free legal assistance to nearly 175,000 individuals and families facing challenges related to housing, immigration, family law and domestic violence, education, re-entry, and public benefits. We partner with legal professionals who want to use their skills in NLSLA’s many service areas to create meaningful change in underserved communities.
Pro Bono Opportunities Include Cases and Clinics in the Following Areas:
- Consumer Debt and Bankruptcy
- Education Rights
- Estate Planning
- Expungements and Re-entry
- Housing
- Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association (SCCLA)/NLSLA Partnerships
- Social Security Overpayment
What You’ll Receive:
- Comprehensive, substantive training
- Ongoing mentorship and supervision
- Support from experienced NLSLA attorneys
- Meaningful opportunities matched to your interests and experience
- Malpractice insurance
Notice: The State Bar of California has new pro bono requirements. Learn more here.
To find out more about pro bono opportunities for you or your firm, please contact .
Encore Program
If you are a retired California attorney, and you would like to stay active and give back to your community, the State Bar has a program that provides you with free active Bar membership. NLSLA will provide you with free MCLA training, malpractice insurance, and all the legal and technical support you need to volunteer. For more information, please contact .
Volunteer
Partner with NLSLA and Help Transform Communities
Join NLSLA as a volunteer and help Los Angeles County populations in need. Whether you’re a college student or recent graduate, paralegal student, interpreter, or other community member, your time and skills can contribute directly to NLSLA’s impact.
NLSLA volunteers support our staff, clients and litigants, and communities in a variety of meaningful ways. Many volunteers work directly with clients and litigants, help improve language access, and assist with outreach efforts that connect people to critical legal services.
Volunteer Opportunities Include:
- Self-Help Legal Access Centers (SHLAC)
- Work collaboratively with staff attorneys to interview self-represented people and provide them with educational materials, information, and document assistance with a focus on housing and family law
You’ll Love Working with SHLAC:
- A Culture of Inclusion – We are committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive work environment where everyone is respected for their unique contributions.
- Hands-on Experience – You will develop your people skills by working directly with litigants and helping them complete court forms.
- Networking Opportunities – You will have a chance to meet and work with attorneys to better understand the field of law.
- Continuous Learning – We provide a setting for you to cultivate cultural competency and humility among staff through ongoing training, open dialogue, and self-reflection.
- Meaningful Community Engagement – Volunteers partner with the communities we serve to co-create solutions and foster trust.
For questions about volunteering with NLSLA, please contact .
