Private Attorney Involvement (PAI)

Private attorneys are essential to the provision of legal services for low income and otherwise vulnerable members of our communities. Volunteers increase SCCLS’ ability to meet the demand for our services and ensure that clients get the help they need to address critical legal issues. In the last year alone, private attorneys assisted more than 120 clients who otherwise would not have received legal assistance.

woman attorney volunteer

Why Volunteer?

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

-Mahatma Gandhi

  • Hands-on and in court experience
  • Case support
  • Free trainings
  • Reduced fee MCLEs
  • Mentorship
  • Malpractice Insurance
  • Meeting space
  • Compensated cases are also available

Pro Bono Opportunities

As a private attorney volunteer in the Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape and Islands areas, you can supplement legal services programs through the generous donation of your time and legal skills to assist eligible clients. Your willingness to help even one client each year makes a real difference. If you are interested in helping to make a difference, we have many ways you can get involved.

PAI refers full representation cases in a variety of substantive areas including family, consumer / bankruptcy, simple estate planning and eviction defense.

Volunteer attorneys provide brief counsel and advice and assistance with basic forms to pro se litigants for a variety of family law issues. These workshops are a great way to assist our clients when you only have a few hours to spare. Please see our Calendar of Events for the current schedule and to sign up. 

Volunteer attorneys are connected with a small group of clients – those 60 years of age and older – to prepare essential estate planning documents, including: a health care proxy, a durable power of attorney, and simple will.

PAI VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY APPLICATION

Compensated Case Opportunities

The Compensated Attorney Program (CAP) provides an opportunity for private attorneys to receive “low bono” compensation to help cover the costs of overhead and time with no charge to our clients. Substantive law areas can include family, eviction defense, basic estate planning and others.

Benefits include:
  • $50/hr compensation
  • Limited expense reimbursement
  • Malpractice insurance for referred case

If you are interested in joining the compensated attorney panel, please review the policies and procedures, download a pdf of the CAP Program Agreement and submit to SCCLS along with a W-9 form.

The PAI Project would be pleased to hear from you. For questions or additional information, please contact:

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