About VLP

Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association was established in 1977 to provide legal representation in civil matters to the indigent of Boston through the pro bono services of private attorneys and paralegals. It is among the oldest organized pro bono efforts in the country. In 1996, VLP broadened its scope when it became the grantee of the federal Legal Services Corporation for the Greater Boston area.  VLP also supports the Legal Advocacy and Resource Center (LARC) to operate a hotline to screen and refer clients to appropriate legal and social services and/or advise clients when services are not available or necessary. All efforts are augmented by a modest in-house case handling capacity.

Pro bono services are provided through a panel of approximately 1,000 attorneys and paralegals representing all segments of the legal community- members of small, medium and large firms, solo practitioners, government attorneys, and corporate counsel. The panel handles cases in a broad range of substantive areas: approximately 31% in housing, 19% in family, 24% in consumer, 15% in public benefits (primarily SSI), and 5% in wills and probate for the elderly.

In addition to handling cases, VLP volunteers serve as Attorneys of the Day at the Boston Housing Court; teach community legal education programs for low-income homeowners; provide telephone advice on probate and estate related issues; and serve as counsel to a variety of community groups.

VLP staff screen clients for financial and geographic eligibility and cases for legal merit. Appropriate cases are referred to pro bono panel members. All cases are monitored during the course of representation to ensure that panel members receive any necessary assistance and that clients are satisfied with the services rendered. VLP designs and delivers training programs to panel members; offers meeting rooms for attorney/client interviews; maintains a litigation fund to reimburse panel members for out-of-pocket expenses; provides technical assistance on specific cases; makes available to panel members a library of poverty law materials including sample briefs and pleadings; and provides professional liability coverage for referred cases. VLP's staff also provide mentoring to panel members during the course of cases as needed.

Volunteer's Lawyers Project receives support from: