About Volunteer Attorney Programs

Please be advised that the New York State Unified Court System Office for Justice Initiatives has temporarily suspended all court-based volunteer lawyer programs, although some have resumed virtually.

We look forward to resuming all programs at the appropriate time.


With the sharp downturn in the economy, the number of unrepresented litigants appearing in the New York State Courts increased dramatically. In response, the court system established the Volunteer Attorney Programs as a free service designed to ensure that these litigants have access to competent legal advice to guide them as they represent themselves. There are also programs that provide limited scope representation in courtrooms.

 

Volunteering

Under the supervision of court staff, volunteer attorneys, law graduates, and law students spend full days or parts of days in a courthouse, and are available to provide legal advice and assistance to unrepresented litigants in:

  • answering questions and inquiries
  • completing petitions and other court forms
  • preparing for court hearings
  • interpreting court orders

Volunteers also may assist litigants in settling their cases.

Participating attorneys select the court where they wish to serve and the types of cases on which they wish to consult. Matters in which legal assistance is needed include:

  • consumer debt cases
  • family matters (including custody, visitation, and child support)
  • landlord/tenant cases
  • matrimonial
  • uncontested divorce

In each of these areas, the court system will provide free training, with CLE credit.

Attorneys can volunteer just a few hours a week or as frequently as every day on a schedule that is convenient to them.

 

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Volunteer

To get started, complete the Online Application.

 

Upcoming Trainings