Pro Bono Opportunities

Looking to put your disability law experience to use, or volunteer in a new capacity to assist individuals with disabilities? You’re in the right place! We will be highlighting pro bono opportunities that often serve individuals with disabilities, and/or opportunities where disability law experience can be helpful. Please direct questions about individual opportunities to the specific program you have questions regarding; if you have an opportunity you would like highlighted here, please send it to Tiffany Blackmon, [email protected].

Free Federal Law Clinic

The Free Federal Law Clinic assists pro se litigants with civil matters filed in federal court. The Clinic offers free, 30-minute consultations with a lawyer, after which the litigants continue to represent themselves. The Clinic is in need of volunteers, and they have expressed that they routinely have individuals needing assistance with Social Security cases, so many of members would be uniquely qualified to assist!  All volunteers must be licensed Oregon attorneys with PLF coverage.
This program is an ideal way for lawyers who wish to volunteer in their community without a long-term commitment. The Clinic also provides an option for court staff to refer litigants with questions.
Please consider volunteering! They handle all of the communication with the litigant prior to the appointment, arrange for conflict checking, and provide a letter agreement outlining the scope of the limited engagement. Currently, all meetings with the litigants are via phone consultations. You may apply for CLE credit for volunteering!
Ready to volunteer? Send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Volunteer Attorney” to get started. Questions? Email Lydia Anderson-Dana at [email protected] or Bryan Dearinger at [email protected].

OSB COVID-19 Assistance Panel

The Oregon State Bar has created a limited service pro bono panel to assist with providing video/phone consultations (lasting up to 30 minutes) on issues related to the pandemic. To volunteer for the panel, complete the survey at th below link; you are able to specify the areas of law you’re willing to offer services in, including public benefits, disability rights, and other topics. Sign into your Bar account and complete the survey here if you’re interested in volunteering: COVID-19 Panel Survey

OSB FEMA Wildfire Volunteer Opportunities

The Bar is recruiting volunteer attorneys to assist with legal matters arising out of the Oregon wildfires. You can specify areas of law you’re willing to offer services in, including assistance securing benefits, insurance claims, foreclosure, and landlord-tenant topics. Sign into your Bar account and complete the survey here if you’re interested in volunteering: FEMA Wildfire survey

Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)

IRCO has a Disability Legal Services program, in which they assist disabled refugees with obtaining Social Security disability benefits. This is a certified program and as such can provide PLF coverage and a mentor attorney. Contact Gladys Ismail for more information or to volunteer, [email protected], (971) 271-6429, or visit IRCO.org

Guardian Partners

Guardian Partners needs volunteers to act as Guardian Monitors. They provide training and support while you are assigned cases, during which you meet with the Protected Person and their Guardian and provide a report to the Court regarding the guardianship and any evidence of abuse or neglect. Legal training and/or experience with individuals with disabilities is helpful but not required, Monitors come from many different backgrounds. Volunteers do not give legal advice, the volunteer work only involves temporary monitoring of cases. Learn more about the positions here: Guardian Partners or contact Marc Kochanski, [email protected], (971)409-1358

Volunteers of America (VOA)- Home Free

VOA needs volunteers to provide support, information and assistance with paperwork at the Multnomah County Court restraining order room to individuals seeking domestic violence restraining orders, stalking orders, and elder and disabled abuse prevention orders. Volunteers do not give legal advice or provide legal representation. Volunteers must complete a screening process and 40-hour training to volunteer. Learn more here: VOAOR.org or contact Kelsey Stark, [email protected], (503) 595-2009