Volunteer Lawyers Project - Civil
(New York County)

Attorneys Interested in Volunteering

In General
Training and CLE Credits
Volunteer Services in the Help Centers
Read What Volunteers Have to Say About the Project
Submit An Application

In General

Attorneys who are interested in volunteer service can broaden and enrich their Pro Bono experience by participating in the Civil Court’s Volunteer Lawyers Project.

The Civil Volunteer Lawyers Project offers a unique and rewarding opportunity for attorneys with experience in all practice areas to earn Free CLE credit and perform an important and needed public service.

By participating in the Civil Volunteer Lawyers Project, Volunteer Lawyers can offer legal advice and information to self-represented litigants who seek assistance with their Civil and Small Claims cases at the Civil Court’s Help Center in New York County.

After completing CLE certified training which focuses on common legal and procedural issues that arise in the Civil and Small Claims Courts, Volunteer Lawyers work in the Civil Court's Help Center under the supervision of Help Center Court Attorneys.

Volunteers meet with self-represented litigants, analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their individual cases, and provide legal information and advice. Volunteers do not represent litigants in court proceedings or file papers on their behalf.

For additional information about the Civil Court’s Volunteer Lawyers Project contact Laurie B. Milder, Special Counsel, Civil Court Volunteer Lawyers Project at (646) 386-5850 or email VLPCivil@courts.state.ny.us.

Training and CLE Credit

The Volunteer Lawyers Project offers Free CLE Credits to attorneys who volunteer to provide pro bono legal information and advice to self-represented litigants in the Civil Court's Help Center.  These training sessions are designed to familiarize Volunteer Lawyers with issues that self-represented litigants are commonly faced with in the Civil and Small Claims Courts. Training consists of lectures and panel discussions by experienced practitioners, scholars, court personnel, and representatives from government agencies. Training topics include:

• Consumer Debt
• Civil and Small Claims Procedure
• Ethical Issues in Providing "Unbundled" Legal Services

Attendance at all training sessions is a prerequisite to volunteering.

Go to News and Announcements for upcoming training dates.

Volunteer Service in the Help Center

In exchange for Free CLE credit, participating attorneys commit to volunteer in the Civil Court's Help Center in New York County for a minimum of six (6) hours over the course of one (1) year. Every effort is made to accommodate requests.

Volunteer opportunities are now available in the Civil Court's Help Center in New York County only. In the near future, volunteer opportunities will become available in the Civil Court's Help Centers in other counties.

Read What Volunteers Have to Say About the Project

Read what people are saying about being a volunteer attorney.

Submit An Application

Register for the Volunteer Lawyers Project for the Civil and Small Claims Courts by completing the on-line application.

If you have any difficulties with the on-line enrollment process, contact VLPCivil@courts.state.ny.us.