About the Volunteer Lawyers Program (Civil)
The Civil Court operates a Volunteer Lawyers Program designed to assist unrepresented litigants. Volunteer lawyers trained by the Project provide free legal information and advice to litigants who do not have attorneys. Volunteer lawyers work in the Civil Court's Help Centers alongside experienced and knowledgeable Help Center Court Attorneys, also known as Pro Se Attorneys.
- If you are an attorney interested in joining the Volunteer Lawyers Project and obtaining free CLE credits, see Prospective Volunteer Attorneys below.
- If you are an existing attorney already participating in the Volunteer Lawyers Project and wish to view calendars with available dates for you to volunteer, schedule times to volunteer, complete an affirmation of completion of volunteer service, see Participating Volunteer Attorneys below.
- If you are representing yourself in a Civil or Small Claims case, see FAQs for Unrepresented Litigants below to learn about how the Volunteer Lawyers Program can help you.
FAQs for Unrepresented Litigants
Get free legal advice for your Civil or Small Claims case through the Civil Court’s Volunteer Lawyers Project. If you don’t have a lawyer, the Volunteer Lawyers Project can help.
Volunteer Lawyers can:
- review your court papers
- discuss your case
- help you fill out forms
- help you plan what to do with your case
- tell you where to find a lawyer to represent you in your case
The Volunteer Lawyers can’t represent you in court or file legal papers for you. If you seek help from the Volunteer Lawyers Project, you are still responsible for all court dates and filing deadlines.
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How do I get to the Civil Court’s Help Center in New York County?
#See the Help Center page for Help Center location and hours.
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How do I meet with a Volunteer Lawyer?
#Meet with a Volunteer Lawyer in the New York City Civil Court’s Help Center located at 111 Centre Street. No appointment is necessary.
If no Volunteer Lawyers are scheduled in the Help Center on the day you want to go, you can get help from a Help Center Court Attorney who can give you free legal and procedural information.
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What is the difference between a Volunteer Lawyer and a Help Center Court Attorney?
#Help Center Court Attorneys work for the Court. They can explain court procedures, legal terms, and provide general legal information. They can provide referrals to government agencies, social service organizations and legal services providers. But as Court employees, the Help Center Attorneys can’t give you legal advice.
Like the Volunteer Lawyers, they provide these services for free.
Volunteer lawyers provide legal advice and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your case.
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What should I bring to the Help Center?
#When you go to the Help Center to meet with a Volunteer Lawyer or Court Attorney, bring all court papers and any letters, bills or other documents that are related to your case.
Some examples are:
- Debt Collection Notices
- Credit Card Bills
- Contracts
- Summons
- Petition
- Complaint
- Answer
- Judgment
- Order
- Subpoena
Prospective Volunteer Attorneys
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 unrepresented litigants who seek assistance with their Consumer Debt cases, Small Claims cases, Name Change and other Civil Court matters at the Civil Court's Help Centers.
After completing CLE certified training, Volunteer Lawyers work in the Civil Court's Help Center under the supervision of Help Center Court Attorneys.
Volunteers meet with unrepresented 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 Program contact Laurie B. Milder, Special Counsel, NYS Courts Access to Justice Program 646-386-5850 or email [email protected].
Participating Volunteer Attorneys
If you have completed the requisite training by attending the training session, you now qualify to schedule your volunteer time and satisfy your 20-hour commitment to the Civil Court.
You will be providing an important public service by helping unrepresented litigants who are in need of legal assistance and guidance with their Civil Court cases in the Civil Court's Help Center.
For additional information or questions about your volunteer service, contact Laurie B. Milder, Special Counsel, NYS Courts Access to Justice Program, at 646-386-5850, or email [email protected].