In October, the Massachusetts Bar Association is proud to join attorneys around the country in support of Pro Bono Month — a collective effort to promote volunteerism to meet the legal needs of the most vulnerable people in our society. Pro bono service is an important part of being an attorney in Massachusetts, and we encourage you to volunteer for one of our pro bono initiatives.
In honor of Pro Bono Month, this month in eJournal we will be highlighting several volunteer opportunities available at the MBA. This week, we’re spotlighting Mass Legal Answers Online (www.masslao.org).
Are you looking for an opportunity to engage in pro bono from the comfort of your home or office?
Sign up for Mass Legal Answers Online, the Massachusetts home of the American Bar Association’s Free Legal Answers project. Through MLAO, low-income Massachusetts residents can post questions on a range of civil legal issues. Volunteer attorneys answer these questions through the secure MLAO website, providing targeted information and advice based on the needs of the client. Since MLAO’s launch in November 2016, 550-pls attorneys from across the commonwealth have signed up to answer more than 9,600 questions on civil legal topics such as housing, family, consumer debt, and employment.
Interested? Visit www.masslao.org to register to join the volunteer panel or email info@masslao.org for more information. MLAO is supported by the Massachusetts Bar Foundation. the Boston Bar Foundation and the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation.
Additional pro bono opportunities can be found on Mass Pro Bono (www.massprobono.org), an online resource for lawyers, law students, paralegals and other legal professionals who want to give their time to meet the legal needs of people with low incomes in Massachusetts. Over 50 organizations in Massachusetts have posted pro bono opportunities on Mass Pro Bono, including short-term commitments such as helping at clinics and lawyer for the day programs, as well as taking cases for full representation in a wide range of subject areas. A calendar and library curate opportunities, resources and trainings to provide tools and skill-building to those engaging in pro bono.