The Power of Pro Bono

Bridging the Civil Legal Justice Gap

Thanks to our amazing volunteer attorneys, law students, and other legal professionals, VLP helped more than 6,600 Nebraskans in 2020. Victims of human trafficking secured custody of their children from their abusers. Individuals living with disabilities avoided evictions during the pandemic. Daycare providers secured legal guidance in navigating the federal relief packages.
The Legal Services Corporation estimates that 71% of low-income households experience a civil legal problem annually and 86% of low-income individuals seeking civil legal assistance receive inadequate or no legal assistance. Legal nonprofits alone cannot solve this crisis, particularly in Nebraska where the civil legal justice gap is compounded by the rural justice gap. The Volunteer Lawyers Project is committed to connecting legal professionals with meaningful pro bono and reduced fee work through direct case placement, virtual & in-person clinics, ongoing projects, cyber platforms, and courthouse self-help desks. 

Thankful Thursday Volunteer

Kala Mueller

We are grateful for Kala Mueller, the Director of Public Interest Programs at Nebraska College of Law. In addition to ensuring pro bono & public interest opportunities are part of law school, Kala volunteers with VLP and serves on the board of the Midwest Innocence Project. 
Please nominate a pro bono volunteer you would like to thank for their efforts in expanding access to justice. With just a few sentences, anyone can nominate any Nebraska legal professional or group of Nebraska legal professionals they believe deserve special recognition for their dedication to pro bono work. ​

Volunteer Opportunity Spotlight

Nebraska Free Legal Answers

By utilizing technology, Nebraska attorneys can engage in pro bono work from their home or office at any time through Nebraska Free Legal Answers. The Volunteer Lawyers Project administers this program for the American Bar Association. Past NSBA President, J. Scott Paul, urged Nebraska State Bar Association members to consider engaging in pro bono work through NFLA one hour a week in order to meet the Nebraska Supreme Court's rule that all attorneys aspire to fifty hours of pro bono work each year.  Sign up today at Ne.Freelegalanswers.org