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Mission: Helping Lawyers Help PeopleThe Nebraska State Bar Association began the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) in 1983 to help Nebraska attorneys meet their pro bono goals. Thanks to the amazing volunteer attorneys, law students, and other legal professionals, VLP helped over 9,600 low-income Nebraskans in 2023. 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.
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The Legal Services Corporation estimates that 74% of low-income households experience a civil legal problem annually and 92% 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.
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Thankful Thursday Volunteer: KATELYN SWANEYToday we are celebrating Katelyn Swaney of @Hightower Reff Law for her unwavering dedication to and fierce compassion in her pro bono endeavors. Swaney volunteers at VLP's community based legal clinics, Virtual Self-Help Center, and Tenant Assistance Project. She also answers questions on Nebraska Free Legal Answers and accepts pro bono cases from VLP. To top it off, Swaney serves on the NSBA's Legal Services Committee, helping to advise and guide VLP. Through her robust volunteerism, Swaney is a lifeline for individuals and families in crisis, a shield for the most vulnerable, and a powerful reminder of what justice looks like in action.
Thank you, Katelyn Swaney! #ThankfulThursday |
If you would like to thank a pro bono volunteer for their efforts in expanding access to justice, you can do so using the link below. With just a few sentences, anyone can nominate any Nebraska legal professional or group of Nebraska legal professionals who they believe deserve special recognition for their dedication to pro bono work.