Volunteer Opportunities

ADAPT (Advance Directives and Property Transfers) – Remote Opportunity

Advise people in preparing Advance Directives and Property Transfers: Powers of Attorney for Health Care and Property, Living Wills, and Transfer on Death Instruments (to allow for the transfer of ownership of a home upon death). Volunteers conduct telephone interviews with clients, then prepare these important documents for clients according to their wishes.

Legal Aid Chicago staff arrange for mailing the documents to the client and notarization and execution.

• Time Commitment: 3-4 hours per client. Attorneys indicate availability for phone appointments via Sign-Up Genius and then prepare documents for the client following the phone appointment
• Training & Benefits: Interactive eLearning modules, which can be completed in 3 hours online. Manuals, online resources, and other materials provided along with back-up support from Legal Aid Chicago attorneys.

Bankruptcy Help Desk – Remote Opportunity

Help clients prepare forms and draft motions in connection with their consumer bankruptcy cases. Answer clients’ questions about bankruptcy in general or their cases in particular.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, all counseling is conducted via telephone. Volunteers sign up for shifts in advance and counsel clients who sign up for appointments. Legal Aid Chicago staff facilitate the exchange of documents via email and other means to clients.

• Time Commitment: 3-4 hour shifts, minimum of 6 shifts per year
• Additional Qualifications: At least 1 year of experience practicing bankruptcy law. Some familiarity with consumer bankruptcy (Chapter 7 & Chapter 13) is helpful.
• Training & Benefits: Online 90-minute training. Support provided by Legal aid Chicago attorneys. Volunteering at the Bankruptcy Help Desk fulfills the Northern District of Illinois’ Pro Bono Participation Requirement.

Criminal Records Relief – Remote Opportunity

Prepare petitions for expungement and sealing for clients who have been screened by Legal Aid Chicago. Legal Aid Chicago conducts the records research and determines eligibility before a case is assigned. Following completion of the petition by the volunteer, Legal Aid Chicago resumes responsibility for the case including reviewing, signing, filing, court appearances and providing clients with court orders.

• Time Commitment: 3-4 hours per case, including phone consultation with the client and document preparation. Volunteers indicate availability for a case via email and are sent case materials, following a conflict check.
• Training & Benefits: Online CLE training available on-demand. Training materials, sample forms and other materials provided along with support from Legal Aid Chicago attorneys.

EPIC (Eviction Prevention in Chicagoland) 

Legal Aid Chicago’s Eviction Prevention in Chicagoland (“EPIC”) helps tenants who are facing eviction. Volunteers for EPIC will provide representation to assist with settlement and litigation to help tenants avoid eviction. Legal Aid Chicago provides back-up support and co-counseling throughout each case. 

• Time Commitment:
  • Extended Representation
    • 5-10 hours over the course of 2-3 weeks to assist with settlement
    • Courtroom representation is available for those volunteers interested in gaining court and trial prep experience
• Training & Benefits:
  • All volunteer attorneys will receive comprehensive training on the eviction process and eviction court. Experienced housing attorneys are available to provide support and technical assistance throughout. Court is conducted remotely via Zoom in most instances.

Orders of Protection Litigation Project

Provide direct representation to victims of domestic violence who are seeking to obtain an Order of Protection at the west suburban Maybrook Courthouse.

• Time Commitment: 3-9 weeks with 1-2 court appearances
• Additional Qualifications: Must join the Pro Bono Network here
• Training & Benefits: Online training provided through the Pro Bono Network with ongoing support from Legal Aid Chicago.

Pro Bono Panel – Remote Opportunity

Receive an occasional email containing cases where Legal Aid Chicago seeks collaboration or help from a volunteer attorney. Cases include both transactional and litigation matters.

• Time Commitment: Varies based on the case.
• Training & Benefits: No formal training is provided, but Legal Aid Chicago will provide mentorship and ongoing support as needed.

Disrupting the School-to-Prison-Pipeline Project – Remote Opportunity

Across the United States, students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students are disproportionately disciplined in school and more likely to be involved in the criminal justice system. This project seeks to disrupt these trends and offers an opportunity to assist with  juvenile records expungement.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, all responsibilities will occur remotely.

Attorney volunteers will prepare juvenile expungement petitions to help clear juvenile records, which can hold youth back from employment, education and housing. Responsibilities include completing the expungement petition and discussing eligibility with client. Legal Aid Chicago will file the expungement petition and handle any court appearances.

• Time Commitment: 1-3 hours per client, schedule non-urgent and timing flexible.
• Training and Benefits: eLearning training which can be done from your home or office. Manuals, online resources, along with support from Legal Aid Chicago attorneys.

Community Legal Clinics – In-Person Opportunity

Legal Aid Chicago’s community legal clinics were founded to make legal services more accessible throughout Chicago, allowing people to have their stories heard within their own neighborhoods.  Every month, volunteer attorneys interview clients who walk-in to the community legal clinics to gather an understanding of clients’ legal issues and goals. With guidance from Legal Aid Chicago attorneys, clients are advised on their legal options and guided on next steps.  There are currently two community legal clinics accepting volunteers: the Austin Legal Clinic and the Woodlawn Legal Clinic.

• Time Commitment: The Austin Legal Clinic takes place on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 4pm – 6pm, in-person in the Austin community.  The Woodlawn Legal Clinic takes place on the second Wednesday of every month from 4pm – 6pm, in-person in the Woodlawn community.  Volunteers can choose which clinic and which month they would like to volunteer via SignUpGenius.
• Training and Benefits: The community legal clinics are open to all licensed attorneys.  Specific knowledge of the legal areas Legal Aid Chicago practices in is not required.  Legal Aid Chicago will provide brief training materials to volunteers prior to the clinics and Legal Aid Chicago attorneys will be present during the clinics to provide support and legal advice to volunteers.

Fair Housing Testing Volunteer 

Fair housing testing is an investigative tool used to gather information to compare a housing provider’s conduct to the requirements of fair housing laws. Testing is one way to determine whether all housing consumers are being afforded the same information, treatment, and access without regard to the characteristics protected by fair housing laws (race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or family status). As a tester, you may be asked to undergo a covert investigation posing as someone in search of housing. You may be asked to speak with a property management company leasing agent over the phone and/or attend an in-person tour of a rental unit. You will then be asked to write a report detailing your experience.

Financial Consulting Project – Remote Opportunity

Perform forensic investigations to detect hidden assets and financial modeling to determine the value of assets or a business. Assist in the preparation of materials for presentation in court, or in some cases, communicate their findings in the form of a written report or as oral testimony.

• Time Commitment: Varies by case. Case opportunities are sent via email to the panel members. Members can express interest in opportunities that match their expertise and availability.
• Qualifications: Experience in litigation consulting, fraud investigations, forensic accounting, or business valuation.

Low Income Taxpayer Project – Remote Opportunity

Assist clients in filing tax returns to avoid mistakes that may delay processing. Volunteers must be available during tax season, although there may be cases outside tax season as well.

• Time Commitment: 10-20 hours per case, depending on client needs. Must be available during tax season.
• Additional Qualifications: Must be a licensed Certified Public Accountant and have knowledge to prepare tax returns. Spanish language skills are helpful.