VOLUNTEER: Pro Bono Opportunities

Legal Aid welcomes attorneys, paralegals, and law students who want to make a direct impact on the San Mateo community. Thanks to the efforts of over 300 volunteers, Legal Aid helped more than 200 clients in 2009 through our pro bono projects.

Please read our FAQs for more information about the opportunities below. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Director of Pro Bono Janet B. Seldon at jbseldon@legalaidsmc.org.

For Attorneys and Law Firms
Legal Aid has several projects that are open to volunteers: Guardianship Pro Bono Project, Conservatorship Pro Bono Project, HomeSavers Project, or the Domestic Violence Collaborative. Local law firms often choose to participate on a firm-wide basis on these projects.

After completing training, lawyers take on their own cases and serve as the attorney of record. Legal Aid supervises volunteers as they represent clients and provides guidance through mentors and our advisory panel of experts. Generally speaking, a full representation case can take anywhere from 20-60 hours of legal work, including court hearings. For volunteers working in our housing clinics, the time commitment is usually four hours at each clinic.

We also welcome attorneys interested in volunteering in other areas where you already have expertise such as elder abuse, tax issues, or consumer scams targeted at seniors. Please contact Director of Pro Bono Janet B. Seldon at jbseldon@legalaidsmc.org for more information.

For Paralegals
Paralegals are placed in our housing clinics, as part of Legal Aid’s HomeSavers Project. Every week, Legal Aid holds three housing clinics where tenants can come for help. Working under attorney supervision, paralegals spend four hours a week answering questions and processing cases related to housing issues.

For Law Students
Law students typically work in Legal Aid’s advanced healthcare directive clinic, held every summer at various senior center and senior housing sites in Half Moon Bay, Belmont, Pacifica, East Palo Alto, South San Francisco and San Mateo.

Student Law Clerk Position

For All Volunteers
We welcome volunteers who wish to serve as a mentor, as a legal expert on our advisory panel, or as a translator.