A Wish List for Voluntary Legal Services
by Vicki Jacobs, VLSP Managing Attorney

At VLSP, we are often asked by prospective volunteers and donors to identify our areas of greatest need. Asking that question of a nonprofit organization, especially in these tight economic times, runs the risk of opening a Pandora's Box. Still, there are many ways concerned members of the legal community can contribute to our pro bono program that shouldn't take up too much valuable time or require too much money. The following list summarizes the greatest needs of our program at this time:

1. Volunteers: We are always in need of volunteer attorneys, especially those with some experience in those areas of civil law most in demand by our low income clients. Volunteers are needed for our clinics, to take on a case for direct representation, and to act as mentors to the many newly minted attorneys who seek to volunteer with our organization every year. The areas of law where we have the greatest need for volunteers are:

Family law (dissolution, custody, support). We especially need attorneys to take cases for representation since our weekly family law clinic held at the Meadowview Community Center closed in December. The need for assistance in this area is staggering. We greatly need the assistance of experienced family law attorneys to periodically screen our numerous requests for assistance to determine the suitability of each case for referral.

Debt collection & bankruptcy law. Our Debt Defense Clinic, held on Tuesday evenings, is overwhelmed with clients, especially of late. We are desperate for volunteers who can assist clients with the defense of debt collection cases, the defense of personal injury/property damage cases, negotiating payment plans, advising about the appropriateness of filing bankruptcy and assisting with Chapter 7 cases. Due to client demand, VLSP is beginning a once-monthly evening clinic devoted solely to Chapter 7 cases. We could use your help.

2. Advisory Committee members: VLSP has an Advisory Committee that helps govern the program. Members help with policy-making, publicity tasks, fundraising and the like. We are currently in need of four additional committee members who are interested in becoming actively involved with the program. Although I am VLSP's Managing Attorney now, I originally joined VLSP's Advisory Committee in 1990 while I was in private practice. It's a great way to meet some generous and civic-minded lawyers.

3. Phonathon callers: Every fall for the past10 years or so, VLSP has held a fundraising phonathon to raise vitally needed funds for the program. For the last few years, the phonathon has raised well over $20,000 annually for VLSP. We are always in need of folks who will call other attorneys to solicit funds at our phonathon. People are naturally reticent to do this, but once they participate, they always enjoy it. A few of your hours on a day in September could really be of assistance to our program.

4. Items needed at our downtown office and court clinic: There are, of course, more tangible items that our program needs to support our ongoing operations. They include: two new-ish laser-jet printers of the workhorse variety; five new-ish computer monitors; a desk-top sized photocopier; a self-correcting electric typewriter; white copy paper; four rolling secretary-type chairs (matching would be great!); six folding chairs (our evening clinics are very crowded); a computer mouse or two with scrolling capability; and books, especially current copies of the Rutter Group Practice Guides on family law, civil procedure, and probate law, current copies of the CEB books "Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Practice in California", "Will Drafting", and "Conservatorships and Guardianships."

If you would like further information about VLSP or our "wish list", or you can make a contribution, please call Vicki Jacobs at (916) 551-2162. We appreciate the ongoing support of so many members of our Sacramento-area legal community in delivering essential legal services to the low income members of our community.