At the Voluntary Legal Services Program, we try hard to find volunteer opportunities for all attorneys interested in helping the low income members of our community with their civil legal problems. Whether you are a newly licensed attorney, or an attorney who practices in an area of law not frequently encountered by low income clients (i.e., securities or corporate law), we can find a way for you to contribute.

Attorneys do not have to be in private practice to volunteer with VLSP. One question we occasionally receive from state-employed attorneys is whether, if they volunteer with us, they will have to comply with the State Bar's MCLE requirements from which they are otherwise exempt. The answer is no. Because VLSP is a nonprofit legal aid program that receives some of its funding through the IOLTA (Interest On Lawyer's Trust Fund Accounts) program, simply volunteering one's time at VLSP will not cause the state attorney to be subject to the MCLE requirements.

Another question we occasionally receive, especially from attorneys who are not in private practice, is whether VLSP has malpractice insurance to cover the work done by our volunteers. VLSP does have a policy with limits of $1,000,00 for our volunteers. Since VLSP's start in 1981, there have been no claims made under VLSP's malpractice insurance policy.

Because we recognize that some of our volunteers will not have experience in the areas of law that our clients need help with, VLSP puts on low cost MCLE trainings each year in those areas of law. Please check out our "calendar" section on VLSP's web site (www.vlsp.org) for a description of our trainings or call us at (916) 551-2116 and ask that an MCLE brochure be mailed to you.

For attorneys new to the areas of law VLSP handles, we also can provide an experienced "mentor" attorney to advise you periodically during the handling of the case. By the way, if you are an experienced attorney, we'd love to have you sign up as a mentor, even if you would not otherwise want to take on a client of your own. We particularly could use more mentor attorneys in the area of family law.

VLSP offers clients services two ways: (1) through assignment of cases directly to attorneys for direct representation; and (2) through assistance (advice or forms completion) at one of VLSP's pro per advice clinics. Following the pro per clinics, the clients are either referred to a private attorney for direct representation or go on to represent themselves through their legal matter. The pro per clinics provide a convenient way for attorneys to volunteer their time, as at the end of the clinic, the volunteer does not take the case with him or her for full representation.

One of the best ways for new volunteers to become involved with VLSP is through providing assistance at our Tuesday night Debt Collection Defense Clinic. This pro per clinic helps clients with many kinds of legal problems arising out of a claimed debt. This might include helping a client negotiate a payment plan, or prepare an Answer to a personal injury or property damage lawsuit, advising a client about how to deal with unlawful collection practices by a creditor, or helping a client determine whether bankruptcy is the client's best option.

At the Debt Collection Defense Clinic, if a volunteer has litigation experience, he or she can help with the clients in litigation. Even without litigation experience, we can train you to handle the basic type of issues that are often encountered at the Clinic. Further, on May 31, 2005, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., VLSP will be holding an MCLE class on "Answering Debt Collection Lawsuits," where volunteers can learn to prepare Answers for clients seeking assistance at the Debt Collection Defense Clinic. For further information, please see the calendar section of VLSP's web site (www.vlsp.org) or call (916) 551-2116.

If any prospective volunteer wants more information about volunteer opportunities with VLSP, please call Vicki Jacobs, VLSP's Managing Attorney, at (916) 551-2162.

March / April 2005