Are you an attorney or law student who wants to make a difference by contributing your services pro bono?
You are in the right place! In 2010, MLSA tracked over 3400 hours of pro bono work by private attorneys. We greatly value contributions by the private bar to help us meet the large and growing need for legal aid in Montana. If you participate in one of the programs that we coordinate or manage, you can qualify for coverage under MLSA's malpractice insurance. In addition, MLSA periodically provides training sessions for attorneys on family law, which is by far the greatest need we have for pro bono attorneys. MLSA also contributes to a website with information and resources for pro bono attorneys, http://www.montanaprobono.net/.
What opportunities are available?
MLSA coordinates with local pro bono programs sponsored by courts and bar associations throughout Montana to match attorneys with clients. MLSA's Self-Help Law Unit has opportunities for attorneys to review family law forms (dissolution, parenting plans) that a client has filled out himself or herself, and provide brief advice. MLSA also has separate pro bono opportunities, including the review of blank court forms for self-represented litigants and legal education materials such as brochures and articles for www.montanalawhelp.org. In addition, MLSA has specific opportunities for attorneys who practice bankruptcy or tax law. For more information about specific pro bono opportunities, please contact the appropriate person listed below:
For Lewis & Clark, Broadwater, and Cascade Counties, contact August Swanson, aswanson@mtlsa.org or 406-442-9830 x 33.
For Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Madison, Mineral, Missoula, Powell, Ravalli, and Silver Bow Counties, contact Angie Wagenhals, awagenha@mtlsa.org or 406-543-8343 x 207.
For bankruptcy law-related opportunities, contact Jessie Lundberg, jlundber@mtlsa.org or 406-543-8343 x 219.
For tax lawyers who want to help clients in MLSA's Low-Income Tax Clinic with tax disputes, contact August Swanson, aswanson@mtlsa.org or 406-442-9830 x 33.
To help with developing forms for self-represented litigants or legal education materials, contact Christine Mandiloff at cmandilo@mtlsa.org or 442-9830 x 31.
If you are a law student, contact Angie Wagenhals at awagenhals@mtlsa.org or 406-543-8343 x 207.
For all other pro bono opportunities with MLSA, contact Angie Wagenhals at awagenhals@mtlsa.org or 406-543-8343 x 207.
Thank you for your interest in pro bono work!
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