Serve your community. Strengthen access to justice. Build your legacy.
Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? Do you want to help bridge the justice gap for low-income individuals in Montana? Participating in pro bono work is an essential way to promote equal access to justice, ensuring that legal services are available to those in need.
Pro bono services ensures that all Montanans, regardless of income, have access to the legal support they need. By volunteering your time, you help further the mission of equal justice under the law, supporting individuals navigating the complexities of the judicial system. At MLSA, we offer a variety of pro bono opportunities, whether you're interested in limited scope services or providing full representation.
Check out our current pro bono volunteer opportunities below.
Pro Bono Opportunities
Montana Legal Services Association is seeking volunteer attorneys to participate in the Pro Bono Phone Advice Project. MLSA is specifically looking for volunteers to provide assistance with family law and employment matters.
Volunteer attorneys are invited to donate an hour of their time to provide over-the-phone legal advice to pre-screened clients. This is a flexible option that can be done remotely, at your convenience. This project is ideal for attorneys whose schedules may not allow for full representation but still wish to contribute their expertise to those in need. The Pro Bono Phone Advice Project allows attorneys to reach clients throughout Montana, including those in rural areas who may have limited access to in-person legal help.
In Honor of Chief Justice Karla Gray’s dedication to access to justice, AskKarla.org is an online platform where attorneys can anonymously answer civil legal questions from income-qualified clients. This convenient, self-paced opportunity allows attorneys to assist with legal inquiries on their own schedule. To begin, visit AskKarla.org and click “Volunteer.”
Across Montana, local communities host monthly family law clinics, offering free advice and document review to income-qualified clients. Clinics typically run for 2-4 hours and are held in Helena, Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, and Kalispell. Attorneys usually meet with 2-3 clients to address family law issues during each clinic session.
Local courts and bar associations collaborate with MLSA to place volunteer attorneys with low-income individuals in need of full representation. Taking a case for full representation is critical for access to justice, especially for low-income Montanans, because it ensures people receive comprehensive legal help in situations where the stakes are high. Full representation can level the playing field for Montanans who would often be forced to represent themselves against more powerful, well-represented parties, while also promoting fairness and equality before the law.
The Emeritus Project is a unique opportunity designed specifically for emeritus status state bar members. Through this initiative, retired attorneys can continue to make a difference by providing civil legal aid to low-income Montanans, as well as mentoring volunteer attorneys. This program includes a variety of opportunities, from family law clinics and full representation to mentoring and offering limited-scope services.
Montana Pro Bono Academy is the first online learning platform tailored to attorneys across the state to support and enhance pro bono legal work in Montana. On Montana Pro Bono Academy, attorneys can gain access to comprehensive training and support for various pro bono engagements, including phone advice projects, full representation referrals, and in person clinic opportunities. You can sign up here.
Interested in Volunteering with MLSA?
If any of these pro bono opportunities interest you, please click the button below:
For other questions, please contact the MLSA Pro Bono Program at: