Serve the Community

Pro Bono Opportunities

Our neighbors need our help. But not everyone can afford to pay legal fees. We know we should volunteer at least 50 hours each year to represent low income clients, but it’s not always easy. Here are some ways you can build pro bono into a busy practice. The rewards personally and to our system of justice are worth it!

Pro Bono Opportunities exist in every state court in Vermont. Consider volunteering in your local probate or family division, where the need is especially great. For more ideas, or to start your own pro bono project, contact Mary Ashcroft, Esq, VBA Legal Access Coordinator at mashcroft@vtbar.org

Vermont Volunteer Lawyer Project is a statewide program matching volunteer attorneys with low-income clients. You choose when, where and the types of cases you will accept, and VVLP provides the screening, referral and support. For more information or to sign up, contact the Legal Access Coordinator, at 802-863-7153.

Vermont Free Legal Answers allows lawyers to answer legal questions on-line for low income Vermonters. Practice pro bono law anywhere, anytime. Learn more or sign up at www.vt.freelegalanswers.org.

Legal Advice Clinics are a great way to offer brief but valuable legal advice. Clinics are hosted by some courts and by various non-profit organization in many areas of the state. Check out the listings HERE.

Modest Means

The Modest Means Program (MMP) is a reduced-fee attorney panel designed to make legal services accessible to lower and moderate income people who have too much income to be eligible for Vermont Legal Aid, but still not enough to afford full attorney’s fees. Clients are eligible for the Modest Means Program if their income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level—under $49,600 for a family of 4.

We have partnered with Vermont Legal Aid on this project. Possible clients will enter financial information into VLA’s on-line intake system. If they meet the criteria for the Modest Means Panel—up to 250% of federal poverty level—they will be redirected to the VBA’s on-line Modest Means Program intake system. When you receive a referral through the Modest Means Program, this client meets the criteria for a reduced fee; however clients will be advised that you, as receiving attorney, will ask them for proof of household income. Sign up HERE

Vermont Free Legal Answers

To volunteer, lawyers must be licensed in Vermont and register by logging on to vt.freelegalanswers.org, clicking the “Volunteer Attorney Registration” tab and following the prompts. You will receive an e-mail when your registration has been processed, and can log on any time after the site has been activated to review questions in the queue, and to select questions to answer at your discretion. We hope that this will be a very convenient way for lawyers to meet the aspirational goal of 50 hours of pro bono services per year set forth in Rule 6.1.

Click HERE for “Frequently Asked Questions from Volunteer Attorneys”, “Frequently Asked Questions from Site Users”, and “Other Places to Find Legal Help and Information”, for your information. If you have any questions about registering to be a volunteer lawyer, please contact Mary Ashcroft at mashcroft@vtbar.org or Sam Abel-Palmer at sabel-palmer@lawlinevt.org. Thank you for your help with this latest access to justice initiative!

Become a Foreclosure Mediator

If you would like to expand your practice and assist Vermont homeowners and lenders in working together to resolve foreclosure matters, consider becoming a court-approved foreclosure mediator. Foreclosure mediation training through the VBA is required before becoming a court-approved foreclosure mediator under the statute.

The prerequisite training is available via our Digital Library under Foreclosure Defense and Mediation (April, 2020) and is 5.75 MCLE credit hours. The materials for this 3-part program are here: Foreclosure Training Materials Part 1, Foreclosure Training Materials Part 2 and Foreclosure Training Materials Part 3 . To be on the panel, just complete the program, after which you will be mailed an application and pay the annual foreclosure mediator fee of $100.