Volunteer
Become a Volunteer Lawyer
Use your legal skills to help survivors and children build safe, stable futures. Volunteer Legal Advocates surrounds every pro bono lawyer with training, resources, and 1:1 support. Join us in achieving life-changing results for our clients while deepening your pro bono experience. Our volunteers benefit from:
- CLE-accredited live & on-demand training
- A dedicated supervising attorney who reviews filings and goes to court with you
- Co-counsel pairing during most cases
- Litigation expenses reimbursed; office & virtual meeting space provided
- Deep resource library with sample pleadings and motions
- Professional-liability coverage
How It Works
Step 1: Registration
Complete our short form to share your interests and bar number.
Step 2: Intake
Schedule a brief call with our team to be matched with the right practice area.
Step 3: Training
Visit our Online Training Hub and start learning at your own pace.
Step 4: Volunteer
Get started with a clinic or case! Explore current opportunities below.
Practice Areas
Every client we serve is navigating violence, trauma, or profound instability. As a pro bono attorney, you’ll stand beside them, help them reclaim their voice, and shape a safer future. Choose a practice area that fits your interests and availability—our Volunteer Legal Advocates team will be with you every step.
Protection Orders
Represent domestic violence survivors in hearings that typically resolve in 4-6 weeks. Choose your trial date in advance—ideal for busy attorneys seeking predictable, short-term commitments. These cases offer supervised in-court litigation experience within a short timeframe. Volunteers may sign up far in advance to represent a client on a specific hearing date, allowing busy attorneys to plan their court appearances more effectively.
Average Case Length: 4-6 weeks
Location: Washington, DC & Montgomery County, MD
Family Law
Represent domestic violence survivors and children in civil protection order, custody, and divorce matters; critical steps in building stable, violence-free lives. These cases offer rich, supervised in-court litigation experience, including discovery, motion practice, negotiations, and trial. You’ll receive extensive training, sample pleadings, and staff supervision throughout.
Average Case Length: 6–12 months
Typical Hearing Frequency: Every 2–3 months
Location: Washington, DC & Montgomery County, MD
Child Advocacy
As a court-appointed Guardian ad litem in custody cases, you’ll advocate for the best interests of children facing serious risks—such as abuse, neglect, or exposure to domestic violence. These cases offer meaningful, hands-on experience in investigation, negotiation, and litigation. You’ll conduct interviews, review records, collaborate with service providers, and appear in court to help ensure every child has a safe and stable home. Full training and staff supervision are provided throughout the process.
Average Case Length: 6–12 months
Typical Hearing Frequency: Every 2–3 months
Location: Washington, DC
Immigration
Represent immigrant survivors of gender-based violence—and their children—in life-changing immigration matters. Cases may include Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions, asylum, U-visas for crime victims, T-visas for trafficking survivors, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and status adjustments. Full training and staff supervision are provided throughout the process.
Average Case Length: 6–12 months
Location: Washington, DC
Appellate
Are you an experienced appellate attorney seeking to make a meaningful impact for survivors and children? Work alongside our staff appellate attorneys to brief and argue strategic appeals, submit amicus briefs, and create precedents that protect victims and children statewide. Each win reverberates far beyond a single family, strengthening the legal landscape for thousands. Complete training and staff supervision are provided throughout the process. Volunteers must have experience in appellate work.
To learn more, contact appellate@volunteerlegaladvocates.org.
Legal Clinics
In Washington, DC
- Civil Protection Order (CPO) Clinic
Tuesdays | 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM | Virtual (by phone)
Help survivors prepare for upcoming hearings, assist with drafting and filing Petitions for CPOs, Motions to Continue, or Motions for Alternative Service via DC Superior Court’s online portal, and/or draft Amendments to Petitions for clients who already have a CPO in place but need modifications.
SIGN UP FOR A SHIFT - Immigration Clinic
Wednesdays | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Mt. Pleasant Library | 3160 16th St NW
Fridays | 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM | Children’s National Columbia Heights | 3336 14th St NW
Provide immigrant survivors with brief legal advice on VAWA self-petitions, asylum applications, U and T visas for victims of crime, applications for special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS), and adjustments in status..
SIGN UP FOR A SHIFT - Domestic Violence & Family Law Clinic
Tuesdays | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Virtual by phone
Wednesdays | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Mt. Pleasant Library | 3160 16th St., NW
Fridays | 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM | Bellevue/Lockridge Library | 115 Atlantic Street SW
Provide survivors and caregivers of vulnerable children with brief legal advice on protection orders, custody, and divorce.
SIGN UP FOR A SHIFT
In Montgomery County, MD
- Montgomery County Domestic Violence and Family Law Clinic
Wednesdays | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Rockville Memorial Library | 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD
Provide survivors and caregivers of vulnerable children with brief legal advice on protective orders, custody, and divorce.
SIGN UP FOR A SHIFT
Volunteer Impact
ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS
PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDED ANNUALLY
CLIENTS SERVED IN 2024
Upcoming Volunteer Events & Trainings
