The Volunteer Lawyer Program (VLP) is a public service program run by the Rhode Island Bar Association designed to help low-income people get legal help when they need it. Its objective is to provide legal assistance to those who cannot obtain legal aid, either alone or through other existing bodies. Rhode Island Legal Services provides high-quality legal advice and representation to low-income individuals and eligible client groups to improve their economic situation and overall well-being by protecting and enforcing legal rights, stabilizing the family unit and communities in which clients live, promoting self-reliance, ending domestic violence, preventing homelessness and bringing dignity to all. and reaching out to groups that have an additional burden on their ability to access the civil justice system. Learn about Rhode Island`s courts and the free legal information they provide. If you have a legal problem, call the Volunteer Counsel Program at 421-7758 or 1-800-339-7758. You will talk to a staff member who will ask you questions about your legal problem and financial situation. Any information you provide will be kept strictly confidential. The Program Coordinator is fluent in English and Spanish. The Pro Bono Collaborative mobilizes Rhode Island law firms, law students, and community organizations to provide legal assistance within the community.
Here you will find information on specific legal topics and the laws of Rhode Island. To be eligible for assistance under the Volunteer Counsel Program, your income must be eligible under federal guidelines. In addition, your legal problem must fall within certain areas of law. Find suppliers who can help you with a specific legal issue. These groups provide free or low-cost legal services in Rhode Island. If so, click HERE to learn more about the help you may be available. Approximately l,000 private lawyers across the state, practicing in all areas of law, sit on the VLP reference board. The committee is composed of members who are fluent in several languages and who are interested in many topics. All panel lawyers volunteer their time to assist those in need through the Volunteer Counsel Program. Learn more about the volunteer lawyer program and how lawyers interested in pro bono work can participate.
If you are eligible for VPP support, all services provided to you by the lawyer are free of charge. You may have to pay court fees or other minor litigation costs. These can be discussed with your lawyer. After your initial interview, VPP staff will decide if you are eligible for program support. A staff member will then contact a lawyer who has experience handling cases like yours. If your case is accepted and certain requirements are met, you will be given the lawyer`s name and phone number and asked to call the lawyer`s office to schedule your first appointment. Every Tuesday at 3:00 p.m., Rhode Island Legal Services, in partnership with the Rhode Island Center for Justice, DARE, Roger Williams University School of Law, HousingWorksRI, and the City of Providence, offers weekly eviction training seminars. The seminars take place every Tuesday from 15:00 to 16:00. The goal is to give tenants who live in Providence and are at risk of eviction the opportunity to learn about their rights, protection from the Centers for Disease Control and advice on preparing for trial.
You can join via zoom or phone. Spread the word! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER In any case, it is certain that ignorance, allied to power, is the cruellest enemy that justice can have. Rhode Island`s legal services are offered free of charge to low-income clients. This fundraiser is only for 24 hours. So mark your calendars to donate tomorrow, April 1st! Rhode Island Legal Services encourages and supports the efforts of Rhode Island lawyers, low-income individuals, and Rhode Island seniors through the pro bono lawyer program and Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. and the RI Bar Foundation to provide pro bono support. Staff at the Volunteer Lawyer Project can be contacted at (401) 421-7758. 1-401-421-7758 1-800-339-7758 Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Volunteer Counsel Program caters to non-criminal civil matters, including: 401 Gives is operated by United Way and is the national online giving day.
This is a great opportunity to support your favorite local nonprofits. Your support of RILS is greatly appreciated and goes directly to Rhode Islanders in need, including children, families, seniors, and veterans. Cases where you are pursuing for a cash reward are not eligible for VLP support. The pro bono lawyer program is funded by Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. and the RI Bar Foundation and delivered as a public service by the Rhode Island Bar Association. Our lives begin to end the day we remain silent about the important things.