Volunteer Lawyers’ Project
The Volunteer Lawyers’ Project for the Southern District of Florida was created at the suggestion of the Civil Justice Advisory group for the Southern District of Florida in 1993. The Group concluded that volunteer legal assistance for the Court’s unrepresented, indigent civil litigants would accelerate resolution of these cases. The Court unanimously approved the Group’s recommendation to form the Volunteer Lawyer’s Project as set forth in Administrative Order 93-106. Although it serves and assists the Southern District, the Project is independent of the Court.
The program’s goal is two-fold: to provide pro bono legal representation for indigent, pro se federal court litigants, and to expand opportunities for lawyers to satisfy their professional obligation to provide legal services to indigent litigants. Through the program, persons with civil, non-habeas claims in federal court without the benefit of legal representation may be assigned volunteer lawyers willing to represent them pro bono.
There are currently over 1,000 cases filed by unrepresented litigants in the Southern District, and a limited number of pro bono attorneys. Not all litigants requesting a volunteer lawyer will receive assistance. All cases are reviewed for merit and litigants must meet indigency guidelines. The Project cannot get involved in an action until a complaint has been filed in Federal Court and a case number is assigned.
Contact us at: 3750 Miami Tower, 100 S.E. Second St., Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 305-373-4334
Fax: 305-358-0910
Email: bforbes@volunteerlawyersproject.org
ylewis@volunteerlawyersproject.org.
How to Get Help (For Attorneys)
How to Get Help (For Litigants)
Other Pro Bono Opportunities (For Lawyers)
Registration Form (Updated 06/22/2012)
