Volunteer Opportunities

Catholic Charities Legal Assistance (CCLA) is a wonderful place for attorneys to make a difference in the lives of the indigent. The majority of our volunteer opportunities are designed for licensed attorneys. However, there are some opportunities for law students, paralegals and other simply interested in assisting. Following are CCLA'S volunteer opportunities:

• Pro Bono Network
• Advice & Referral Hotline
• Educational Seminars
• Advice Desks at Catholic Charities locations
• Be a Mentor
• Conduct Legal Research

CCLA’s greatest need currently is for attorneys to become part of our Pro Bono Network by accepting cases in their area of legal specialty. Once an attorney joins CCLA’s Pro Bono Network, volunteer attorneys are contacted via email with a brief summary of a case in the attorney’s specialty area. The attorney is always free to accept or decline a referral based on availability and interest. We ask that volunteers take cases only in the areas of law in which they have experience (unless supervised by a mentor, as described below).

CCLA operates a dedicated telephone hotline and receives calls from clients who face various legal issues. Volunteer attorneys, especially Spanish speaking, are needed to answer/return phone calls. A volunteer attorney handling a phone call will gather information about the client and assess the client’s need. The attorney will provide basic advice (if familiar with the area of law), and/or brief service. When necessary, the attorney will facilitate placement of the client with a pro bono attorney from CCLA’s Pro Bono Network or direct the client to a legal aid organization best suited to help with the legal issue.

Prior to working on the hotline, each volunteer attorney is asked to complete a training, which provides six hours of free MCLE credit, on topics frequently encountered in hotline calls. Written training materials are provided to each participant, and CCLA staff attorneys are always available for consultations on particular calls as needed.

Educational Seminars

CCLA provides informational and educational seminars on a variety of topics of interest and concern to our clients at various Catholic Charities locations. The seminars are geared toward the lay person with the intent to deliver basic information. These seminars typically last thirty to sixty minutes followed by a question and answer period. Volunteer attorneys are needed to present such seminars. Sometimes a particular legal topic is requested by the coordinating Catholic Charities programs or partner organizations, but your suggestions for new seminar topics are welcomed.

CCLA hosts a legal advice desk one Tuesday evening per month at Catholic Charities headquarters, located at 721 N. LaSalle St. in downtown Chicago. Additional help desks are sometimes held in a variety of suburban Catholic Charities locations, usually in the evening or on Sundays. Each of these advice desks is conducted for approximately 1 1/2 hours, providing attorneys with a pre-set, time limited volunteer opportunity. Volunteer attorneys meet with clients, discuss their concerns and may provide legal advice (if familiar with the area of law), distribute self-help materials and make appropriate referrals. Spanish speaking attorneys are particularly helpful at many of these events. One or more CCLA staff attorneys is present to assist with questions and client intake.

CCLA is seeking experienced volunteer attorneys to act as mentors to less experienced attorneys taking on pro bono cases. The less experienced attorney will handle the majority of the work, simply using the mentor as an advisor. This will allow newer attorneys to handle pro bono cases and gain experience while allowing the mentor to volunteer in a less demanding capacity than taking on a case individually.

On occasion, CCLA needs volunteers to research a particular legal question. Volunteers may, but are not required to, conduct the research at the CCLA office.

Non-lawyers also can make a difference in the lives of our clients by giving of their time and talents. CCLA needs assistance with answering client phone calls, conducting initial client intake screenings, administrative responsibilities and fundraising. Spanish speaking individuals are particularly helpful.

To Request a Volunteer Packet:

Please contact:
kcallahan@catholiccharities.net
Catholic Charities Legal Assistance
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
651 W. Lake St., Suite 403
Chicago, IL 60661
(312)948-6821