Thank you for your interest in working in solidarity with clients, community partners, and grassroots movements to end systemic racism and build equitable communities. The opportunities listed below are only for California licensed attorneys in good standing. We do not currently have opportunities for non-attorneys, but we thank you for your interest and encourage you to continue checking our website and/or joining our Pro Bono Newsletter below for updates.

Each year, the Lawyers’ Committee mobilizes over 1,000 pro bono attorneys who contribute almost 30,000 hours of free legal assistance—services valued close to $20 million. Leveraging the power of the private bar enables LCCRSF to engage in impact litigation, policy advocacy and direct legal services in three core areas: Economic Justice; Immigrant Justice; and Racial Justice.

See below for current pro bono opportunities. If you are interested in getting the most up to date information on opportunities, sign up for LCCRSF’s Pro Bono Newsletter at the bottom of this page.

Economic Justice 

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF)’s Legal Services for Entrepreneurs (LSE) program provides free legal services to low-income individuals who want to start or develop businesses; businesses committed to investing in economically distressed communities, including hiring people with arrest and conviction records; and mom and pop shops located in areas where gentrification is a force for displacement. LCCRSF strives to provide assistance to minority small business owners. The LSE program pro bono work has become particularly urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

(1) Volunteer at a Virtual Small Business Clinic 

• Training & Technical Assistance During the Clinic:  We seek transactional/corporate attorneys to staff the clinic. We have templates, resources and referral lists available to help those staffing the clinic. Please note, LCCRSF’s malpractice insurance covers pro bono clinic volunteers. 

• Scope of Pro Bono Work: The Legal Services for Entrepreneurs (LSE) program runs a free virtual legal clinic for small businesses owned by people of color, immigrants, and low-income entrepreneurs. Participants will have 60 minutes to explain their legal issues, ask questions, and receive advice from a pro bono attorney. Topics include entity formation, contract drafting and review, licensing and permits, employment law, intellectual property, commercial lease assistance and negotiations, and more. 

• Time Commitment: Typically 2h clinics. Volunteer attorneys provide consultations for 1-2 clients.

• Contact Information: Nicole Ubinas, Economic Justice Program Manager: nubinas@lccrsf.org

(2) Longer-Term, Limited Scope Representation, as Well as One-Hour Consults Outside the Clinical Setting 
 
We also have an ongoing need for pro bono attorneys to provide longer-term limited scope services to small business owners as well as commercial tenants, helping them to respond to demand letters, assist in the negotiation process or draft legal pleadings.  

We often have one-hour consult needs outside the clinic dates. We welcome pro bono attorneys to take on these consults. 

• Training & Technical Assistance: Training and technical assistance will be provided. 

• Scope of Pro Bono Work: Volunteer attorney will meet with the client for an initial hour-long consult, review necessary paperwork, and help the client draft letters to landlord or engage in negotiations with Landlord.  

• Time Commitment: Minimum time commitment for longer-term representation is five hours.  

• Contact Information: Nicole Ubinas, Economic Justice Program Managerr: nubinas@lccrsf.org

(3) Webinars & Know Your Rights presentations 

During the pandemic, LSE has begun to deliver one-hour commercial lease webinars for commercial tenants on a monthly basis, offering guidance about moratorium protections, an overview of lease provisions that are key to engaging in negotiations, as well as negotiation strategies.  

• Scope of Pro Bono Work: When the moratorium expires, the LSE program will be providing “Know your Rights” trainings to commercial tenants, as well as a training that provides an overview of the commercial eviction process, and what to expect.  

• Training: LSE attorney will train pro bono attorney to deliver this presentation and provide a template presentation to work from. Prior knowledge of the eviction process would be helpful to answer questions from participants. 

• Time Commitment: One to two hours to prepare, and additional hour to present. 

• Contact Information: Ana Varga Lau, Economic Justice Program Manager: lse@lccrsf.org.

Immigrant Justice 

Since 1983, LCCRSF’s Asylum Program has provided legal representation for refugees who have escaped persecution and torture in their native countries.  Pro bono attorneys play a critical role in securing asylum, with asylum seekers five times more likely to win their case with legal representation. Our pro bono attorneys have won dozens of asylum cases over the past several years, but hundreds of asylum seekers still urgently need legal representation — and you can help.. 

You do not need prior experience and can make a life-changing impact through full-scope pro bono representation. Please note, this opportunity is only available for attorneys at San Francisco Bay Area law firms.

Training & Technical Assistance: For pro bono attorneys who take on a full-scope asylum case through our program, LCCRSF offers workshops, seminars, trainings, and other support to guide and inform each attorney. These resources will ensure that attorneys are fully equipped to meet the needs of the client. Further, each pro bono attorney is paired with an LCCRSF staff immigration practitioner who provides mentorship throughout the asylum process. Through these support structures, attorneys who have had little or no immigration law experience are able to successfully take an asylum case from beginning to end.

• Scope of Pro Bono Work: Volunteer attorney(s) will represent client(s) in their asylum claim at the San Francisco immigration court.
• Time Commitment: Our volunteer attorneys spend an average of 30 hours per year for 3 years on each case.  

Contact Information: Bekah Stroik, Immigrant Justice Program Manager: bstroik@lccrsf.org.