Non-Attorney Volunteer - Pro Bono

The Legal Aid Society has openings for Non-Attorney volunteers to work in our Pro Bono Practice. Legal Aid’s Pro Bono practice works with Volunteers to expand our ability to provide legal services to a greater number of clients and communities. Our Volunteer Program is based on the current needs of our clients and on Legal Aid staff capacity to train and supervise.  Volunteer placements are for candidates with experience that match or complement our practice areas and projects.  

Volunteer placements require an in-person commitment at one of our borough offices during standard business hours (Monday- Friday, 9:00AM-5:00PM; unless otherwise instructed by supervisor). Weekend opportunities are not available at this time.  

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants may apply once per cycle. While we appreciate your interest, placement cannot be guaranteed due to the high volume of applications. 

STUDENT INFORMATION 

This position is not intended for students seeking an internship.  The Legal Aid Society does have robust internship programs for law, graduate, and undergraduate students in all our Practices. Students interested in internship opportunities should visit the Internship Program section of our website for more information. 

50-hour Admission Requirement Information 

We are currently unable to accommodate potential volunteers seeking to fulfil the fifty-hour Pro Bono requirement for bar admission.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Duties and responsibilities are based on current client needs, volunteer experience, and may include research, writing, interviewing, assisting clients and various levels of litigation preparation 

• Volunteer opportunities are only available during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 9am to 5 pm, unless the supervising Legal Aid staff member has made a specific request 

• Other duties as assigned 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Required qualifications: 

• Availability to commit to a minimum of 6 months of part-time service or 3 months of full-time service  

• No legal background or experience required  

• Not open to high school students, undergraduates, & law students  

• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers 

• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships 

• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect 

• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission and values 

HOW TO APPLY 

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF: 

• Cover Letter
• Resume  

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email TalentAcquisition@legal-aid.org. 

SALARY AND BENEFITS 

This is an unpaid opportunity. As a volunteer position, this role has no salary and is not benefits eligible. 

WORK AUTHORIZATION 

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.) 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION 

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues.  Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.  

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.