Volunteer at Legal Aid
- The Legal Aid Society of Columbus
- Volunteer at Legal Aid
“In-house” Volunteers range from full-time summer law clerks to retired attorneys who volunteer throughout the year and spend three-hour shifts in the Volunteer Resource Center interviewing clients and referring cases to pro bono counsel. We also engage retired and active paralegals, college students, licensed attorneys seeking work or law grads awaiting bar results.
IN-HOUSE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The Legal Aid Society of Columbus (LASC) hosts law student volunteers during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
Clerks are expected to work approximately 10-15 hours per week during the school year, with flexibility around exams. Summer clerks are expected to work full-time.
LASC has five substantive law teams: Consumer, Housing, Public benefits, Family law, and Tax. Law clerks are assigned to a substantive law team or to one of our non-substantive teams: Intake, VRC and Litigation Support. Although each clerk experience is unique, generally clerks will interview clients, draft court pleadings, research legal issues, assist with hearing/trial preparation, analyze evidence, and participate in community education activities. LASC is happy to work with schools for externship site approval and credit.
Requirements:
LASC grants preference to clerk applicants who have completed their first year of law school. We will give special consideration to students with demonstrated commitment to serving disadvantaged individuals and communities. If you are interested, please complete the online Non-Attorney Volunteer Application.
For students who cannot commit to a regular schedule during business hours, law student volunteer opportunities may also be available at one of the LASC-sponsored legal clinics throughout Columbus. If you are interested in learning about clinic opportunities, please visit our Pro Bono Clinics page and specify your interest in your volunteer application.
Volunteer Resource Center (VRC):
The VRC is a pro bono case referral program housed at LASC that sustains two types of volunteers: attorneys who agree to take cases on a pro bono basis and in-house volunteers who sign up for weekly 3-5 hour shifts to handle client intake, case evaluation and referral of appropriate cases to the attorney panel. Law students can assist as in-house VRC volunteers or assist pro bono attorneys with legal research as needed.
The “Reentry Volunteer” is responsible for conducting phone interviews of clients who express an interest in having their criminal record sealed (“expungement”) or a Certificate of Qualification for Employment. The volunteer screens the clients for eligibility, conducts research, and prepares clients for quarterly evening clinics, which are staffed by pro bono attorneys and law students.
DESCRIPTION:
TIME COMMITMENT:
SKILLS:
TO APPLY:
Marketing/Communications Intern
The primary purpose of this position is to support LASC’s marketing efforts through social media strategies and other traditional and non-traditional marketing avenues, collaborating on projects to help leverage LASC’s public presence, and provide overall support to the organization’s newly created marketing and communications strategies. Volunteers should have a background or be pursuing an education in communications or marketing. For more information, click HERE.
LASC is seeking paralegal volunteers who can assist our consumer team. This LASC team assists consumers in several areas of law, including bankruptcies, foreclosures, consumer debt lawsuits, student loan-related matters, and medical debt cases. LASC is seeking a volunteer paralegal who can make a minimum time commitment of 20 hours per week during regular business hours.
TIME COMMITMENT:
LASC is seeking a volunteer paralegal who can make a minimum time commitment of 20 hours per week during regular business hours, and individuals would be expected to be physically located at our office at 1108 City Park Avenue. We are happy to work with local schools for class or externship credit.
SKILLS:
LASC is seeking volunteers who are reliable, responsible, and have excellent attention to detail. Volunteers should also possess strong communication skills and be proficient with computer systems. All volunteers will be trained in the case management system and receive a general orientation for LASC.
TO EXPRESS INTEREST:
Please complete an online application here.
Volunteer Legal Secretary or Administrative Assistant
LASC is seeking legal professional volunteers who can assist our Pro Bono Program—the Volunteer Resource Center—with client management, file organization, and data entry. Volunteers will also assist with client correspondence, tracking attorney hours, maintaining the pro bono attorney database, and compiling data for monthly and annual reports.