Clients who meet income guidelines are eligible to receive legal assistance through a variety of programs offered by Volunteer Legal, including legal clinics, pro bono referrals, and taxpayer clinics.
Volunteer Legal charges an administrative fee for each service. Volunteer Legal depends on administrative fees to help pay for the services you receive. When a service is scheduled, the staff will provide information about the fee and the deadline for payment.
Neighborhood Legal (“Advice and Counsel”) Clinics
The Clinic is a 30-minute, one-on-one meeting or telephone consultation with a volunteer attorney. Intake staff will ask you to provide copies of records and documents that the attorney can review ahead of time. At the Clinic, the attorney will discuss your case and provide legal information and advice. The attorney may refer you to additional services. Clinics are held on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. Telephone consultations are offered for Kauai residents.
Brief Services
A Clinic participant may receive additional assistance for uncomplicated matters such as drafting a letter, a simple will, or a motion. Clinic staff will make arrangements for the follow-up service, and an administrative fee will apply. The service may be provided by the same Clinic attorney or by another volunteer attorney.
Pro Bono Program
The Clinic attorney may recommend that Volunteer Legal find a volunteer (“pro bono”) lawyer to handle your case. Pro bono referrals are carefully screened for necessity and financial eligibility. Applicants are asked to pay the administrative fee and produce relevant documents before the case is accepted for pro bono placement. Volunteer Legal may not be able to find an attorney who is willing to take the case and cannot guarantee that your case will be successfully placed for pro bono representation.
Uncontested Divorce Workshop
If you or your spouse agree to divorce and also agree on the division of assets and property, child support, custody, and visitation arrangements, the Clinic attorney may refer you to an Uncontested Divorce Workshop. Eligible participants are scheduled for the next available workshop and asked to pay the administration fee prior to the workshop date.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Workshop
Clinic participants may be referred to a do-it-yourself Bankruptcy Workshop. A bankruptcy attorney will provide information about Chapter 7 bankruptcy, review participants’ forms and documents, and answer questions about preparing for court.
Re-Employment and Community Service Program
Individuals who have auto-related citations and bench warrants may be eligible for the RACS program. Volunteer Legal staff will help RACS participants draft court documents to convert fines and bench warrants into community service.