ASB VLP: Providing Legal Assistance to Those Who Need It Most
By Thomas J. Methvin
The Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP) was created to provide free legal services to poor and disadvantaged Alabamians. Through its VLP, the Alabama State Bar (ASB) refers cases to volunteer private attorneys who agree to provide free legal assistance to low-income clients. There are four VLPs in Alabama who coordinate efforts and work together to provide legal assistance to those in need. These programs include the Birmingham Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program, the Mobile Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program, the Madison County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program and the ASB VLP.
The ASB VLP was officially established by the Alabama State Bar Board of Bar Commissioners in July 1990. Pro bono programs had already begun in Madison County in 1982 and Mobile in 1985. Based on the success of these programs, there was a desire to expand pro bono services throughout the state.
Because Alabama is last in funding for "Access to Justice" for the poor, we are striving to be first in VLP. There has been a concerted effort since July 2009 to increase participation statewide. Recruitment efforts were held at local bar activities in every judicial circuit in October 2009 during Pro Bono Week. The theme "And Justice for All" for Law Day 2010 in May served as another reminder of the importance of pro bono work to ensure legal services for the poor. Several phone banks were held during the year, where lawyers called other attorneys to encourage them to join the VLP.
As of March 2010, the ASB VLP boasted 1,763 members, almost doubling from 2008 participation.( The goal was to increase membership to 1,000 by the end of 2010.) Lawyers in the ASB VLP contributed 6,105 volunteer hours to date in 2009.
Statewide, more than 1,200 new lawyers have joined the VLP. The total number of hours donated comes to 11,531. That equates to a lot of people who found help who otherwise would not have had access to legal assistance.
By joining the VLP, you are making a commitment to fulfill one of the core values of our profession–service to the public. I challenge you to find out what Volunteer Lawyer service can mean to you. If you are not already a member of the VLP, please join. For more information, or to join the VLP, go to www.alabar.org.
