This July, HVL is launching a Summer of Service campaign. Help HVL get over our “summer slump” (you know, the decrease in volunteer sign-ups that we experience when school lets out and schedules fill up with fun).
Our applicants need assistance year-round – there is no slow season for legal aid. HVL’s pro bono model means that our ability to serve clients is limited by the number of attorneys who volunteer with us.
We know your time is precious, especially during the summer. To help close the prominent justice gap in Texas, HVL constantly assesses both community and pro bono needs. Our broad range of volunteer opportunities answer legal need trends as well as volunteer capacity.
Explore ways to get involved that take fewer than 10 hours of active work and can mostly be done remotely.
- LegalLine: Provide free legal advice to low-income Houstonians over the phone during a scheduled clinic. You’ll receive client summaries in advance and can choose the shifts that fit your schedule.
- Fully remote
- Up to 5 hours
- ScribeHELP: Meet virtually with clients to gather information and prepare legal documents for their family law cases under the guidance of HVL staff, helping move cases toward resolution without appearing in court.
- Fully remote
- 1-3 hours
- Cases: These types of cases can typically be resolved with about 10 hours of work and court appearances are rarely required.
- Name Changes: Help a client with obtaining a legal name change through an uncontested court process.
- Expungement: Assist eligible clients with qualifying criminal records to remove barriers to employment, housing, and education.
- Juvenile Record Sealing: Assist eligible young adults and minors with sealing their juvenile records to remove barriers to future opportunities.
- Affidavit of Heirship: Prepare documents that help families transfer property when a loved one passes away without a will.
- Small Estate Affidavit: Help families transfer property after a family member dies without a will, avoiding the need for a formal probate proceeding.
How else can you participate in Summer of Service?
- Repost our campaign content on LinkedIn! #HVLSummerofService
- Share your own pro bono story! Let your peers know how you fit pro bono into your summer plans!
- Send an email to a colleague encouraging them to consider a short-term case or limited scope opportunity!
