Director’s Corner
Our Pro Bono Director, Brittany Krohn, has been connecting pro bono attorneys to low-income clients in need of civil legal help with HVL for over 10 years. Brittany takes pride in helping attorneys identify areas of interest and growth that can be explored through various pro bono opportunities. In this post she describes the experience of a volunteer taking on their first case, highlighting HVL’s built in support and mentorship model.
If you’ve volunteered at a clinic, attended a training, or even just explored pro bono opportunities with HVL, you’re already closer to taking a full case than you might think. Many attorneys start with interest and good intentions but hesitate when it comes to taking the next step. Often, the hesitation comes from uncertainty. For many attorneys, the idea of taking a full pro bono case sits in that in-between space: something you want to do, but haven’t quite gotten around to yet. Not because you don’t care, but because it feels unfamiliar, or hard to fit into an already busy schedule. That hesitation is completely normal. The good news is that taking your first case is often much more manageable and supported than people expect.
I hear a few concerns consistently. The first is, “I don’t know this area of law.” That’s especially common for attorneys exploring pro bono work for the first time. The reality is that you’re not expected to come in with subject matter expertise. Every pro bono case through HVL is assigned to an HVL attorney who is subject matter expert and will serve as your mentor throughout the entirety of the case. Your HVL mentor will provide recorded trainings, templates, checklists, and will be available whenever questions come up.
Another common concern is time. Most attorneys are balancing demanding schedules, and pro bono work needs to fit within that reality. At HVL we do our best to structure opportunities with clearly defined tasks and predictable time commitments. You can choose an opportunity that aligns with your availability.
Some attorneys are also concerned with getting something wrong. This concern is very real, but it’s important to know that you’re not working in isolation. Pro bono cases are designed with support in place. Your HVL mentor is available to answer questions, and resources are provided to guide you through the process.
And for those who are unsure of how to get started, that’s exactly where HVL comes in. From your first expression of interest through the life of the case, we help guide the process and make sure you have what you need.
Taking a case is more straightforward than many attorneys expect. Typically, you express interest in volunteering, and HVL helps match you with a case that aligns with your practice, background, availability, and preferences. We’ll send you the information that you need to run an internal conflict check with your firm. Once conflicts are cleared, you’ll receive a full referral summary for the case and a formal introduction to your HVL mentor.
Your mentor will offer a kick-off call to walk through the case, discuss the next steps, and share relevant case materials and training resources. We will also notify the client that you have agreed to handle their case and provide them with your contact information. From
that point forward, you are the client’s attorney, while HVL remains available behind the scenes to support you as needed. There is no expectation that you will figure it out alone, and no ambiguity about where to start.
We understand that pro bono work must fit within the realities of your practice and your life. Our primary expectation is simple: maintain reasonable communication with your client. That means responding when they reach out, keeping them informed, and setting clear expectations. If there is a deadline, we ask that you meet it or reach out early if you need support. Our goal is to help you succeed, not add additional pressure.
HVL consistently sees strong need in several areas, including record clearing, family law, estate planning, and veterans-related cases. Across each of these areas, we offer opportunities that are well suited for first-time volunteers. These matters not only provide a meaningful entry point into pro bono work but also have a direct and lasting impact on clients’ lives.
The most successful HVL volunteers are not necessarily the ones with prior experience in a specific area of law. They are the ones who approach their case with empathy, clear communication, and a willingness to learn. What matters most is that you show up for your client, use your legal skills to navigate a system that they can’t navigate alone, and ask for help when you need it. When volunteers do that, clients receive life-changing outcomes, and attorneys often walk away with meaningful, skill-building, and sometimes career-shaping experiences.
If you’ve been thinking about taking a pro bono case, this is your invitation to take the next step. Browse available opportunities or reach out to the HVL team to talk through what might be a good fit for you.
Thank you for considering pro bono work with HVL. We truly could not do this without you.
