Pro Bono

FBA/OC Pro Bono Opportunities Program

Each year the Orange County chapter of the Federal Bar Association offers an important opportunity to learn about federal pro bono opportunities available to our practitioners through pro bono programs in our district, circuit, and bankruptcy courts. 

Typically held in May or June, the annual complimentary event allows attendees to learn about opportunities for attorney involvement from some of our Central District judges, attorneys, and representatives of public interest organizations like Community Legal Aid SoCal, Elder Law & Disability Rights Center, Public Law Center, and Veterans Legal Institute, and provides an opportunity to get involved. 

PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES

9th Circuit Pro Bono Appeals Program
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/probono
Since its inception in 1993, the Ninth Circuit's Pro Bono Program has grown from 12 cases per year to approximately 160. The program's tremendous success is due to the hard work of the many attorneys and law schools that have volunteered their time and expertise. 

If you are an attorney interested in volunteering, please review the information provided in the Pro Bono Handbook, then submit the attorney sign-up form to one of the district coordinators. 

If you are a pro se litigant (i.e., you do not currently have an attorney representing you) with an ongoing appeal in the Ninth Circuit, you may apply to have an attorney appointed to represent you by filing a motion for appointment of counsel with the Clerk of the Court. (Please note that this federal court pro bono program does not extend to the state court system.) 

For more information on the Program, please visit the Ninth Circuit's Pro Bono Program page.

Attorney Sign-Up and District Coordinator List (pdf)

The Pro Bono District Coordinator for the Central and Southern California Districts is Peter Afrasiabi. (Sign up through Peter’s online form in order to be eligible for cases.)

Civil Rights Panel
http://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/attorneys/pro-bono   

In 1999, the United States District Court for the Central District of California created a volunteer panel of private law firms to represent plaintiffs in prisoner civil rights cases filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 or Bivens v. Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388, 91 S. Ct. 1999, 29 L. Ed. 2d 619 (1971). Prisoner civil rights cases were chosen as the focus of the panel because these cases present important and complex issues of constitutional law which impact our entire community. Also, the plaintiffs, who have restricted access to the world outside of their institution, typically have no means to obtain private counsel.

Pro Se Clinics
U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court

Public Law Center
https://www.publiclawcenter.org/clinics/
Santa Ana Federal Pro Se Clinic (virtual)
Tuesdays from 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Thursdays from 10:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:30 pm–3:30 pm
Morgan Padgett mpadgett@publiclawcenter.org

Santa Ana Bankruptcy Clinic (virtual)
Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lydia Tse ltse@publiclawcenter.org

Public Counsel
https://publiccounsel.org/clinics/
Los Angeles Federal Pro Se Clinic (virtual)
Janet Lewis jlewis@publiccounsel.org

Los Angeles Bankruptcy Self-Help Center (virtual)
Mondays and Wednesdays
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Elizabeth Gonzalez egonzalez@publiccounsel.org

Riverside Legal Aid
http://riversidelegalaid.org/our-services/bankruptcy-workshops
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Workshops (in-person)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Bob Simmons rsimmons@riversidelegalaid.org