DOJABA Community Action Committee Event July 20 through July 23
The DOJABA Community Action Committee is now taking volunteers for its first pro bono activity in 2021 for its attorney members. The DC Bar Pro Bono Center, Advice and Referral clinic will be remote and all client communication will be via phone or e-mail. See https://www.dcbar.org/pro-bono/free-legal-help/help-for-individuals/advice-referral-clinic for information on the clinic.
(i) We will have ten slots. The slots will be from July 20-23 with two shifts each day: The first from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and the second from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please e-mail Tamara Kassabian your date and time slot preference (if any) for July 20, 21, 22, and 23 and morning or afternoon time slots. The DC Bar will do its best to accommodate those requests. It often depends on whether any clients sign up for the time slots.
(ii) Volunteers will be sent a training video to prepare them. Laura Klein, DOJ Pro Bono Manager, will also do a presentation for the volunteers, approximately a week before the clinic. Each volunteer will be assigned one client and will receive the client’s information and legal issue in advance of their time slot. They will also be paired with a substantive mentor and a DC Bar Pro Bono Center attorney who will be available to answer questions during their time slot. All advice will be provided during the time slot and there is no expectation of providing assistance beyond that day.
(iii) Volunteers do not need to be members of the DC Bar – a Rule 49 form must be completed which allows out-of-state attorneys to practice pro bono in DC. Each volunteer must seek approval in their DOJ component before the clinic. https://dojnet.doj.gov/jmd/hr/volunteer/faq.php
If we receive more than ten volunteers, we will have a wait list in case of cancellations. We will finalize the volunteer list by Tuesday, June 15 so we kindly ask that you only volunteer if you know that you will definitely participate. If you are interested please e-mail Tamara Kassabian (tamara.kassabian@usdoj.gov), Jasmin Lott (jasmin.lott@usdoj.gov), and Benjamin Grimes (benjamin.grimes@usdoj.gov).
