Pro bono attorney volunteers will now have an easier time finding volunteer opportunities in California, thanks to a new portal developed by A2J Tech in partnership with legal aid organizations, law firms, law schools, and community members across the state.
The California Pro Bono Portal, launched at the OneJustice Conference in January 2024, contains volunteer opportunities posted by non-profits throughout the state, so attorneys and law students can easily browse cases and clinics to work on and sign up for such opportunities.
Inland Counties Legal Services has long recognized the need for such a platform and helped bring the portal to life, through the efforts of legal aid organizations, pro bono professionals, and community partners across the state over the past several years, and with critical support from organizations including OneJustice, the State Bar, and California Lawyers Foundation.
“This platform has been a true community effort, incorporating feedback from countless conversations with pro bono professionals and community members across the state,” ICLS Pro Bono Director Matt Kugizaki said. “It will be a game changer for increasing access to justice across, as we rely on pro bono partners to help meet the needs in our community.”
California has the largest bar in the country, with nearly 200,000 attorneys. While many of the larger law firms have pro bono programs that connect their staff with volunteer opportunities, the California Lawyers Association found that 38% of attorneys work for a small firm.
That can make it difficult to find pro bono opportunities that are a good fit. Before the portal, such attorneys would have to do their own research on nonprofit organizations and their work and apply directly with the organization.
With the California Pro Bono Portal, finding opportunities will be as easy as online shopping. Once an attorney registers for the portal, they search for opportunities that fit their specialties, their desired time commitment, and their location, and sign up for the cases or clinics they’re interested in.
“We already have a few postings for ICLS volunteer opportunities, and we’re excited to expand the program and see how it contributes to our pro bono efforts,” Kugizaki said. “By making it easier for legal professionals volunteer their time, especially attorneys in our region, we are going to make huge difference in the lives of the clients we serve, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access legal help on some of life’s biggest issues.”
