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Public Information : Low Income Legal Services : Volunteer Lawyers Project
The Nebraska State Bar Association
Volunteer Lawyers Project
PO Box 81809 Lincoln, NE 68501-1809
In Lincoln: (402) 475-7091
Client WATS: 800-742-3005
Lawyers calling NSBA: 1-800-927-0117
Email: jmcneil@nebar.com
Lawyers Enroll Here to
join the Volunteer Lawyers Project. If you are a client, please
call VLP at 800-742-3005 or email jmcneil@nebar.com
with your name, phone number, and regular mail address.
The Volunteer Lawyers Project is a Statewide volunteer legal services project and referral network founded on the belief that all citizens should have access to the legal system, regardless of ability to pay. Established in 1982 as a project of the Nebraska State Bar Association, VLP seeks to match people who have civil legal problems with attorneys who are willing to provide legal assistance on a pro bono , reduced fee, contingency fee, or full fee basis. Providing pro bono or reduced-fee legal services to those low-income people who need legal assistance is the primary goal of the Program. Any attorney who is an active member of the Nebraska State Bar Association may participate in the program.
Any individual with a civil legal problem may apply for assistance from the Volunteer Lawyers Project. (The program is not able to assist with any criminal matters, including misdemeanors and traffic violations.) Because there are usually more requests for assistance than there are attorneys to accept cases, civil legal problems are ranked by priority, with the most urgent needs receiving attention first.
Since 1982, approximately 400 to 450 new cases are opened every year. Prospective clients do not have to make appointments. VLP staff members accept client calls from 8:30 AM until 4:00 PM every weekday. A toll-free in-state WATS line (1-800-742-3005) is available for the convenience of applicants calling long distance in Nebraska. Each client is interviewed by telephone and is asked to provide information regarding income and the number of people in the household to determine eligibility. The client is also asked to provide some basic facts regarding the nature of the legal problem. Referrals depend on availability of attorneys in a geographic area and the areas in which those attorneys practice.
An applicant is eligible for pro bono assistance if his/her household income does not exceed 125% of the official federal poverty guideline level set for that household size. Applicants eligible for pro bono referral assistance are eligible to receive legal representation without payment of attorneys' fees.
A client whose income is not more than 150 to 175 % of pro bono eligibility guidelines qualifies for reduced fee referral assistance. The referral attorney is provided with information on the client's income and is encouraged to evaluate the situation and work with the client to set a fee which is within the client's ability to pay. Where appropriate, the attorney is asked to consider reducing his/her hourly rate by 60% of the regular fee in reduced fee referral cases. The final fee arrangement agreed upon is between attorney and client, and VLP does not ask for further information.
In cases accepted for referral, calls are placed to participating attorneys, who may accept or decline any given case. Clients whose cases are accepted for referral are reminded at this time that this is a volunteer program and that while staff make every effort, there is no guarantee that an attorney will be found to handle their case.
An applicant whose case is not accepted for referral is notified that his/her case will not be referred and is given reasons why that decision was made. In addition, he/she is also provided copies of relevant informational pamphlets published by the Nebraska State Bar Association and referred on to other agencies or organizations whenever possible.
Clients who can hire attorneys but need assistance in locating an attorney can be provided with the names of several attorneys who practice in a given area of law. The client is responsible for selecting an attorney and entering into an agreement for representation if he or she so chooses. VLP does NOT recommend one attorney over another, but will indicate which areas of law an attorney practices in.
VLP staff contact the participating attorney directly to secure his/her agreement to interview the client on a pro bono or reduced fee basis. The participating attorney may decline to accept any referral due to a conflict of interest, other time commitments, or if the attorney feels that he/she lacks the expertise to properly represent the client.
No pro bono or reduced fee client is sent directly to an attorney without first contacting the attorney. From 1982 until the present the Volunteer Lawyers project has assisted thousands of low income people, relying upon the voluntary efforts of the private bar to assist clients in need of legal representation.
Enroll in the Volunteer
Lawyers Project
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