Are you an Illinois attorney who has free time during the workday? CARPLS Legal Aid is looking for a corps of volunteer attorneys to counsel clients on Cook County’s legal aid telephone hotline.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: CARPLS Works is a volunteer project that specifically targets unemployed and underemployed attorneys in the Chicago area. The project seeks to put these attorneys to work serving the unmet legal needs of low-income families who have been disproportionately impacted by the economic crisis. CARPLS Works attorneys must be licensed in Illinois and are asked to volunteer 4 hours each week providing advice and counsel to low-income clients via the legal aid hotline.
ABOUT CARPLS: CARPLS is an innovative legal aid service that offers an immediate response to the every-day legal problems confronting low-income families in Cook County. CARPLS' legal aid hotline and court-based advice desks give low-income clients direct access to experienced attorneys who are trained to quickly assess and respond to a wide range of civil legal problems. CARPLS attorneys resolve over 85% of all cases in-house by providing information, advice and brief services including the preparation and review of legal documents. Clients with more complex needs are referred by CARPLS to a network of specialized legal and social service providers. CARPLS' unique "legal triage" system serves as a model for legal aid communities across the country and has increased access to justice by dramatically reducing the cost of legal aid services to the poor.
TRAINING: Volunteer training is in two parts: substantive law; and systems/live-call training. Volunteers will receive training in the limited practice areas of family, consumer debt and landlord-tenant law on Monday, June 4, 2012 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Volunteers will receive training on CARPLS’ advanced case management software, hotline counseling techniques and procedures during the week of June 11. First shifts are the week of June 18 and volunteers will receive hands-on training during their first shifts. You must complete all parts of the training in this time frame in order to volunteer.
SHIFTS: Volunteers will sign up for a weekly, 4-hour hotline shift in the morning (9am -1pm) or afternoon (1-5pm). The first live calls from clients will be taken beginning the week of June 18. A CARPLS staff attorney will always be available to assist volunteers as they talk to clients on the hotline. All sessions and work will take place at the CARPLS main office, 17 N. State Street, Chicago. All volunteers must be active, licensed Illinois attorneys. All work performed for CARPLS is covered by CARPLS’ malpractice insurance.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU: As an attorney you have a valuable skill which can benefit a great many needy families. CARPLS Works gives you the chance to make productive use of that skill during your job search. In addition to providing a service to your community, CARPLS Works also gives you a chance to develop new legal skills, network with your peers, and round-out your resume. CARPLS Works attorneys are invited to attend all CARPLS social and fundraising events, where you can meet other attorneys from around Chicago.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED: If you would like to answer the call to help Cook County’s low income residents, please send an e-mail and resume to volunteers@carpls.org, or call Leslie Wallin at 312/421-4427.
