Statewide Virtual Volunteer Opportunities
Help serve low-income clients in rural communities across Colorado from the convenience of your office or home! Colorado Legal Services offers volunteer opportunities for attorneys, paralegals, and law students with virtual clinics. These clinics are held using technology such as videoconferencing, shared document creation and e-mail, and vary in legal topic, dates, time commitment, and the type of help provided. Review the clinics below to find one you are interested in!
For further questions about these clinics or how to apply scroll down close to the end of this page, or contact Jen Cuesta at jcuesta@colegalserv.org, 303-866-9384.
San Luis Valley Virtual Satellite Clinics
These free clinics provide brief legal consultations to low-income clients from the San Luis Valley and are conducted in partnership with the Saguache Public Library and the Blanca/Ft. Garland Public Library. The clinics cover multiple legal topics, including family law, landlord/tenant, consumer/collections, small claims, and probate. Volunteers are provided with a comprehensive handbook which provides an overview of all the areas of law covered by the clinic and are supported during the clinic by the clinic coordinator.
These clinics occur the last Thursday of every month from 5 to 7 p.m. One volunteer is able to serve both locations. This volunteer opportunity is ideal for an attorney who wants a clear time commitment once a month. It is done by videoconference – volunteers simply choose a private location where they can access internet, a webcam and microphone. Experience in family law preferred, and experience in probate or housing is also useful.
For information on how to begin volunteering with this clinic, scroll down to the instructions near the bottom of this page.
Cortez Family Law Clinic
This free, monthly clinic provides low-income clients from Montezuma and Dolores counties with advice on family law issues, including help with both new and post-decree cases. This includes assistance with divorce, APRs, modifications to parenting orders and child support, enforcement of child support through judgement, garnishment of wages or income reassignment, and motions to relocate. Held the last Tuesday of each month from 4-7 p.m., with drop-in from 4-5 p.m. and pre-set appointments from 5-7 p.m.
Attorneys will virtually meet with clients to provide legal advice and to help draft legal forms. Before talking with the client, volunteers will be provided with each client’s name and the name of the adverse party to check for conflicts. Attorneys, in the case of clients with an appointment and a post-decree issue, will also receive the client’s relevant case documents before the clinic. Meetings with clients will occur by videoconference and will utilize screen sharing technology to allow the attorney to draft forms which the client can then print out at the end of the session. This clinic is ideal for an attorney who wants a more in-depth experience, but one that is limited to a monthly clinic and does not require travel. For this clinic, volunteer attorneys need experience in family law.
For information on how to begin volunteering with this clinic, scroll down to the instructions near the bottom of this page.
Instructions and Forms to Begin Volunteering with the Virtual Clinics
Please complete and send the following forms to Jen Cuesta . We are required by funders to complete these screenings for each new volunteer.
If you have any questions about the forms or the clinics please e-mail Jen Cuesta.
Attorney Volunteer Forms
1. Volunteer Attorney Application (coming soon)
2. Your Resume
3. Authorization to Request a CAPS Check (adding new link here) - complete the entire “Applicant/Employee Information” section
4. Background Check Waivers
a. If you have lived in Colorado for the last two years complete the CBI Background Check Waiver (coming soon adding link to doc here)
b. If you have NOT lived in Colorado for the last two year complete the FBI Background Check Waiver (coming soon adding link to doc here)