Best places for meaningful legal volunteering? Forum

[JairJurrjens]

Hi all,

I'm sitting on a nice LSAT, but I've decided to take a year off and get some firsthand experience in the field. I'm in a mid-sized city and working part-time; where should I start looking for a PT volunteer gig that exposes me to some actual legal work? Career-wise, I'm interested in government - would a City Attorney's office be interested in some free hours from a prelaw schmuck? The county public defender's office? Or are private firms generally going to be more receptive? I'm about to start shotgunning resumes out there, but I'd love to get an idea of people's experiences with this sort of thing.

(Also, sorry if this is the wrong forum - I wasn't sure where else this would fit, and I'll be putting it on my application. So.)

Thanks much!

[swampman]

I did that and know two others who have. I had no luck sending my resume, then had a family member in law enforcement ask them as a favor, which did the trick. The two others got in the same way. The chances are higher that you'll be a net hassle rather than a help, hence the usefulness of connections and someone to vouch for you.

Legal aid might be easier, CASA/Guardian Ad Litem if it's done by volunteer in your state is a good thing to look into. Private firms can't take volunteers, but you might find someone who needs paralegal help.

[JairJurrjens]

I did that and know two others who have. I had no luck sending my resume, then had a family member in law enforcement ask them as a favor, which did the trick. The two others got in the same way. The chances are higher that you'll be a net hassle rather than a help, hence the usefulness of connections and someone to vouch for you.

Legal aid might be easier, CASA/Guardian Ad Litem if it's done by volunteer in your state is a good thing to look into. Private firms can't take volunteers, but you might find someone who needs paralegal help.

Eh, yeah, I had a feeling that might be the case. I do know the daughter of a local AUSA, but that seems to be aiming pretty high for an untrained rando. I'll see if my contacts in the PD's office bear any fruit. And thanks very much for the CASA idea - that's not something I'd thought of! Appreciate it.

[swampman]

I did that and know two others who have. I had no luck sending my resume, then had a family member in law enforcement ask them as a favor, which did the trick. The two others got in the same way. The chances are higher that you'll be a net hassle rather than a help, hence the usefulness of connections and someone to vouch for you.

Legal aid might be easier, CASA/Guardian Ad Litem if it's done by volunteer in your state is a good thing to look into. Private firms can't take volunteers, but you might find someone who needs paralegal help.

Eh, yeah, I had a feeling that might be the case. I do know the daughter of a local AUSA, but that seems to be aiming pretty high for an untrained rando. I'll see if my contacts in the PD's office bear any fruit. And thanks very much for the CASA idea - that's not something I'd thought of! Appreciate it.

No prob. And yeah, USAOs require months-long really expensive background checks, so that's probably not likely.

[Mack.Hambleton]

My local county courthouse had some cool stuff

[spleenworship]

I did that and know two others who have. I had no luck sending my resume, then had a family member in law enforcement ask them as a favor, which did the trick. The two others got in the same way. The chances are higher that you'll be a net hassle rather than a help, hence the usefulness of connections and someone to vouch for you.

Legal aid might be easier, CASA/Guardian Ad Litem if it's done by volunteer in your state is a good thing to look into. Private firms can't take volunteers, but you might find someone who needs paralegal help.

Eh, yeah, I had a feeling that might be the case. I do know the daughter of a local AUSA, but that seems to be aiming pretty high for an untrained rando. I'll see if my contacts in the PD's office bear any fruit. And thanks very much for the CASA idea - that's not something I'd thought of! Appreciate it.

No prob. And yeah, USAOs require months-long really expensive background checks, so that's probably not likely.

Local USAO didn't charge me for the background check. It did take a month and a half to get my "sensitive" or whatever they called it clearance though.

I'd recommend your local Legal Aid, that's where I volunteered pre law school, or the local PDs office.

[swampman]

Local USAO didn't charge me for the background check. It did take a month and a half to get my "sensitive" or whatever they called it clearance though.

I'd recommend your local Legal Aid, that's where I volunteered pre law school, or the local PDs office.

Yeah, I meant that its expensive for them, so they're not likely to do it for a pre-law volunteer.

[spleenworship]

Local USAO didn't charge me for the background check. It did take a month and a half to get my "sensitive" or whatever they called it clearance though.

I'd recommend your local Legal Aid, that's where I volunteered pre law school, or the local PDs office.

Yeah, I meant that its expensive for them, so they're not likely to do it for a pre-law volunteer.

Ah, that makes more sense, yeah. Wow, I feel clever now.

OP, my PD office takes investigator interns. It sounds like fun, is actually pretty boring, but you definitely get some legal exposure. Maybe your local one does too?

[JairJurrjens]

I'll check all these out, thanks team.