Volunteer Opportunities

• Third Level Crisis Center Free Legal Aid Clinic (FLAC): The FLAC provides up to 15 first-come first-served clients the opportunity to receive private, free, confidential legal advice from volunteer attorneys. The Clinic is held every Tuesday beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Third Level Crisis Intervention Center, Inc., 3785 Veterans Drive, Traverse City. The commitment is typically two or three times per year, as FLAC rotates the scheduled attorneys throughout the year. To volunteer please contact Kathy at kblunck@thompsononeillaw.com.

• Family Law Clinic of Legal Services of Northern Michigan’s (LSNM): On the 3rd Thursday of each month from 6-8 pm.  RSVP for clients not required.  Volunteer attorneys provide legal assistance to clients in pro per divorces. The Clinic is held at Grace Episcopal Church, 341 Washington Street, Traverse City. The volunteer attorneys provide individual assistance to participants. The program relies on a small force of dedicated family law attorneys.  Contact: Mary Kavanaugh-Gahn, LSNM, (231) 941-0771.

• Immigration Law Clinic:  Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON):  JFON is a project of the Central United Methodist Church that provides legal, educational, and advocacy services to local immigrants. JFON organizes periodic legal clinics, and seeks volunteer attorneys to assist with the clinics. Attorneys who speak a foreign language are welcome, though translators are available. Attorneys need not be specialized in immigration law, as JFON provides training materials and attorney support prior to and during the clinic.  Contact: Alline Beutler or Susan Norkowski, a.beutler@JFONWestmichigan.org or s.norkowski@JFONWestmichigan.org, (231) 620-1100, http://jfonwestmichigan.org/.

• Mediation at Conflict Resolution Services (CRS):  CRS provides free or low-cost mediation services to parties in Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Antrim, Benzie, Wexford and Missaukee counties, for a variety of disputes, both where the parties agree to mediation or where the Court has ordered it. Trained mediators may volunteer with CRS to assist in simple (up to 3 hour) or more complex mediation projects. Local attorneys, who are trained mediators, may contact CRS to join their list of volunteer mediators.   Contact info@CRSmediationTC.org (231) 941-5835 see WEBSITE. 

• The SBM Lawyer Referral Service (LRS): The State Bar of Michigan’s recently revamped Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) has been helping people find the right attorney for more than 40 years. The Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association has joined with SBM and other local bars in a pilot LRS program to help GTLA members looking to grow their practices. The pilot program is intended to help you connect with new clients, and also provides financial support to the GTLA Bar as incentive for every member who joins SBM LRS. Apply here if you’re interested in joining. Make sure to check the box indicating you are a member of the GTLA Bar Association.

                     Click here to learn more about LRS

                     Click here to learn more about joining one or more of our LRS panels

                      Click here to learn more about Limited Scope practice

• Michigan Indian Legal Services Pro Bono Program: Michigan Indian Legal Services (MILS) is seeking pro bono attorneys to help increase legal assistance to low income Native American communities in Michigan. MILS has a pro bono opportunity to fit your schedule, your location, and your practice area. You can volunteer as a pro bono volunteer to provide community legal education presentations to rural Native American communities in Michigan, provide mentoring or case consultation to MILS staff attorneys in your area of expertise, and directly represent MILS clients. For Pro Bono Opportunities see HERE.