COVID 19 and Pro Bono

The spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is having significant legal implications across the sector. The ABA is pleased to be able to offer a variety of CLE webinars and on-demand products that specifically address some of your questions on the effects of this outbreak. From now through April 15th, we will be featuring free-to-member live webinars for your legal education. Get CLE credit and get informed!

American Bankruptcy Institute

ABI’s private library of online courses, featuring more than 2700 sessions of high-quality educational content, is now available for free for the first time. ABI’s e-learning courses can help you maintain your skill set, learn new topics, and keep your career on track. All you need to do is create an account (membership in ABI is not required).

Pro Bono Opportunities

ABA Free Legal Answers

ABA Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal advice clinic. Qualifying users post their civil legal question to their state's website. Lawyers provide information and basic legal advice without any expectation of long-term representation.

National Disaster Legal Aid Advocacy Center

In 2018, Pro Bono Net and Lone Star Legal Aid developed the National Disaster Legal Aid Advocacy Center to address a nationwide need to network public interest legal advocates working on disaster legal aid and share advocacy resources and tools across regions.

National Disaster Relief Pro Bono Portal

The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division’s Disaster Legal Services Program and Paladin, a justice tech company specializing in pro bono software, launched a centralized, sortable database that lists opportunities to serve those impacted by COVID-19, as well as the recent tornadoes in Tennessee and earthquakes in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and future disasters as they occur.

Massachusetts COVID-19 Pro Bono Portal

MassProBono and the Pro Bono Committee of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission’s COVID-19 Task Force have collaborated with legal aid and non-profit organizations throughout the state to create a current list of pro bono projects, many of which are remote, that will assist legal aid clients impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wellness During the Pandemic

CDC Resources

The CDC offers a collection of resources on coping with stress during the pandemic.

ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs

The COVID-19 pandemic brings a great deal of stress to members of the legal profession, both in our personal and professional lives. Find resources here to assist in coping with that stress.

Additional Resources

ABA Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness

The Committee educates lawyers, bar associations and the justice system to help them prepare for and respond to disasters; provide resources to assist lawyers and the public recover from disasters; and, ensure the rule of law in times of disaster.

ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants

The ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants has compiled resources and information of relevance to providers of civil and criminal legal services.

Legal Services Corporation

The Legal Services Corporation has created a page compiling its resources on the pandemic.

Medical-Legal Partnership Response to COVID-19

This tip sheet offers 8 Things Every Medical-Legal Partnership Can Do Right Now to Respond to COVID-19. It was was compiled with information from a March 30th COVID-19 Town Hall with 250 medical-legal partnership practitioners who identified several challenges they are facing in responding to the pandemic.

National Center for State Courts

The coronavirus outbreak has caused a disruption in courts. The National Center for State Courts provides an updated collection of state court orders to help you navigate the outbreak's impact on courts. Visit often to see new updates from the courts.

National Conference of State Legislatures

The National Conference of State Legislatures offers a compilation of state quarantine and isolation statutes.

National Legal Aid and Defender Association

NLADA is coordinating with an array of experts in both the delivery of legal services and access to justice, as well as experts in specific practice areas and leaders in providing civil legal aid and public defense. This is a space for advocates to share resources, discuss responses and strategies with one another, identify experts in particular issues,and find policy developments affecting the delivery of legal services and access to justice.

Pro Bono Projects Addressing COVID-19 Issues

COVID-19 Small Business Remote Legal Clinic

Lawyers for Good Government Foundation is building a nationwide coalition of law firms and non-profit organizations to provide guidance regarding available federal, state, and local programs that may offer grants and/or loans; and pro bono consultations (by phone) to help small business owners dealing with legal issues resulting from diminished revenues or closures due to COVID-19.

North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center COVID-19 Small Business/Nonprofit Initiative

The North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center’s (PBRC) COVID-19 Small Business/Nonprofit Initiative (the Initiative) will offer pro bono legal consultations to small businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 25 employees.

Connecticut Bar Association Virtual Small Business Legal Clinic

The CBA is sponsoring a statewide COVID-19 Small Business Virtual Legal Clinic (the COVID-19 Clinic) along with Robinson+Cole and other area law firms. The purpose of the clinic is to help Connecticut’s entrepreneurs and small businesses that have suffered adversely from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing free, limited-scope legal guidance during 45-minute telephone or video calls with a volunteer attorney.

Massachusetts COVID Relief Coalition

A coalition of law firms, nonprofits, and governmental agencies in Massachusetts has joined forces to help small businesses and nonprofits in the greater Boston area access emergency loans and other sources of relief.

Dallas Online Eviction Clinic

The Dallas Eviction 2020 Project offers resources on evictions as well as the ability to contact the project about a legal question for a response from an attorney.

Georgia Small Business/Nonprofit COVID-19 Remote Pro Bono Clinic

The Georgia Small Business/Nonprofit COVID-19 Pro Bono Clinic is an opportunity for Georgia small businesses with fewer than 25 employees as well as 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations who have suffered adversely from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis to receive free legal advice during a 45-minute remote consultation with a volunteer attorney, helping small business owners and nonprofits navigate the CARES Act, or questions related to employment, commercial leases, contract enforcement, insolvency/bankruptcy and insurance.

CARES Act and Nonprofits: Resources

National Council of Nonprofits

The National Council of Nonprofits offers a chart that provides information on loan options, eligibility criteria, terms, and application information. The chart is an analysis of the new law before any rules or regulations.

Foundation Group Blog

The Foundation Group discusses the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and its relevance to nonprofit organizations.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses and nonprofits keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued this guide to help organizations understand what to expect and prepare to file for a loan.

Practising Law Institute Briefing

The Practising Law Institute (PLI) is offering a briefing on COVID-19 and the Nonprofit Sector: From Understanding the CARES Act to Establishing a Charitable Assistance Program.

American Bar Association TM American Bar Association

COVID 19 and Pro Bono

CRSJ COVID-19 Series

The ABA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force

Amid COVID-19, ABA and Paladin launch disaster relief pro bono portal to provide free legal services

Join Us for a National Conversation

Past Drop In Call Recordings

April 7, 2020 Call

April 29, 2020 Call

May 13, 2020 Call

June 2, 2020 Call

June 23, 2020 Call

April 15, 2020 Call

May 5, 2020 Call

May 27, 2020

June 10, 2020 Call

July 8, 2020 Call

Volunteer through ABA Free Legal Answers

CARES Act Stimulus Payments

CLE Resources

American Bar Association