ABA Resources
The ABA has a variety of resources available to assist with disaster response.
The American Bar Association House of Delegates at the 2007 Midyear Meeting in February overwhelmingly approved A Model Court Rule on Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of Major Disaster. The model rule would allow out-of-state lawyers to provide pro bono legal services in an affected jurisdiction and lawyers in the affected jurisdiction whose legal practices had been disrupted by a major disaster to practice law on a temporary basis in an unaffected jurisdiction. To see the status of State Implementation of this rule you may view this resource: Chart - State Implementation of ABA Model Court Rule on Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of Major Disaster
The Young Lawyers Division ("YLD") of the American Bar Association, as well as the YLD of most state bar associations, works closely with FEMA immediately following a disaster to provide legal assistance to those in need of help (see the ABA/FEMA Memorandum of Understanding). The YLD Disaster Legal Services Program provides immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors at no charge.
The ABA Center for Pro Bono's website has a downloadable Disaster Legal Services Manual prepared by the State Bar of California's California Program Development Unit of the Office of Legal Services.
ABA Free Legal Answers - The national pro bono legal advice portal serves as a critical resource for disaster survivors, providing vital assistance regarding accessing FEMA benefits, disaster-related social security and unemployment benefits, contractor fraud and others legal needs.
If you need legal assistance in the time of disaster, the ABA YLD offers Disaster Legal Hotlines.
The ABA Standing Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness is committed to educating lawyers, bar associations and the justice system to prepare for and respond to disasters.
The ABA Center for Pro Bono's Knowledge Center contains additional materials concerning disaster assistance projects, including manuals for the provision of disaster legal assistance. For more information, please email the Center for Pro Bono.
Updated March 2020