CHICAGO, Jan. 13, 2025 — Free Legal Answers, the virtual legal advice clinic sponsored by the American Bar Association, hit a major milestone, crossing the 400,000-mark in the total number of questions handled since the program’s inception in 2016. The program’s more than 15,000 attorneys registered nationally to volunteer performed over 16,500 hours of pro bono service in 2024, assisting with family, divorce and custody-related problems; housing and eviction; consumer rights; employment; and civil rights, among others.
FLA is a project of the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service. Now in 42 states and territories, the program allows users to post civil legal questions at no cost to be answered by pro bono attorneys licensed in their state.
The 2024 summary report is here.
"The continuing growth of Free Legal Answers — both in the number of questions posted and the number of volunteer attorneys registered — is a testament to how this innovative platform has filled a critical part of the access-to-justice gap,” said Henry Su, pro bono standing committee chair. “Sometimes the need for free legal advice can be a single question that can be posted online by a client, whenever and wherever, and answered online by an attorney, whenever and wherever."
In 2024, the types of questions that were submitted most often were about family and children (38%); housing and homelessness (16%); and consumer and financial questions (10%). Other questions were related to work and employment/unemployment; individual rights; health and disability; and miscellaneous topics.
With the surge in climate events across the country in 2024, FLA was on the ground in more states, more often. According to USA Today, two dozen weather-related catastrophes caused $1 billion or more in damage each last year. “Freezing temperatures and ice caused power outages in the Northwest; tornado outbreaks and severe storms pummeled the central U.S.; and five major hurricanes — Beryl, Debby, Francine, Helene and Milton — caused major damage and catastrophic flooding from Florida to North Carolina.”
ABA FLA is an effective disaster recovery response resource and was deployed to serve individuals affected by Hurricane Helene. Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia implemented adjustments to their sites, such as temporarily increasing the eligibility income cap to reach more survivors.
In North Carolina, attorneys licensed out of state were able to register as volunteers pursuant to a state supreme court order. Disaster relief categories were added on all sites, allowing questions to be sorted and quickly assigned to attorneys standing by to assist. Free Legal Answers also includes a federal portal that addresses federal veterans benefits and immigration questions. Since the site launched, nearly 24,000 questions have been submitted by veterans and over 20,000 by seniors.
Free Legal Answers is supported by Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC; American Arbitration Association; FedEx Ground; International Paper; Pilot Company; Chapman and Cutler LLP; Dorsey & Whitney LLP; Entergy Corporation; Liberty Mutual Insurance; and Paul Hastings, LLP. Baker Donelson created the portal and continues to maintain it in collaboration with the ABA.
For more information, contact Shanda T. Ivory at [email protected].
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