Pro Bono
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Guardian Ad Litem Program
The Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) Program is managed by the San Diego County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS). Attorney volunteers in the program are eligible for appointment by the juvenile court to serve as Guardian Ad Litem to advance the best interests of a dependent child, to make decisions that will protect the child’s legal interests, and to oversee the civil litigation and the work of the civil attorney representing the child.
The duties of the GAL include:
- Acting in the best interests of the child;
- Maintaining age-appropriate contact with the child on an on-going basis;
- Communicating with the child’s dependency attorney, civil attorney, social worker, and current caregiver, as appropriate;
- Providing quarterly updates on the status of the case to the dependency court;
- Learning the facts of the case sufficiently to sign verifications for discovery;
- Making best efforts to ensure that the child’s claim is diligently and competently pursued;
- Discussing all settlement offers with the civil attorney;
- Signing all legal documents in the case on behalf of the child;
- Providing support to the child throughout the litigation process, as appropriate, which may include assistance in preparing the child to testify;
- Attending any formal settlement conferences or alternative dispute resolution proceedings, as directed by the civil attorney;
- Authorizing or rejecting settlement offers;
- Attending the child’s compromise hearings;
- Approving how a settlement of judgment award will be handled for the child, including but not limited to, the selection of the fiduciary;
- Continuing to represent the child’s interests as the GAL if dependency court jurisdiction terminates before resolution of the civil case and the GAL’s duties have not otherwise been terminated.
Watch the mandatory training video »
Download the training presentation handout »
For more information and to send in your application, please email Michelle Chavez at mchavez@sdcba.org.
Fee Arbitration
The SDCBA is looking for attorneys and members of the public to volunteer to join the SDCBA Fee Arbitration program as pro bono arbitrators. The program offers parties an opportunity to resolve fee disputes as an alternative to taking disputes to court.
Learn more about this program and how to volunteer here »
Watch the mandatory training video »
For more information and to send in your application, please email Michelle Chavez at mchavez@sdcba.org.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
Since 2009, the SDCBA has hosted a pro bono Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) program to assist active-duty military servicemembers in obtaining stays in pending litigation while they are deployed. The program enables attorney volunteers to represent servicemembers in civil, family, and unlawful detainer cases.
Learn more about this program by watching this video »
Attend the upcoming mandatory training on June 24 »
For more information and to send in your application, please email Michelle Chavez at mchavez@sdcba.org.
Access to Appellate Justice (ATAJ) Program
The ATAJ program helps self-represented parties of limited means search for an attorney who will represent them at no charge in their civil appeal. ATAJ is a clearinghouse of attorneys interested in volunteering to help people who are representing themselves on appeal. These attorneys are all independent volunteers.
Learn more about this program and how to apply here »
Wills for Heroes
The SDCBA hosts this program in affiliation with the Wills for Heroes Foundation, enabling local attorneys and legal professionals to provide free preparation of wills, durable powers of attorney for property management, and advance health care directives to first-responders who risk their lives every day protecting and serving our community. Learn more about the program and how to volunteer here »
Operation Stand Down
For our veterans who have lost everything and are living on the streets of San Diego, this program, put on by Veterans Village of San Diego, provides an opportunity for them to “Stand Down” for a weekend and get free access to essential services, connect with the community, and restore their hope.
Joining over 150 different service providers, local attorneys volunteer to provide free legal representation in the Homeless Court Program at Stand Down, helping veterans resolve misdemeanors through "credit for time served" for successfully participating in beneficial shelter activities. This replaces the traditional court sentence options of fines, public work service, and custody. You can learn more about volunteering at Stand Down here »