Pro Bono Programs

The Carrico Center has partnered with the Federal Circuit Bar Association (FCBA) in its operation of the Pro Bono Veterans Appeals program, which facilitates pro bono representation in the appeal of disability claims to the United States Appeals Court for the Federal Circuit. Populated mainly by the membership of Richmond Law’s Veterans and Military Law Association, volunteers perform case tracking and analysis of the Federal Circuit’s disability appeals docket, as well as provide individual case assistance to pro bono attorneys when requested.

In partnership with the Greater Richmond Bar Foundation and Williams Mullen, the Carrico Center participates in the Pro Bono Estate Planning program, which provides basic estate planning services to low-income seniors and families in Central Virginia. Specifically, law students and pro bono attorneys provide clients with wills, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives; law students support this program through client intake, document drafting, and witness services.

Volunteer law students help the housing advocates at Legal Aid Justice Center address the eviction crisis affecting our community and identify possible avenues of support. Volunteers review the dockets for area courts to learn more about who is facing eviction, who is pursuing eviction, and the numbers of neighbors in our community affected.

In partnership with the Legal Aid Justice Center, the Carrico Center participates in the Housing Law Program, which connects volunteer attorneys and law students with low income individuals in their efforts to access and maintain decent, safe, and affordable housing. Law students assist pro bono attorneys with client intake and screening.

Training Materials: 
Evictions: Why They Happen & Defenses
COVID-19 Housing Protections
Other Housing Laws: Tenet On The Offense

The Carrico Center works closely with the Legal Aid Justice Center, the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, and the pro bono immigration law community to address the legal needs of our immigrant community. Specifically, we have placed law student volunteers with pro bono attorneys working on asylum matters, we have organized pro bono DACA renewal clinics (one of which was hosted at the University of Richmond), and we coordinate an annual training of volunteers  who wish to participate in the ICE Detention Center Visit Program.* Students fluent in other languages often provide translation services as well to these programs.

*ICE Detention Centers are located in Farmville and Bowling Green, Virginia.

 ICE Detention Center Hotline & Translation Services w/ CAIR Coalition

Sign up for hotline training here.

For attorneys, performing pro bono service can be a rewarding way to serve the community while meeting the pro bono recommendations of Rule 6.1 of the Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct. While many ethical issues that arise in the context of pro bono service mirror those in a lawyer’s day-to-day practice, there are some special issues that an attorney should consider when engaging in pro bono service. This CLE will discuss the common ethical issues that attorneys may encounter when undertaking pro bono representation, including conflict checks, client capacity, and communication difficulties.

The Carrico Center is proud of its continued engagement with the Medical-Legal Partnership with VCU Health and the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society. Through the Medical-Legal Partnership at the Health Hub, members of the community can attain legal information, resources, and, when appropriate, representation. Under the supervision of an attorney from CVLAS and as part of an interdisciplinary team of graduate students, law students engage with members of the community, perform issue intake, provide information on resources available, develop community education pieces, and other tasks that may be assigned.

In partnership with the Richmond Bar Association and Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, this program connects volunteer attorneys with law students, who together represent clients seeking an uncontested divorce in the greater Richmond area and beyond. Law students who volunteer with this program are paired with volunteer attorneys to provide representation on these cases.

Information Session

Training Video

Taking advantage of our location in the state’s capital, the Carrico Center maintains a policy/legislative pro bono project, in which students provide bill tracking and analysis, as well as policy development and support, on issues relevant to pending legislation on behalf of local and statewide advocacy groups. Pro bono partners in this program include the Virginia Poverty Law Center, Housing Opportunities Made Equal, and the Legal Aid Justice Center.

In partnership with the Richmond Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association (Richmond Chapter), and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Richmond Division), the Carrico Center operates the Pro Se Mediation Project, which offers unrepresented litigants the opportunity to obtain pro bono attorney representation in matters referred to the United States Magistrate Judges for a settlement conference. Pro bono attorneys and volunteer law students meet with the pro se clients, prepare for the mediation, and represent the litigant during the course of the mediation; if settlement is not reached, the pro bono attorney has no obligation to remain as counsel for the remainder of the case.

The Carrico Center and the VBA’s Young Lawyers Division partner with Woodville Elementary School in the Capital Mentor Program. Woodville is an inner city school located in the Church Hill neighborhood of Richmond City, with many of its students coming from low-income housing developments. Law students have the option to volunteer with either the Lunch Buddy Program or the Speaker Series.

Lunch Buddy Mentoring Program: Mentors have the opportunity to sit with students during their lunch period and speak with them about their lives and goals. This not only helps teachers with supervising lunch, but also provides the best opportunity for small group mentorship. Mentors are encouraged to speak with their mentees about the importance of attending school each day and setting goals about graduating from elementary and middle school and going on to high school and college. Mentors commit to attend two lunch periods per month – but many do more!

Speaker Series: To support the positive behavior program at Woodville Elementary School, the Mentor Program sponsors a monthly guest speaker series that introduces students to role models of varying backgrounds, academic paths, and careers. Guest speakers share their stories, their academic and career paths, and emphasize the importance of good attendance, stellar academic performance, and long-term goal setting.

The Carrico Center’s Street Law Program places law students out in the community and in local schools to teach topics related to the law and our society. The program seeks to inspire children to be interested in the law, as well as engage law students with the broader Richmond community. Community partners have included FRIENDS Association for Children, Peter Paul Development Center, United Methodist Family Services, and the Mayor’s Youth Academy.

The Carrico Center forged a partnership with the Virginia Equality Bar Association and Equality Virginia to provide legal assistance to members of the trans community who are seeking gender marker and name changes. The Trans Law Collaborative mobilizes lawyers and law students to assist trans clients in changing their name and gender markers with the circuit court, as well as updating identification documents (e.g., driver’s licenses, passports and Social Security cards).