HOW TO HELP ARKANSAS ACCESS TO JUSTICE
There are several ways that you can help make a difference in the lives of Arkansas families whose safety, economic security, and well-being depend on access to legal help. You can donate to the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation, which distributes funds to support the work of legal aid; you can volunteer to provide pro bono legal services or to assist in research or outreach activities; you can consider the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation as a recipient of settlement funds or cy pres awards in class actions or other consumer law cases; or if you’re an attorney, you can maintain your IOLTA account at a preferred bank that pays better-than-average interest rates and waives its fees.
VOLUNTEER
There are many reasons to volunteer. It’s a great opportunity to network, to learn new skills, and, most importantly, to give back to the community. Our volunteers have a real impact on the lives of our clients, and they experience personal and professional growth while doing so. Sign up to volunteer, read about the impact our volunteers have made, or watch a video about a pro bono lawyer who made a difference for a boy whose father died in Iraq.
Our volunteer opportunities aren’t just limited to taking cases. We provide a wide range of services, and attorneys, law students, and community members of all backgrounds are needed to support our efforts. Volunteers can do something as simple as helping us keep our legal fact sheets up to date or as involved as giving one-on-one consultations to clients at our outreach events.
Volunteering isn’t just personally fulfilling; it’s also required for attorneys. Rule 6.1 of the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct states:
Every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay. A lawyer should aspire to render at least (50) hours of pro bono publico legal services per year.
Volunteering with Access to Justice is a great way to meet this requirement. Read Rule 6.1.