Volunteer Resources

Beyond making a life-changing difference for our clients through your volunteer efforts, as an ALSC volunteer you will have access to:

• Malpractice Insurance
• A seasoned mentor to assist you with your volunteer case
• Online resources, including legal webinars, templates and helpful documents
• Waived court filing fees
• Reimbursed expenses

Community Justice Worker (CJW) volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds, including community members, social workers, law students, paralegals and other professionals. To volunteer as a CJW with ALSC, you must first complete the Ethics for CJWs prerequesite course and a core training course.

Learn more about available training and how to sign up here.

To volunteer as an attorney with ALSC, you must be an active member of the Alaska Bar Association or a member of an out-of-state Bar Association practicing law in that particular state.  Please email us at probono@alsc-law.org with your contact information and the type of areas of law you practice or would be interesting in working with.  You can also fill out the online Volunteer Registration Form.

There are many ways to volunteer with ALSC, depending on your experience, interests, and availability. Opportunities may include representing clients in court or administrative proceedings, providing one-time consultations or brief legal services, assisting at legal clinics, co-counseling cases, or helping clients with specific legal issues as a Community Justice Worker.

Volunteers can also serve as mentors, provide trainings in their areas of expertise, develop or update legal resources and self-help materials, or support other projects that expand access to legal help for Alaskans.

Available opportunities vary based on current client and program needs, volunteer qualifications, scope of practice, and available training and supervision.

Volunteer opportunities range from one-time consultations, outreach, helpline shifts, and clinics to ongoing case representation, so you can choose opportunities that fit your availability. Some assignments may take less than an hour, while others involve a longer-term commitment.

ALSC refers a wide range of civil legal matters to volunteers. Common opportunities include wills and estate planning, public benefits, bankruptcy, and family law, but volunteer opportunities may involve any of the civil legal issues ALSC handles. Available opportunities vary based on client needs, and volunteers can identify the types of matters they are interested in assisting with.

ALSC provides training, legal resources, mentorship, and other support to help volunteers develop the knowledge and skills needed for their work.

CJWs must complete the required Ethics for CJWs prerequisite and a core training course before volunteering in a particular area.

Attorneys do not necessarily need prior experience in a particular area of law to volunteer. ALSC can support identifying opportunities to receive training, work with an experienced mentor, or co-counsel with an ALSC staff attorney.

Please fill out our case closure form within 30 days of closing your case so we can maintain accurate records.

You can also access a pdf version of the form here.

If you are interested in representing a client through ALSC’s Volunteer Program, the client must first be screened and determined eligible for ALSC services. Please ask the client to contact ALSC to complete the screening process and contact our Volunteer team to let us know you are interested in representing the client through a reverse referral.

Yes. ALSC reimburses volunteers for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred while assisting an ALSC client, such as copying, filing, and other case-related costs. Expenses over $200 must be approved in advance.

ALSC does not reimburse volunteers for secretarial or paralegal services. However, we may be able to arrange paralegal assistance or other litigation support when available. Filing fees in Alaska state courts may also be waived for eligible ALSC clients with the appropriate documentation.

Potentially. Appeals involving ALSC pro bono cases must be approved by ALSC’s Executive Director before proceeding. ALSC generally does not cover costs associated with appeals or federal litigation. Please contact our Volunteer Services team to discuss the case, approval process, and available support.

Hours are credited once a case has been completed, or after a consultation. When we receive the Case Closure form we will enter the total amount of hours (regardless of the date when the case was first accepted) into our database. Your hours will count for the year on which you submitted your form.

Please contact the Alaska Bar Association at 907-272-7469.