Practicing Attorney
Remote Services Program
As our largest volunteer program, the Remote Services Program (RSP) offers volunteers the opportunity to support the Buhai Center’s legal services by participating remotely in our free legal consultations. During these consultations, the volunteer interviews and provides legal advice to prospective clients in consultation with staff attorneys. Free legal consultation appointments are held over the phone on most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and some Saturdays each month. Appointments are generally 2-4 hours long.
Volunteers schedule themselves for free legal consultations based on their availability using the Buhai Center’s online volunteer calendar and scheduling system. This program is designed for attorneys, law school graduates, and law students. Completion of the Buhai Center’s New Volunteer Training and onboarding process is required to participate in this program. The Buhai Center requires all volunteers to agree to perform 50 hours of pro bono service within a year of completing the New Volunteer Training.
Pro Bono Panel
Our Pro Bono Panel consists of volunteer attorneys with varying levels of experience who provide limited-scope family law representation and/or full representation to clients. Volunteers become the client’s attorney of record, either for the whole case through judgment or for a limited purpose (e.g., the initial request for order for temporary support and custody).
Interested California attorneys may inquire about this program by contacting probono@hbcfl.org. Participation in the New Volunteer Training program is not required for Pro Bono Panel attorneys.
Family Law Intensive Program (FLIP)
The Buhai Center’s Family Law Intensive Program (FLIP) is designed for law school graduates and attorneys who seek an immersive educational experience with the goal of learning the basics of family law. In this innovative program, volunteers are paired with a supervising Buhai Center staff attorney to maximize their exposure to family law forms, procedures, and clients.
The program is designed for individuals who are:
- Graduating law school
- Awaiting bar results
- Starting a new practice
- Transitioning practice areas
- Re-entering the workforce
- Retiring from private practice or other employment
- Moving to California from another state
The time commitment for this volunteer program is a minimum of 15 hours of service per week for a minimum of 10 weeks. Completion of the Buhai Center’s New Volunteer Training is not required for this program.