Clinics & Projects
Housing: LAWYER FOR THE DAY
Housing Lawyer for the Day (LFD) Clinic
Volunteer attorneys are needed to advise and represent low-income, unrepresented tenants and landlords at the Eastern Housing Court on Tuesday mornings and afternoons. Most cases are for evictions.
Location:
- The Lawyer for the Day (LFD) Program operates in the Eastern Housing Court (the Edward Brooke Courthouse: 24 New Chardon St, Boston, MA 02114), on the 3rd Floor outside of Mediation Rooms (4th Tuesday of each month, 5th Floor outside Courtroom 10).
Scenario:
- The LFD program allows volunteer attorneys to work with pro se litigants in court. Clients have a court event scheduled for that same day, which is usually mediation, though some may be scheduled for hearings. Clients seek advice or information to prepare for their court event, assistance in preparing pleadings or motions, and/or representation or negotiation.
A VLP staff attorney is always present and available for mentoring and support. Volunteers may shadow a VLP staff attorney, or work individually or in pairs/groups.
Schedule:
- Every 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th Tuesday of the Month from 9:30 am – 12:30pm and from 11:30 pm – 2:30 pm. To sign up to assist at our LFD, please click here. You must be a licensed attorney to sign up for the volunteer slot.
Commitment:
- Training and 3 hours of work, depending on availability. After participating in LFD, volunteers are able, but not required, to extend their limited representation to future court mediations or hearings. The extended limited representation varies and can range from 3-5 hours. No experience is necessary, as VLP provides an assigned staff attorney to provide mentoring and support.
Required Training:
- VLP’s Landlord- Tenant 101 Training
- Review the Limited Assistance Representation (“LAR”) video and materials found here. These materials describe best practices for maintaining your limited representation. After you complete the one-time training, you are certified to take a case for a limited time period or limited purpose (e.g., a court mediation or court hearing).
Thank you for your commitment to helping our clients defend themselves against eviction and achieve housing stability
Housing Lawyer for the Day Manual
- Notice of Appearance
- Notice of Limited Appearance
- Notice of Withdrawal of Limited Appearance
- Affadavit of Indigency
- Instructions for Affadavit of Indigency
- Statement of Material Facts
- Temporary Restraining Order
- Verified Complaint
- Request for Reasonable Accommodation
- BHA Request for Reasonable Accommodation
- Request for Interpreter
- Blank Motion
- Motion to Amend Agreement with Instructions for Negotiating Settlement
- Motion for Continuance
- Agreement for Continuance
- Stipulation to Continue
- Blank Agreement
- Agreement for Judgement
- Sample Language for Agreement for Judgement
- Notice of Voluntary Dismissal
- Stipulation of Dismissal
- Stipulation to Reinstate Tenancy with Instructions
- Stipulation to Vacate with Instructions
- Landlord Pro Se Information
- Landlord Frequently Asked Questions
- Security Deposits and Last Month’s Rent
- Landlord’s Duty to Make Repairs During Tenancy
- Landlord Small Claims Information
- Landlord Liability with Section 8 Housing
- Landlord End of Tenancy Eviction Process
- Landlord Discrimination and Reasonable Accommodation
- Carbon Monoxide Information
BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING
- Limited Assistance Representation means you start and finish with your client on the same day; no greater commitment with court proceedings or legal services needed.
- Mentorship: Our newer attorneys learn from more experienced attorneys, and more seasoned lawyers get the chance to mentor and guide.
- Networking: Meet fellow attorneys in your area of practice and get connected with other legal professionals.
The Volunteer Lawyers Project provides primary malpractice insurance for all pro bono work.
If you don’t have experience in housing cases, we strongly suggest that you attend one of VLP’s free Housing Eviction Defenses Basics Trainings before volunteering. Please check our calendar for upcoming training dates.