Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project
Seeking Volunteer Lawyers to Assist with Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic (Remote – No Prior Experience)
Help low-income clients resolve income-tax related issues
Posted December 2, 2022
Background & Context
The Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc. (VLP) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation which provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals and small not-for-profit groups in Western New York. VLP provides these important services by utilizing both its staff and volunteers to represent clients.
VLP involves volunteer attorneys by recruiting, training, coordinating, and assisting attorneys who volunteer to represent VLP’s clients on a pro bono basis. VLP has been doing this work since 1983 when it was created.
Immediate Problem
Buffalo, New York has the 6th highest percentage of low-income residents out of all large cities in the US. Additionally, surrounding counties are some of the poorest in New York state. Residents of these areas are in urgent need of assistance to resolve income-tax related issues with the IRS. Some of these issues include negotiation of tax debt, levies and liens, worker classification issues, tax credit repayment issues, and tax credit denials.
Work & Deliverables
We are seeking dedicated volunteer lawyers licensed by any state to assist our low-income taxpayer clients with tax-related legal issues via direct referral from our organization. Previous experience in tax law is a plus but not necessary as we will train and mentor volunteer lawyers. As this will be a fully remote opportunity, time commitment needed depends on the volunteer’s availability and willingness to take on cases. Help those who need it with as much or as little time as you can offer.
Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project
The Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc. (VLP) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation which provides free civil legal services to low income individuals and small not-for-profit groups in Western New York. VLP provides these important services by utilizing both its staff and volunteers to represent clients. VLP involves volunteer attorneys by recruiting, training, coordinating and assisting attorneys who volunteer to represent VLP’s clients on a pro bono basis. VLP has been doing this work since 1983 when it was created as a joint project of the Erie County Bar Association and Neighborhood Legal Services. The Bar Association incorporated VLP as a separate not-for-profit corporation in 1988. VLP’s dual mission is to: (1) provide quality, free civil legal services for low income people and smaller not-for-profit groups; and, (2) to effectively involve volunteers in the delivery of those services. VLP’s efforts and results are noteworthy. In recent years, VLP has handled approximately 4,000 cases per year (in-house and referred to pro bono attorneys), while assisting more than 8,000 clients in total.
Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project
The Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc. (VLP) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation which provides free civil legal services to low income individuals and small not-for-profit groups in Western New York. VLP provides these important services by utilizing both its staff and volunteers to represent clients. VLP involves volunteer attorneys by recruiting, training, coordinating and assisting attorneys who volunteer to represent VLP’s clients on a pro bono basis. VLP has been doing this work since 1983 when it was created as a joint project of the Erie County Bar Association and Neighborhood Legal Services. The Bar Association incorporated VLP as a separate not-for-profit corporation in 1988. VLP’s dual mission is to: (1) provide quality, free civil legal services for low income people and smaller not-for-profit groups; and, (2) to effectively involve volunteers in the delivery of those services. VLP’s efforts and results are noteworthy. In recent years, VLP has handled approximately 4,000 cases per year (in-house and referred to pro bono attorneys), while assisting more than 8,000 clients in total.