Dec. 2, 2020 – With a rise in legal issues stemming from the pandemic – unemployment benefits, unlawful evictions, and domestic violence, to name a few – the need for pro bono work has never been greater.

But finding the right opportunity to put your talents to work as a volunteer can be a challenge. The State Bar of Wisconsin now has a new solution.

In partnership with the legal tech innovators at Paladin, the State Bar of Wisconsin’s new Pro Bono Portal makes it easier to find the volunteer work you want to do.

“This is a response to a longer term need as well as a shorter term crisis,” said State Bar Pro Bono Coordinator Jeff Brown.

“The longer term issue we are dealing with is a lack of funding and support for our legal services organizations to provide basic legal help to low income Wisconsin residents.”

Brown said the State Bar, in partnership with other groups, is making strides to close the well-documented access to justice gap in Wisconsin. “Volunteers are a key part of that, but we also need a vibrant and well-resourced legal services to community to provide the more intensive and specialized services that individuals need,” he said.

Brown said the State Bar of Wisconsin Pro Bono Portal will help legal services organizations to more easily connect with attorneys seeking pro bono opportunities, especially in the short-term environment where in-person outreach is limited.

The portal provides a centralized place for attorneys to connect with organizations, and vice versa. The portal also allows attorneys to search for opportunities in their specific areas of interest and based on availability.

In this video, Brown provides an overview and tutorial on the Pro Bono Portal. For more information, contact Jeff Brown at jbrown@wisbar.org.