Volunteer Opportunities

Upcoming Opportunities are listed below. Monthly clinics are listed further down the page. 

2026 Shelby County High School Mock Trial Competition 
February 19-22, Shelby County Courthouse, 140 Adams Avenue
Volunteer attorneys, 2L & 3L law students and judges are needed to judge rounds (one or multiple).  For more information, please contact mbayld.mocktrial@yahoo.com. 
Sign up here. 

2SLAC (2nd Saturday Legal Advice Clinic) 
Clinic is held the 2nd Saturday of each month from 10am-12pm at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. Volunteer attorneys give legal advice on a range of issues, from divorce to employment law. Firm sponsors are needed as well as individual volunteer attorneys and support staff! Contact: Heather Staggs at hstaggs@malsi.org to sign up as an individual. If your firm would like to sponsor a clinic, contact Mary Ann Upchurch at maupchurch@memphisbar.org.

The Courthouse Legal Advice Clinic - 1st and 3rd Thursday of the Month (Clients must have an active case or a post judgement in General Sessions)
This Memphis Area Legal Services clinic is held the 1st and 3rd Thursday afternoon beginning at 1pm in the Shelby County Courthouse. Volunteer attorneys assist pro se litigants who have questions about the legal process. Contact Heather Staggs at hstaggs@malsi.org to sign up as an individual or stop by the courthouse if you have time to give some advice. 

The Memphis Veterans' Legal Clinic - 2nd Tuesday of the Month (Operating by Telephone Only Until Further Notice)
Memphis Veterans' Legal Clinic is the 2nd Tuesday of each month and is operating by telephone only until further notice. No experience is necessary in legal issues specific to veterans such as benefits issues or discharge upgrade eligibility. Volunteers are always needed so if interested, please contact Jake Dickerson at jacob.alan.dickerson@gmail.com. Volunteer attorneys provide legal advice to veterans on a variety of issues, such as wills/estates, family law, criminal defense, expungement, housing, consumer protection, and child support attorneys. You do not need to be certified to practice before the Veterans Administration to participate in this clinic, as VA benefits are not handled at the clinic.  

Know a veteran who needs help? Veterans need to contact the VA employees below to obtain the intake paperwork and to be put on the list for free legal advice and referrals by phone. Appointments should be made well in advance of the upcoming second Tuesday to make sure a slot is available. To sign up for a clinic, veterans need to call 901-523-8990 and contact Pat Hines (ext. 6711), Shea Langs (ext. 4453), or Courtney Deviney (ext. 7166).  

Check the Bar Bulletin, our weekly e-newsletter, for volunteer updates. 
 

A Lawyer's Professional Responsibility

Rule 6.1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct state in part that a "lawyer should aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono publico legal services per year." The first comment to that rule notes that "{e}very lawyer, regardless of professional prominence or professional work load, has a responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay, and personal involvement in the problems of the disadvantaged can be one of the most rewarding experiences in the life of a lawyer."

There are many ways for lawyers to fulfill their pro bono responsibility. In addition, doing pro bono can help you develop your skills and grow your practice. 
 

How Pro Bono & Volunteering Can Help You In Your Practice

• You get real-life experience working with actual clients.
• You can develop new skills. For example, a new attorney can gain courtroom experience by handling pro bono cases.
• You can get training in and explore different areas of the law. Thinking about starting an immigration practice? The Community Legal Center's Immigrant Justice Project might be a good place to test that interest and learn about that area of the law.
• You make contacts and find willing mentors. Lawyers from many Memphis law firms, government agencies and corporate legal departments assist with the monthly Saturday Legal Clinics. If you're a new volunteer, you can shadow a more experienced lawyer.
• Distinguish yourself with clients and prospective employers. Providing pro bono shows that you are dedicated to serving others and fulfilling your professional obligations.
• Increase personal satisfaction and obtain perspective. Nothing reminds you of why you went to law school than knowing that you helped a pro bono client through a difficult situation. It's a great way to feel good about being a member of the legal profession.