Sponsor(s): CARPLS Legal Aid
Date: 01/24/2013
Time: 04:00PM - 08:00PM
Location: 17 N. State , Chicago, IL 60602
Speakers: TBD

CARPLS Legal Aid is looking for volunteer attorneys to counsel clients on Cook County’s legal aid telephone hotline.  This substantive law training covers landlord-tenant, pre-decree family, and consumer debt law. 

You must preregister for this training via email to volunteers@carpls.org. Walk-ins will not be accepted. You must hold an Illinois law license to participate. (Retired and inactive lawyers are eligible to volunteer with approval by the ARDC.) 

ABOUT CARPLS: CARPLS is an innovative legal aid service that offers an immediate response to the every-day legal problems confronting low-income families in Cook County. The CARPLS legal aid hotline and court-based advice desks give low-income clients direct access to experienced attorneys who are trained to quickly assess and respond to a wide range of civil legal problems. CARPLS attorneys resolve over 85% of all cases in-house by providing information, advice and brief services including the preparation and review of legal documents. Clients with more complex needs are referred by CARPLS to a network of specialized legal and social service providers. CARPLS' unique "legal triage" system serves as a model for legal aid communities across the country and has increased access to justice by dramatically reducing the cost of legal aid services to the poor.

CARPLS VOLUNTEERS: Our volunteers give advice in the limited practice areas of family, consumer debt and landlord/tenant matters. Volunteers provide legal advice, draft and distribute self-help materials, and make referrals to legal service providers for representation.

This training is for our CARPLS Works program.  Attorneys will be required to volunteer for a minimum of one 4-hour shift per week (M-F from 9am-1pm or 1-5pm) over ten weeks. 

Benefits of Volunteering:

1. Assist disadvantaged individuals with legal problems.
2. Develop client interviewing skills.
3. Learn a new area of law and round out your resume.
4. Fulfill your firm’s pro bono requirements and get MCLE credit for training.
5. Network with your peers.
6. Malpractice insurance provided.
7. Communication with clients limited to time spent on hotline at CARPLS.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

1. Attend this substantive law training on landlord/tenant, consumer debt, and pre-decree family law.
2. Attend one training on CARPLS’ policies/procedures and CARPLS’ referral database.
3. Take your first ‘live call’ under the direct supervision of a CARPLS trainer.
4. Complete #1-3 in one 'training cycle' - a 3 week period.
5. Interview low-income callers and advise over the telephone in limited areas of law.
6. Refer callers to the appropriate legal service providers with the help of a computerized database.
7. Volunteer for a minimum 36 hours per volunteer session (10 weeks for CARPLS Works volunteers).
8. Commit to a minimum one 4 hour shift per week Monday through Friday, (9–1 or 1–5).

Required Skills:

1. Sensitive to problems of low-income people and able to handle those problems in a patient, compassionate manner.
2. Able to communicate with people solely over the telephone, utilizing active listening skills.
3. Able to efficiently gather information, analyze a caller's problem, be resourceful in finding answers, and articulate solutions.
4. Comfortable using a computer and/or computer literate.
5. Licensed to practice law in Illinois.

Please contact Leslie Wallin at volunteers@carpls.org or 312/421-4427 to register for this training or with any questions.