Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham has made a lot of changes to streamline and expand civil legal services we offer to low-income residents of Jefferson County. These include changing lawyer-client meetings to a by-appointment-only system, so clients know exactly what day and time they will be contact. Most of these meetings are now held remotely (by phone), eliminating the need for clients to travel to the courthouse for legal services.
At the same time, we have also added exciting new clinics such as regularly scheduled Wills and Expungement Clinics. These in-person clinics help clinics are new to our program and help our clients meet critical life needs.
We providing services following the procedures below:
- Requesting help: Low-income citizens of Jefferson County with civil legal concerns can call us at 205.250.5198 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that we handle civil matters only and are unable to address criminal matters.
- Intake: If your situation qualifies, you will receive a call from an intake specialist to verify your name, address, date of birth, and details related to your case. We will also request proof of income at this time to verify you qualify as a low-income individual or family.
- Receiving an appointment with an attorney volunteer: Following intake, please wait for a staff member to schedule you for an appointment to speak with one of our attorney volunteers. You will be given a time and date when the attorney will call. It is extremely important for you to be available to take this call. Any client who cannot be reached at their designated time will lose their place in line and need to wait for a new appointment to be scheduled, resulting in delay of service.
- For information about our Wills and Expungement Clinics, please click here.
How to Volunteer
If you are an attorney willing to volunteer by phone or by representing clients in virtual hearings, we need you!
Virtual Help Desks:
Civil Help Desk: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
You will only be assigned one client per Help Desk engagement.
Special Clinics:
We hold regularly scheduled Wills Clinics (providing Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Advance Directives) and Expungement Clinics (to help clients remove old violations that may be hindering their access to good jobs, housing, and more). Check here for to a schedule of upcoming clinics.
Please call Michelle Horn Brown at 205.623.0901 or email her at mbrown@vlbham.org. Volunteer opportunities are not limited to these options. We also need attorneys who are willing to represent clients during virtual hearings as the need arises.
If You Have a Domestic-Relations Crisis
IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PLEASE DO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
- Call 911;
- Go to the Family Court of Jefferson County to file for a Protection From Abuse (PFA) – 120 – 2nd Court North, Birmingham, AL 35204, Telephone: 205- 325-5491; or
- Go to One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center – 1135 – 14th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, Telephone: 205.453.7261