When you seek legal assistance from Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham, a screener will talk with you to find out if your case and income qualify for our services. Verification of low-income status is required. If your case and income qualify, one of our intake specialists will call to get the details we need in order to make a final decision as to whether or not your case will be accepted.
Once this process is complete, staff will contact you at least a day in advance to let you know when we have a virtual appointment available. Once you confirm this appointment, you must be available to answer the phone at that time. (Please be aware that your appointment will be with a volunteer lawyer who also has a private practice, so they may call from a phone number different from ours).
This may involve:
- Explaining the legal process
- Preparing legal documents
- Helping you complete forms
- Contacting outside agencies and courts
Your Help Desk appointment is a one-time engagement with a volunteer lawyer donating their time. Should you request a follow-up appointment, you may be assigned a different volunteer lawyer. Some clients may receive extended legal representation, which is determined on a case-by-case basis by VLB staff.
In order to serve as many clients as we can, we follow these guidelines:
Clients remain self-represented unless notified otherwise by a VLB Staff Attorney
Clients are responsible for correctly filing documents in their cases and appearing for court dates