Community Volunteers: Bridging the Access to Justice Gap
By Judy Lin, KCBA Pro Bono Services Director
Community volunteers are critical to our ability to serve clients through KCBA’s pro bono programs. This dedicated group includes students, legal professionals, and other community members who do not otherwise work in the legal profession and who want to give back, gain new skills and experiences, and support access to justice efforts.
The collective impact of more than 100 community volunteers is felt across every pro bono program at KCBA. These volunteers are often the first point of contact for clients who are seeking help with urgent legal issues related to fundamental needs, including stable housing, family safety, income maintenance, and others. They gather essential information and provide resources with sensitivity and empathy.
In our Neighborhood Legal Clinics, community volunteers provide administrative support as clinic assistants and intake and referral interns. In these roles, they screen and schedule clients for legal consultations, collect relevant facts, call clients with appointment reminders, conduct client satisfaction surveys, and provide clinic support for volunteer attorneys and LLLTs. Last year, their dedication ensured that over 4,500 households received free legal consultations and resources.
For students completing internships and externships in programs like the Records Project, Legal Advice and Referral for Kinship Care, Domestic Violence Legal Advocacy Project, Kinship Care Solutions, Self-Help Plus, and the Housing Justice Project, the experience offers a meaningful intersection of education and service. Students assist with a broad range of duties including screening and interviewing clients, drafting legal pleadings, and conducting legal research. Law students who are eligible for APR 9 limited license status can gain courtroom experience with supervision provided by our staff attorneys. For students interested in pursuing a career in law, the benefits flow both ways. Students gain invaluable practical training and a deeper understanding of access to justice issues, which help shape their professional values and future engagement. Many have returned as attorney volunteers or staff attorneys with KCBA after graduation.
We are deeply grateful to our community volunteers. Their time, energy, and commitment to our mission help make access to justice a reality.
To find out more about current volunteer opportunities, please visit www.kcba.org/?pg=Pro-Bono-Services.
