Please take a few moments to review these Frequently Asked Questions about being a Volunteer Lawyer with the Arts & Business Council’s Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) program.
Who is eligible to volunteer?
Any lawyers in good standing with an active Tennessee bar membership are eligible to volunteer.
What types of legal issues do VLPA volunteers handle?
VLPA volunteers handle art-related legal issues that directly affect the artist’s or arts organization’s artistic output including:
– Intellectual property (copyright, trademark, contracts)
– Business entity formation
– Nonprofit formation
– Entertainment (film/TV, music, visual arts)
– Labor/employment
– Real estate
– Art-related disputes (not including litigation)
– Wills & estates
– Intellectual property (copyright, trademark, contracts)
– Business entity formation
– Nonprofit formation
– Entertainment (film/TV, music, visual arts)
– Labor/employment
– Real estate
– Art-related disputes (not including litigation)
– Wills & estates
What types of legal issues do VLPA volunteers not handle?
VLPA volunteers do not handle legal issues that do not directly affect the artist’s or arts organization’s artistic output. VLPA does not refer matters for litigation to volunteers.
Do I need experience with art-related legal issues?
No, you don’t need any prior experience with art-related legal issues to volunteer with VLPA. We welcome attorneys from all practice areas. All you need is a desire and willingness to help the creative community.
Is malpractice insurance provided to volunteers?
VLPA has a malpractice insurance policy covering any volunteer lawyers accepting pro bono cases. Attorneys accepting referrals on a paying basis must have their own malpractice insurance.
What types of clients does VLPA work with?
VLPA is here to help income-qualified artists (of all disciplines), nonprofit arts organizations and qualifying creative businesses.
Is membership required to become a volunteer?
Membership is not required to become a volunteer.
However, if you become a member of the Arts & Business Council at the Supporter level or higher, you will receive all standard membership benefits, including:
– Weekly email newsletters
– Discounts on seminars and CLEs
– Invitations to social events
– Other networking and marketing opportunities
VLPA also makes paying referrals to interested member lawyers or professionals for clients who do not qualify for pro bono assistance.
How do I stay informed about new cases and clinic opportunities?
When you sign up to volunteer, indicate via the sign-up form if you’d like to receive our weekly referral case list and/or notifications about clinic volunteer opportunities. If you express interest in either, we’ll send all relevant information to the email address you provide.
How are cases assigned?
Each week, you’ll receive the referral case list, and you can select any case(s) you’d like to volunteer for. VLPA will send you the necessary information to complete a conflict check. If no conflicts arise, we’ll send an introductory email connecting you with the client to begin working on the case.
How much CLE credit will I receive for volunteering with pro bono cases?
Volunteer lawyers in Tennessee are eligible to receive Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit at the rate of 1 Dual credit hour for every 5 hours billed, up to 3 Dual credits annually for pro bono cases.
How much CLE credit will I receive for speaking on a CLE-approved panel?
A speaker whose presentation is accompanied by five or more pages of well-prepared written materials will qualify for CLE credit based on four hours of credit per hour of presentation. Presentations with fewer materials qualify for two credits per hour. Repeat presentations qualify for half the credits of the initial presentation.
What is the time commitment?
Quarterly pro bono legal clinics are two hours long and occur once per quarter. For referral cases, the time commitment varies, typically ranging from 2-8 hours.
How does volunteering at a quarterly pro bono legal clinic work?
Our quarterly pro bono legal clinics are typically held in-person on a Wednesday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in various venues across Nashville. A few days before the clinic, VLPA will send you the names of the clients you will meet with, as well as the subject matter of the meetings. Each volunteer assists 3-4 clients per clinic, with meetings lasting 30-40 minutes each. A law student may shadow the appointments.
How do I sign up to volunteer?
If interested, please fill out our Volunteer Sign-Up Form!
If I have a question, who should I contact?
Please send an email to vlpa@abcnashville.org, and we will be happy to help you with any questions.