The Volunteer Lawyers Service greatly appreciates your participation as a pro bono volunteer. As a volunteer, you agree to adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Be sure to conduct a conflicts check.

2. Always keep in mind that VLS clients should be treated with the same level of professionalism as a paying client.

3. Conduct all legal work in a timely manner. A VLS staff member will contact you periodically to see how the matter is progressing. If you should find that you are unable to devote sufficient attention to the pro bono matter assigned to you, contact the VLS Coordinator immediately.

4. Keep track of the amount of time you work on the matter and, when the matter is completed, let us know what your total commitment was.

5. Inform VLS when the matter is complete.

6. In the course of providing assistance, you may determine that the project could benefit from an additional partnership with other types of counsel--depending on the complexity of the matter, the amount of work involved, or the need for additional expertise. Please let us know if you require such additional help or mentoring in an area that is new to you.

7. In general, if any problems or questions arise in the course of representing your pro bono client, contact the VLS Coordinator immediately.