Free Legal Advice for Charitable Organizations
From Adviceopedia
Managers or administrators of non-profit organizations may want to take advantage of free legal advice for charitable organizations, where available. A number of lawyers do pro bono (for the good of) work for these types of organizations.
Contents |
Tips and Free Legal Advice for Charitable Organizations
Lawyers Help in Many Areas
A non-profit or charitable organization can benefit from the services of a lawyer in a number of ways:
- Preparation of the necessary documents to establish charitable organization/non-profit corporate status
- Advice about employment matters (including hiring, discipline, and termination issues)
- Acting for the organization in relation to real estate holdings (purchase and/or sale of a property)
- Registering a trademark
- Ensure that fundraising policies and procedures comply with local laws
Some Law Firms Encourage Pro Bono Work
Firms that employ a number of lawyers encourage those working there to take on one or two pro bono clients each year. If the organization is devoted to serving less fortunate members of the community or helping victims of crime or abuse, it may be possible to get free legal advice for charitable organizations. Not all lawyers who perform these duties are junior counsel; senior partners also take time out of their busy schedule to contribute to these worthwhile causes.
Finding a Pro Bono Lawyer
A number of lawyers are already active in their community and sit on the board of charitable organizations. If you are looking for legal counsel for your organization, the easiest way to find someone would be to approach this individual. If he or she is not able to spend more time on your legal needs, perhaps another lawyer in the same firm may be available.
- Start with who you know. If you have a friend who is a lawyer, ask him or her to help your organization.
- If you do not know a lawyer, discuss this topic at your next board or committee meeting. Chances are, someone has a close relationship with a lawyer.
- Ask around to find a lawyer who shares the same interests as your non-profit organization.
- If you don't have an organization large enough to have a board of directors, contact the Bar Association in your state.
- Another option would be to contact law firms in your town or city and explain what your needs are.
Before you call, consider whether you would like to get free legal advice on one issue or you are looking to establish a long-term relationship with a lawyer who can act for the organization on a number of issues.
The Internet can also help the members of a worthwhile group find free legal advice for charitable organizations. Visit probono.net to find the names of legal counsel ready to help a variety of causes.
Other Sources of Free Legal Advice
Your local Bar Association may offer seminars on legal issues to the public at no cost. Have one or two members of your organization attend whenever possible. In addition to the presentations, most of these events have question and answer sessions as part of the program.
Make a point of listening and taking notes while the speaker is answering questions. Be prepared with a general question of your own. If you are impressed with the speaker and his or her advice, you may want to get that lawyer's business card and contact him or her at a later date to discuss your organization's legal needs.
The Internet can also be a good source of free legal advice. A number of law firms have web sites with articles posted on a number of legal issues. Legal blogs are another source of information. As always, consider the source of your facts before acting on any information you find online. A well-established law firm or a Bar Association's web site is likely a good source of information. You may want to check a number of sources before concluding that a particular bit of knowledge is accurate. Online information has its place, but may not reflect the most recent changes in the law. For the most up-to-date free legal advice for charitable organizations, check with a qualified attorney.
