Christian Legal Aid Volunteers

 
Frequently Asked Questions 

 

The clinic offers rather unique opportunities and advantages. There are few situations where Christian lawyers, law students and paralegals can simultaneously perform vital and satisfying missions and also receive such rich professional fulfillment and spiritual and other blessings in five separate areas such as:

  • Responding to one of the clearest calls of God, that is, serving Him (pro Deo) and the  poor;
  • Effectively capitalizing on your combined legal and spiritual skills and gifts;
  • Achieving new levels of broader legal practice, experience and ministry;
  • Having new opportunities for mentoring and regular fellowship with others in the Christian legal community, and of spiritual growth for you and your spouse; and 
  • Satisfying your professional (pro bono) and/or academic obligations (receiving law  school or other credits) and (respecting the training aspects) your continuing legal education requirements.

    1. Why Should I Become Involved When I Am Already Volunteering Pro Bono Time in Connection with My Bar Association or Legal Aid Clinics? 
    2. What Is Involved?
    3.  Do I Have to Go to Court?
    4. Can I Limit the Type of Matters in Which I Will Offer Advice or Service?
    5. Am I Qualified to Serve If My Practice or Experience Is Limited to Certain Types of Matters or If I Have No Experience in Biblical Counseling?
    6. What Help Can I Expect to Receive in Preparing for or Giving Advice and Assistance?
    7. How Much Time Will it Take?
    8. Will Any Training Time I Need Be Credited Against My Agreed upon Volunteer Time?
    9. Can I Count on Not Getting Enmeshed in a Very Time Intensive Type of Matter?

    1. Because there are usually greater opportunities to use your gifts and skills and greater benefits and rewards to you as indicated above and elsewhere in this brochure.
    2. Principally interviewing or assisting in interviewing and giving routine legal and biblical advice and some limited assistance and the referral of some matters to others.
    3. No, unless you volunteer to do so.
    4. Yes, although the primary need is for persons who are willing to advise or assist in advising and serving in most types of simple civil and/or minor criminal or quasi criminal matters.
    5. Yes, especially if you are willing to take a few hours of available training.
    6. CLS recommended training in practice and procedures and other practical aspects of providing advice and limited service in commonly encountered problems of the poor and homeless. 

      CLS recommended training for simple spiritual or biblical aspects of advice and service such as how to counsel on a spiritual matters, what constitutes the Christian practice of law, how to give biblical advice for specific problems and solutions such as Christian conciliation or mediation and how to conduct interviews including how to pray with or share the gospel with the persons seeking help. 

      A handy, easy to use desk reference book or manual to guide you in the conduct of the interviews in giving basic advice in ordinarily encountered specific matters. 

      Back up lawyers or consultants to help you advise on specific types of problems and their solutions. 

      A list of referral sources to which persons seeking help can be referred for further assistance.
    7. Whatever you are willing to contribute. Four hours a month is recommended.
    8. Yes, if that is your wish. 
    9. Yes. Volunteer time limits will be strictly observed.