BIRMINGHAM VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROGRAM INC

The Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program was established in 1995 by the Birmingham Bar Foundation and Legal Services Alabama in order to provide access to justice to indigent members of the Birmingham, Alabama community. The BVLP utilizes local volunteer attorneys who deliver pro bono legal services to our indigent client base. In order to qualify for services, client household income must not exceed 125% of the federal poverty level, which amounts to approximately $28,000.00 gross annual income for a family of four. The BVLP assists qualifying clients with civil legal matters including, domestic relations, child support, custody, adoptions, guardianships, wills and simple estates, bankruptcy and debt collection. The organization does not accept fee-generating cases or criminal matters.

Over the last year, 1,348 attorneys volunteered their time through the BVLP to help indigent members of our community. In 2011, the BVLP opened 1,148 cases and closed 1052 cases for indigent clients.

After a series of devastating tornadoes hit Alabama on April 27, 2011, the BVLP stepped in to provide tornado victims with free legal assistance including FEMA assistance, insurance assistance, replacement of lost documents and other disaster related legal assistance.

Some ways you can help include:

- A donation of $30 to pay for service of process for an indigent client

- A donation of $50 to pay for one month's copying for the BVLP

- A donation of $154 to pay for one client's filing fee

- A donation of $336 to pay for one month's telephone and internet service for the BVLP (The BVLP recieves over 400 calls a month from indigent individuals seeking legal assistance)

- A donation of $500 to pay for the expenses associated with one client's case

The BVLP has an active, twenty-seven member Board of Directors and frequently partners with the Birmingham Bar Association and area law firms to provide pro bono legal assistance to indigent clients in the Birmingham area.