Members/Legal Professionals
Members/Legal Professionals

Pro Bono

Why volunteer? 

  • Build skills
  • Develop new contacts
  • Most importantly, serve Lancaster clients who are marginalized, vulnerable, and without an advocate. For some clients, just having someone to protect their rights and interests makes all the difference.   

How to Volunteer

Joint Volunteer Attorney Program with MidPenn Legal Services: We serve children and families living in or near poverty, who have legal needs that impact their basic economic security.  Contact: Melissa Schweers, mschweers@midpenn.org, 717-299-0971, ext. 3441.

  • Lancaster County Poverty: nearly 60,000 adults and children
  • Legal Aid Eligibility: over 73,000 people are eligible for legal aid/pro bono
  • Number of MidPenn staff attorneys to serve 73,000 potential clients: 10

Criminal Record Expungement Clinics: our volunteer attorneys help Lancaster residents knock down barriers to getting jobs. We’ve partnered with PA CareerLink, MidPenn Legal Services, and the Office of PA Representative Mike Sturla to meet with Lancaster residents who are concerned that past criminal records will interfere with getting and keeping jobs. 

We want all community members to have a shot at self-sufficiency, for themselves and their families.  So, we help determine if their criminal records can be expunged, sealed, or pardoned.

We hold CLE classes to train lawyers for clinics, with free credits for volunteers.  We also offer experienced mentors onsite at clinics.  Contact: Lisa Driendl-Miller, lisa@lancasterbar.org 717-393-0737.  

Community Education:  deliver presentations on substantive law topics, legal careers, and other issues at local schools, community centers, houses of worship, and on the airwaves.  Contact: Executive Director Lisa Driendl-Miller, lisa@lancasterbar.org. 

Wills for Heroes: join a national network of volunteers serving our first responders and service members.  In PA, Wills for Heroes events are coordinated on the county level, with PA Bar Association support.  Lancaster’s Wills for Heroes programs take place about four times annually, on Saturday mornings. Volunteer attorneys and paralegals help clients to draft wills and related documents.  Training and experts are available onsite.  Good food is available, too.  LBA contact: Evan H. Denlinger.