Advocacy and Benefits Counseling for Health is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to ensuring health care access for children and families, particularly those with special needs or who are at risk. ABC for Health's mission is to provide health care consumers with the information, advocacy tools, legal services, and expert support they need to navigate through America's complex and confusing health care financing system. ABC for Health, Inc. would like to find pro bono attorneys for consultation on litigated cases.

MCHC provides medical and dental services to low-income persons unable to afford health care. It has used pro bono legal services in the past and is currently using some services.

Access to Independence receives over 1500 information and referral calls from people with disabilities who often are low or moderate income. AI tries to refer them to affordable legal services but knows there is a greater need than those resources can handle. They have referred many clients to pro bono attorneys and have used Pro Bono Trust Fund money to train attorneys to better serve clients with disabilities. There is a significant need for more attorneys to take cases from AI, especially attorneys to represent the deaf and hard of hearing.

Acti-Kare of Dane County is dedicated to providing families, the elderly and people with disabilities all sorts of non-medical in-home care services such as: Alzheimer’s and dementia care, assistance with walking and mobility, bathing and grooming, keeping our customers engaged with games, crafts, and hobbies, grocery list preparation and shopping, light housekeeping and laundry, meal preparation, medication reminders, mommy and me care (for new mothers), mommy to-be-care (for expectant mothers), pet care and house sitting, transportation and companionship.

ARCW is a state-wide organization committed to providing free, quality legal services to people living with AIDS and HIV in Wisconsin. The program provides legal representation in cases involving discrimination, social security disability, bankruptcy, advanced directives and guardianships. Attorneys are needed to provide resources to staff attorneys, act as co-counsel, and take cases directly from ARCW. ARCW expects the need for attorneys for about 12 cases each year.

Advocates for civil rights and civil liberties of Wisconsin helps residents through litigation, public education, community activism, public policy analysis, and governmental lobbying. Legal advice provided in Milwaukee office only (414) 272-4032.

The ARC would like pro bono assistance for organizational, personnel issues as well as assistance for women they serve who are facing charges or have custody issues. info@arccommserv.com www.arccommserv.com The ARC would like pro bono assistance for organizational, personnel issues as well as assistance for women they serve who are facing charges or have custody issues.

The Arc-Dane County is a 60-year old advocacy group that supports and advocates for people with developmental disabilities and their families. They provide three major social activities throughout the year including a Halloween Party, Winter Ball and Spring Ball. The Arc-Dane County maintains a Guardianship Referral List and also serves as special education advocates for parents involved in IDEA issues with their school district. They need pro bono help with these issues as well as other issues relating

ATTIC is an acronym for: Alternative To Traditional Incarceration of Citizens. Since our inception, this Agency has developed services to meet the increasing needs for supervision and treatment of correctional clients living in Wisconsin communities.

Badger Prairie Health Care Center is in need of attorneys to volunteer to serve as legal guardians for our residents. Our residents are Dane County citizens whose special needs prevent them from being served in the private sector. There is a treatment team working with each resident to assist in decision-making if requested.

BFW provides bicyclists throughout the state with education and advocacy services. The BFW provides bicycle safety education materials and classes and advocates for bike friendly public policy. The BFW needs legal assistance with review of their personnel policies and board policies and with consultation on event/teaching liability issues. The need for pro bono attorneys in the next 12 months is 1 to 3 cases or issues

BFW provides bicyclists throughout the state with education and advocacy services. The BFW provides bicycle safety education materials and classes and advocates for bike friendly public policy. The BFW needs legal assistance with review of their personnel policies and board policies and with consultation on event/teaching liability issues. The need for pro bono attorneys in the next 12 months is 1 to 3 cases or issues.

Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin would like pro bono legal assistance to review contracts and advice concerning personnel issues and other organizational issues.

While independently operated, Dane County CASA was formed under the model provided by the National CASA Association and the local program receives curriculum, training, and funding assistance from National CASA. The Dane County CASA program trains, supports, and provides volunteers to children under the supervision of Dane County courts due to substantiated cases of abuse and/or neglect. The CASA volunteer serves a vital advocacy role, giving a voice to these vulnerable kids by ensuring the children receive the services and attention they deserve and that they are eventually placed in a permanent, safe home. Dane County CASA is currently looking for attorneys in Dane County to volunteer with the program.

Centro Hispano needs pro bono help in the areas of family law, immigration law, consumer protection, and other civil litigation. They currently have a great need for more help. Ability to speak Spanish is helpful, but not required.

Chrysalis promotes mental health recovery in our community by supporting work opportunities that encourage hope, healing, and wellness.

CSWAB seeks to directly address social and environmental justice issues by raising public awareness, engaging community members in campaigns to change public policy, defending the community's right to know, and ultimately reducing risks to human health and natural systems. CSWAB needs attorneys to assist with enforcement of environmental laws, environmental justice issues, issues relating to the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA and other federal environmental laws and regulations, Freedom of Information issues and other environmentally related legal issues. CSWAB expects about 2 cases each year that could benefit from pro bono assistance.

CWAG’s programs utilize pro bono assistance, including the Benefit Specialists Program, the Wisconsin Guardianship Support Center, and the Elderly Financial Empowerment Project. The Network also matches low-income seniors needing legal assistance with volunteer attorneys. CWAG currently needs more assistance from pro bono attorneys for its programs.

CAC would like direct representation for clients in a number of areas, including family, landlord tenant, discrimination and employment law. CAC plans to use case managers to screen clients for pro bono representation.

CCCC (4-C) needs legal assistance with child care regulation, state regulatory hearing processes, and state open records requests. Also looking for board members.

Community Justice Inc. (CJI) is a non-profit, private law firm. CJI handles family law, landlord / tenant, employment and housing discrimination, criminal, and general civil cases for low and moderate income individuals on a sliding scale fee basis. CJI uses volunteer attorneys through its Volunteer Lawyers for Justice program to provide greater access to its services for its very low income clients.

Connections Counseling is a clinic focused on creating a safe and supportive environment for young people, families and adults to find a recovery community conducive to hope and healing. The foundation of our program is based on a model of mentoring and giving back to others.

Cornucopia is an activity drop-in center for people with disabilities. They could use a pro bono attorney on their board to give advice about board issues and fundraising.

Dane County Veterans Service Office assists veterans and their families with research and appeals related to obtaining local, state, and federal benefits.

DRW is a protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities and provides legal services statewide to people with disabilities and disability-related issues. DRW needs legal assistance with issues relating to disabilities, including SSI/SSDI, Medical Assistance, Guardianships, Ch. 55 Protective Placement, Ch. 51 Commitment, CHIPS, Ch. 980 Sexual Predator, Special Education, Employment Discrimination, Physical Barriers/Accommodations, Vocational Rehabilitation, Fair Housing, ADA, Worker's Compensation, Termination of Parental Rights, Adoption, and Personal Injury cases. DRW anticipates the need for pro bono work in Dane County to be about 30-50 cases per year.

Domestic Abuse Intervention Service’s (DAIS) mission is to empower those affected by domestic violence and advocate for social change through support, education, and outreach. Lawyers can answer occasional questions from DAIS Legal Advocates or be on our attorney list that is offered to clients when the legal help they need goes beyond what a DAIS Legal Advocate can offer. DAIS does not refer clients to specific attorneys, but provides the list to clients who wish to find an attorney that may help with a specific legal issue. DAIS has a great need for attorneys who are willing to provide sliding-scale or pro bono legal services to victims who need legal representation and advice in family law and restraining order cases. DAIS also needs attorneys who are willing to assist victims with small claims, eviction, housing discrimination, immigration, and criminal cases on a pro bono or sliding-scale basis as well. DAIS Legal Advocates can be available to the client and the attorney throughout the case for support if necessary.

The Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for persons affected by epilepsy and their families through services, education and advocacy. Over 500 families in Dane County are assisted each year. The legal issues the Foundation needs assistance with include: employment discrimination, accommodation issues, Social Security benefits, EOC complaints and occasional family law issues. There are usually 6-8 cases per year that could use pro bono assistance.

The Center needs pro bono assistance for the families they serve in many areas, including child custody, restraining orders, housing, SSI disputes / reviews, and immigration issues. The staff itself would also appreciate pro bono advice, from time to time on how to deal with specific family-related issues.

Friends of MSCR has a volunteer attorney on the board of directors and currently does not need pro bono assistance.

"Goodwill Industries’ mission is to help people achieve their highest level of independence through the power of work.

Habitat has no formal plan for pro bono use, but has called the State Bar program for assistance. They’d like to have help finding another real estate lawyer and making a plan or system to find more lawyers when needed.

ILI serves elderly and disabled adults in Dane County. In-home services include Home Care/Respite, Visiting Homemaker/Chores, Home Safety Modification, and Financial Management and Counseling. ILI's clients are older and disabled adults in need of financial counseling and assistance with financial management. Some of the legal issues these clients need assistance with include: Financial and Healthcare Power of Attorney drafting and revocation, land contracts and deeds, elder law advice on medical assistance issues, bankruptcy advice and filing, and post judgment family law issues. ILI anticipates about 10-12 cases this year that will need pro bono assistance.

JSS uses pro bono help on occasion and needs more volunteers. They need help in many areas of law, including family law, criminal, estate planning, immigration, guardianship issues, landlord/tenant, SSI/SSDI, and are especially concerned about the lack of representative payees volunteers in the community. JSS would also like more volunteers to serve as healthcare DPOAs for individuals who do not have an appropriate family member or friend to provide the service.

Journey Mental Health Center of Dane County (formerly mental Health Center of Dane County) is a private non-profit agency that provides mental health services to people of all ages. Consumers of this agency have identified a spectrum of needs for pro bono legal assistance, especially in the areas of landlord-tenant, immigration, and benefits law. To respond to this need, please contact Josh Peterson (above).

Kids Matter, Inc. focuses on children who are being cared for by someone other than a parent. They provide assistance to children and caregivers who have been the victims of abuse, neglect or some other crime. The agency connects clients with pro bono attorneys and provides training and technical assistance to advocates and attorneys on child welfare issues.

Legal Action serves low-income persons in Dane, Columbia, Dodge, Jefferson, Iowa, Lafayette, Sauk and Rock Counties. Legal Action uses volunteer lawyers through its Volunteer Lawyer Program and anticipates requests for this program from over 100 clients this year. The VLP uses attorneys for a variety of civil matters, including family law, landlord-tenant, consumer law, disability, unemployment compensation, workers compensation, bankruptcy, real estate matters, and equal rights. Attorneys volunteering with the VLP may qualify for free CLE programs offered by Legal Action and may be covered by malpractice insurance from Legal Action for the cases they take pro bono.

LSS would like pro bono assistance for various legal issues.

Madison Vet Center needs help with all kinds of legal issues. They would like help finding pro bono assistance and developing referral and follow-up procedures.

MEA is a non-profit environmental law center in Wisconsin. MEA provides legal and technical support to grassroots groups that are working for environmental justice in the Western Great Lakes region. MEA combines litigation and community organizing to effect environmental justice. MEA utilizes an Advocacy Network of pro bono attorneys who agree to render free or reduced fee services to groups working to protect the environment. This service can range from an hour-long commitment to fully litigating a case in federal court. Midwest Environmental Advocates serves as a clearinghouse to screen potential cases and provide referrals to lawyers who are part of the Advocacy Network. MEA provides the framework to link lawyers with groups and individuals who would not otherwise be able to afford access to the legal system. To join the Advocacy Network send an email to Tressie Kamp (above)

The Milwaukee Legal Initiative for Nonprofit Corporations (M-LINC) offers free legal assistance to Wisconsin nonprofits. M-LINC is a group of legal professionals, students, and volunteers that are committed to serving local nonprofits through a legal referral service, free educational programs and an annual comprehensive strategic analysis of a chosen nonprofit. M-LINC coordinates free legal advice for qualifying nonprofits with legal questions in the following areas: real estate, intellectual property, bankruptcy, employment, corporate, tax, and federal and state registration requirements. These services are provided through the help of volunteer lawyers, law students and other legal professionals.

NAMI provides education, support and advocacy for persons with mental illness and their families. It does this through educational classes, support groups and outreach to the public.

Nehemiah Community Development Corporation would like pro bono legal assistance with organizational and business issues as well as legal services to families they represent.

The Neighborhood Law Clinic provides a broad range of legal services including rental housing, employment, and public benefits law. Law students staff the community-based office. Students also lead community education projects in addition to handling individual cases.

NWDSS would like pro bono assistance with personnel issues, reviewing policies and procedures, and to advise the board of directors.

Operation Fresh Start is a non-profit, comprehensive employment and training organization serving lowincome young people, ages 16-25, in Dane County. The majority of OFS participants are unemployed high school drop-outs who have multiple barriers to success, including records of juvenile or adult offense, problems with substance abuse, behavioral disorders, and mental illness. A few OFS participants a year may need help with juvenile or adult court issues.

Options provides support services to adults with developmental disabilities who live in their own homes in the Madison area. Clients sometimes need legal services to help with issues of housing discrimination, or other housing-related issues (failure to return security deposits, etc.). Options occasionally needs legal assistance to establish guardianship in a timely manner when the county is not responding rapidly enough and when a family has no funds to hire an attorney. Options has paid for this type of assistance, sometimes offered at a lower rate, on behalf of people they support. As an organization, Options needs consultation on employment issues and assistance with occasional contract questions such as business leases.

OutReach, Inc. is dedicated to positive change for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities by providing services that nurture, strengthen, and celebrate our communities; educate and inform the public and ourselves; and advocate for social justice. OutReach anticipates a need for pro bono help in about 12 cases a year for agency needs (issues specific to non-profits), and individual client needs, including discrimination and family law issues relating to LGBT families.

The mission of Porchlight, Inc. is to provide temporary shelter, support services, and ultimately permanent housing for people who are homeless, while vigorously promoting collaboration with community providers to reduce the homeless population in Madison. Porchlight, Inc. (formerly Transitional Housing, Inc.) served 12,700 people in 2008, and its shelter currently houses 100 people each night. Porchlight, Inc. has attorneys from Legal Action come to screen people on a fairly regular basis, but there is an additional need for pro bono attorneys, especially for things LAW can't do, including class actions and conditions of homelessness issues. In addition, homeless people need a legal voice in dealing with government benefits for which they are no longer "entitled", such as SSI/SSDI and programs such as the Expedited Food Stamp program. For these types of problems, caseworkers need to be contacted to get things moved along.

Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin (PCAW) is a program of Wisconsin Children’s Hospital (Milwaukee), with locations throughout the state. PCAW is a prevention effort that aims to stop child abuse and neglect before it occurs. The mission of PCAW is to build community resources, provide training, increase public awareness, and strengthen child abuse prevention efforts in Wisconsin. PCAW receives inquiries from families looking for legal information regarding child abuse, grandparent rights and custody issues, often during a divorce. Pro bono assistance would be helpful with these situations and PCAW anticipates about 3-6 cases each year in Dane County

Project Home provides affordable housing through Prairie Crossing, an affordable housing apartment complex, and serves over 1,000 low-to-moderate-income households each year with weatherization, home repair, and accessibility modifications. Project Home needs assistance with client bankruptcy, loan issues, and contract and collection negotiations. PH expects fewer than 25 cases in the next year.

Rainbow Project assists families and their children who are under 10 years of age. Services include therapy, counseling, and support and advocacy for children and families. RP keeps an informal list of attorneys they call if there is a need. They could use additional help with family law, especially focused on domestic violence, divorce, custody, and some other non-family law issues, including landlord/tenant, criminal defense and health care access. The Rainbow Project anticipates 20-25 cases a year that could use pro bono assistance.

Rise is interested in finding attorneys to whom they could refer clients seeking pro bono legal assistance, particularly in the family law area.

Safe Communities of Madison-Dane County is a local non-profit coalition that brings together public and private sector partners to save lives, prevent injuries and make our community a safer place. Safe Communities focuses on drug poisoning prevention, elder falls prevention, traffic safety, pedestrian safety, and suicide prevention.

The Legal Resource Center and the Dane County Bar Delivery of Legal Services Committee partnered to create the Small Claims Assistance Center. Every Tuesday morning 9-11 am, a volunteer attorney from the Dane County Bar Association is available to assist people with questions, forms, and procedures regarding Small Claims actions, including replevins, garnishments, and evictions. The Program meets in room L1000 (lower Level). The volunteers staffing the program do not give legal advice. SCAP asks for attorneys to volunteer approximately 2 to 3 times per year for a two hour shift. Please contact Bob Lopez if you would like to volunteer with SCAP.

SOAR Case Management Services, Inc. is a consumer-directed, trauma-informed, wellness, and recovery-oriented provider of mental health services, incorporating people with lived experience of mental health disorders in providing direct support. SOAR services include a psychiatric clinic, case management for adults with mental illness, certified peer support specialists, referral and assessment for system-wide case management, peer lead weekly support groups, housing case management, community recovery services funding coordination, and peer-run respite home

Vets for Vets is a UW student service organization for veterans. Clients need legal assistance in various types of cases, administrative proceedings involving veterans benefits, and matters of military law. Vets for Vets would also like assistance in constitutional law questions relating to military benefits.

Tellurian, Inc. is a non-profit agency providing services relating to substance abuse, addictions and mental illness.

TRC is the primary resource center for low-income tenants who are denied their legal rights or threatened with the loss of their housing. TRC facilitates a number of programs, including the TRC Housing Counseling Office at 1202 Williamson St., the Mediation Program in Dane County Small Claims Court (used to reach agreements between landlords and tenants and to prevent evictions) and the Housing Help Desk, which helps people who are in search of affordable housing, homeless persons and persons in danger of being homeless, women fleeing abuse situations, and people with mental disabilities, as well as others. The TRC needs assistance with tenants fighting illegal evictions that can result in the loss of Section 8 vouchers, tenants forced to leave housing due to undisclosed health and safety hazards, and tenants forcibly evicted for retaliatory reasons. Many cases involve mandatory double damages and attorney fee awards under Wisconsin Law.

Client bases consists of retirees, family members and soldiers who are serving within the continental US and overseas. Please contact the office above if you are interested in providing assistance.

Triquestrian, LLC provides EAGALA model Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning services for individuals, families, couples, groups, and corporations. We offer a variety of workshops throughout the year as well as individual services.

The United Way of Dane County's partner agencies may be in need of pro bono services. If you would like information about volunteering with United Way's partner agencies, please contact the number given above. http://www.volunteeryourtime.org/

The University of Wisconsin Law School Pro Bono Program provides students with opportunities to deliver legal services to underrepresented community members. Students are assisted and supported by program staff with placements in private and nonprofit law firms, legal aid groups, in-house programs and other organizations, where their pro bono work is performed under direct attorney supervision. In keeping with the law school’s law-in-action tradition, students develop legal and professional skills, gain practical, hands-on experience in real work environments and explore their ethical responsibility to provide pro bono service in this outstanding program. Attorneys, legal service organizations and firms interested in receiving student assistance in working with pro bono clients or on pro bono projects are encouraged to contact the program for further information.

Where is Care connects community health services with those in need. It is creating an online community of free and subsidized health resources. Its goal is to help low-income uninsured and underinsured patients access the health services they need.

The Coalition needs pro bono help for the following: reviewing contracts, personnel matters, nonprofit management, case consultation (family law, defamation, sexual harassment, civil suits on the basis of sexual assault, expert psychological evidence), review of policies and procedures in the above areas and issues of confidentiality, and review of model forms.

WCCF currently uses pro bono services for 501(c)3 organizations. They have used services in the past for employment termination issues. WCCF would especially like pro bono assistance for organizational needs.

WDC is a non-profit, nonpartisan political watchdog group that tracks money in state politics and advocates for campaign finance reform, media reform and other pro-democracy reforms. WDC anticipates needing a pro bono attorney 1 or 2 times a year to help with issues relating to elections, such as formal complaints to the Government Accountability Board.

Wisconsin Family Ties works to create greater understanding, respectful acceptance and support in the community for families with children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral and mental disorders. It is a non-profit, family run, statewide agency that provides a variety of support, education and advocacy services. The agency needs assistance with personnel/ employment issues and by-law changes. The families served may need assistance in juvenile justice and special education issues. WFT may need pro bono assistance for 1 or 2 cases each year.

WIT provides residential and social services along a housing continuum of care for adult women who experience a severe and persistent mental illness. WIT anticipates the need for pro bono attorneys to work on 3-4 cases a year providing consultation for the organization (regarding contracts, legal documents, as well as becoming a representative on the Board of Directors) as well as assisting with client legal issues, including SSI, SSDI and Title 19. There may also be some landlord/tenant issues.

The Worker Justice Wisconsin provides counseling and assistance to primarily low-wage workers regarding unpaid wages, discrimination, health and safety, and other workplace issues. The Center needs assistance with Small Claims Court, unpaid wages claims, various types of discrimination cases, work authorization, issues with social security “no-match” letters and worker’s compensation cases. Spanish language abilities would be helpful, but are not required.

The WRC provides counseling and assistance to primarily low-wage workers regarding unpaid wages, discrimination, health and safety, and other workplace issues. The Center needs assistance with Small Claims Court, unpaid wages claims, various types of discrimination cases, work authorization, issues with social security “no-match” letters and worker’s compensation cases. Spanish language abilities would be helpful, but are not required.

WCCN is a non-profit charitable organization. It's primary program a micro-credit loan program, the NICA Fund. Through the NICA fund, WCCN members invest (a minimum of $2000) and are paid interest at a 0-6% rate. WCCN loans the money to micro-credit organizations (MCOs) in Nicaragua. The MCOs then loan the money to individuals who typically do not qualify for traditional credit. WCCN seeks an attorney or attorneys who can advise the organization on securities regulations outside of Wisconsin. We are exempt from registration in Wisconsin due to the nature of our organization. However, there are other states that require that we register. Those registrations require an opinion of counsel regarding the legal integrity of the offering. This is likely to be an occasional need as most states have self-executing or minimal notice exemptions for which WCCN qualifies.

Work Plus Inc. is a non-profit organization that has provided job opportunities, job training, and case management services to adults with disabilities since 1985. Work Plus Inc. needs pro bono assistance for clients on issues like SSI benefits as well as help related to their organizational needs. They are also recruiting board members.

The YWCA has used pro bono services in the past but there is no plan in place at this time. The YWCA would like assistance with direct representation, family law, immigration, and general consumer education, as well as consultation with social workers.