Take Professional Action

At a Glance:


Death Penalty Representation Project

Volunteer to ensure that death row inmates receive adequate legal representation.

Created by the American Bar Association in 1986, the Death Penalty Representation Project works to address the urgent need many inmates on death row have: a need for adequate representation. Beyond its top priority of recruiting competent volunteer attorneys, the Project also seeks to increase awareness among both the bar and the public about the dire situation. The DPRP strives to achieve systemic changes that would assure inmate representation at all stages of the proceedings -from trial through clemency. Today, over 115 major law firm teams aid this cause, offering volunteer counsel for capital post-conviction cases.

Requirements:

Attorneys must be active and understand that everything done with the DPRP is probono work. The DPRP provides counsel training and assistance if needed. Firms that are willing to volunteer as counsel or to fund a fellowship are also greatly needed.

Where to Begin:

Contact Director Robin M. Maher by email, or call (202) 662-1734.
For more information, see DPRP's website.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Program

Help support abused and neglected children in the legal process.

Thousands of abused and neglected children in foster care show up in court with one lawyer to represent them in crucial court dependency hearings. CASA volunteers are individuals with the time and kindness to look over records, interview parents and teachers, and simply show the child that someone cares about them. CASA volunteers also play integral roles in monitoring the child's mental, emotional, and physical stability. The research performed by a CASA volunteer is not only for the child's emotional wellbeing, but for his or her future. Often times, CASA volunteers are called into court to make recommendations on where the child is assigned. This support is invaluable for the child and a huge lift for the overburdened child welfare system. The work done by a judge-appointed CASA volunteer could "make the difference between homelessness and a safe home, between dropping out and completing school, between unemployment and success, between jail and becoming a productive member of society."

Requirements:

To be a CASA volunteer requires no prior legal experience. All volunteers are given extensive training in which they are taught about the special needs of abused and neglected children, courtroom procedure, and the social service and juvenile court systems.

To train CASA volunteers, legal expertise is needed.

Where to Begin:

With CASA located in all 50 states, helping becomes a matter of just finding the one nearest by. For more information about the CASA Program, see the CASA website.

To find the nearest CASA location, contact the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association by calling (800) 628-3233 or emailing inquiry@nationalcasa.org.

Habitat for Humanity of Idaho

Volunteer to ensure that death row inmates receive adequate legal representation.

Created by the American Bar Association in 1986, the Death Penalty Representation Project works to address the urgent need many inmates on death row have: a need for adequate representation. Beyond its top priority of recruiting competent volunteer attorneys, the Project also seeks to increase awareness among both the bar and the public about the dire situation. The DPRP strives to achieve systemic changes that would assure inmate representation at all stages of the proceedings -from trial through clemency. Today, over 115 major law firm teams aid this cause, offering volunteer counsel for capital post-conviction cases.

Requirements:

Attorneys must be active and understand that everything done with the DPRP is probono work. The DPRP provides counsel training and assistance if needed. Firms that are willing to volunteer as counsel or to fund a fellowship are also greatly needed.

Where to Begin:

Contact Director Robin M. Maher by email, or call (202) 662-1734.
For more information, see DPRP's website.