| Web Site Now Offers One-Stop Oklahoma Pro Bono Info Source
Oklahoma’s new online resource for pro bono lawyers,
www.ProBono.net/OK, makes volunteer work easy and convenient. The
site has been developed by Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, along
with contributions from its partners: Tulsa County Bar Association,
University of Tulsa College of Law, University of Oklahoma College
of Law, Oklahoma City University School of Law, Oklahoma Indian Legal
Services, Domestic Violence Intervention Services and Tulsa
Oklahomans for Human Rights. Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma maintains the site
as part of its delivery of services to low-income legal clientele.
The www.ProBono.net/OK Web site is part of a national
effort to support pro bono and civil legal aid lawyers. Legal Aid
is taking the broad approach and making the site’s
tools
available to any organization utilizing pro bono lawyers. Legal Aid has noted
that the more lawyers participating in Oklahoma pro bono
programs, the better for their general clientele, low-income Oklahomans. This
project is just beginning, and Legal Aid welcomes participation and support
to make this a practical site for pro bono attorneys. Currently,
information from across the Oklahoma public interest legal community is being
aggregated and becoming available online in one
central location.
Here are some ways that ProBono.net/OK can help
you, the pro bono attorney.
Locate new
volunteer
opportunities.
When you are ready to
volunteer, available opportunities are just a few clicks away. All Oklahoma
pro bono organizations can now post their most recent lists of new cases on
ProBono.net/OK’s “volunteer now” page. In addition, organizations
that use pro bono lawyers may have a general listing in the pro bono opportunities
guide.
Find training
on the calendars.
Pro bono lawyers often need training. Many organizations now post their training
opportunities on the ProBono.net/OK online calendar. From your desktop or your
laptop, you can easily find and register to attend training seminars. You can
also register to receive by e-mail a monthly summary of all training in your
area.
Access online libraries. ProBono.net/OK’s
advocate resource center is password protected. This Oklahoma practice
area has an online library where pro bono lawyers can download training
manuals, forms and other valuable resources. You can have easy online
access to resources that allow you to serve your pro bono clients
effectively and efficiently. Links to national practice areas are
also online and easily accessed on the site.
Spread the word about your
program and
accomplishments. ProBono.net/OK publishes news for the public interest
legal community. The news pages can be used to bring attention to you and/or
your firm’s pro bono achievements and programs. These stories not only
highlight your commitment but can also generate excitement and enthusiasm about
the rewards of volunteering among the larger legal
community.
Integrate ProBono.net/OK
into your intranet and program.
ProBono.net/OK is not just virtual. Real live staff can
visit and work with you so that your intranet links to the valuable,
constantly updated resources on the site.
Join an online
community of
like-minded lawyers.
While ProBono.net/OK
supports you with your pro bono case, it also allows you to find your way into
a virtual community of public-interest lawyers with whom you can stay connected
over the long term.
For more information, c
ontact Margaret Hamlett Shinn, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, (918) 295-9429,
margaret.hamlett@laok.org. |
