Getting Involved

Justice Server

JusticeServer is Pro Bono Made Easier

JusticeServer is an Online case management and referral system that enables private attorneys to accept and work on legal aid cases right from their own computers – providing legal services to low-income clients in areas such as consumer law, elder law, employment law, housing law, protective orders and uncontested no-fault divorces. We are recruiting attorneys in Richmond, Petersburg, Charlottesville, and surrounding cities and counties.

Virginia attorneys may register for JusticeServer at justiceserver.org.

JusticeServer is Easy to Use

JusticeServer has a publicly viewable portal. Anyone can go to https://www.justiceserver.org, click on “All Cases,” and see the total need of legal aid for volunteer help. Available cases are identified by the type of case, the jurisdiction, and the legal aid program which placed it.

To see more about a case, the user must click on “Express Interest.” JusticeServer will show more only if the user has registered for JusticeServer and has been approved by the legal aid program which placed the case. Once the user expresses interest, the user has 72 hours within which to check conflicts and accept it. The case disappears from the public portal so no other volunteer attorney can view it during the 72 hour period.

When registering for JusticeServer, the user does not create a profile stating the type of cases, jurisdictions, and legal aid programs the user wishes to view. After logging in and clicking on “All Cases,” the volunteer attorney can use filters to narrow the search.

JusticeServer does not automatically generate email notifications of available cases. JusticeServer allows the user to create a subscription to get emails. After logging in and clicking on “All Cases,” the volunteer attorney can use the “Manage” button under Subscription create a subscription – using type of cases, jurisdictions, and legal aid programs about which the user wishes to receive emails.

After a user logs in and clicks on “My Cases,” JusticeServer displays cases pending conflict check, cases pending acceptance, accepted cases, and case history (closed cases). When a case is accepted, the user can create and upload case notes, can download case notes, and can upload and download files. JusticeServer also displays Important Dates, both those created by legal aid and the volunteer attorney.

JusticeServer has both a “pull” system and a “push” system. The push system allows legal aid to directly assign a case to a registered user. JusticeServer also has a timekeeping feature for the user that allows legal aid to accurately record donated hours, which is tremendously valuable in reporting to funding sources and applying for grants.

JusticeServer has a resources feature for the user. The resources will appear, as part of the case, whenever the legal problem code on the case matches the legal problem code of the resource which legal aid has created. JusticeServer also has an “End My Representation” button which takes the user to the closing screen, and collects all of the information legal aid needs to close the case and report results to our funders.

• Bankruptcy: Provide representation to debtors in Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings for low-income clients for whom the filing would serve to protect income and/or property.
• Wage Claims: Represent workers who have worked and not been paid, or who have not been paid minimum wage or overtime pay in violation of law.
• Estate Planning: Draft simple wills, Powers of Attorney, and advance directives (Living Wills and Medical Powers of Attorney) for low-income clients 60 years of age or older, or who have other circumstances which make simple estate planning necessary.
• Guardianship: Represent the petitioner who is seeking guardianship over another person where the petitioner is 60 years of age or older, in good health, and there are no less restrictive alternatives.
• Hotline: Provide brief legal telephone advice in call backs to pre-screened clients in routine, non-emergency cases primarily involving consumer law, debt collections, employment law and family law.
• Housing Law: Represent tenants in unlawful detainer cases, terminations of federally subsidized housing assistance (vouchers), security deposits and disputes involving the condition of the leased premises.
• Protective Order Only: Represent domestic violence victims in Preliminary Protective Order and Permanent Protective Order hearings – “quick hit” type cases where the pro bono attorney is in and out of the case in a short time.
• Uncontested Adoptions: Provide representation to low-income prospective adoptive parents in uncontested adoption cases if the child will receive financial benefits after the adoption.
• Uncontested No-Fault Divorce: Provide divorce representation for low-income clients who have been separated from their spouse for at least two years, and in which there are no contested custody, support, or property issues
• Unemployment Compensation: Provide administrative representation to unemployment compensation claimants in Appeals Examiner hearings and Special Examiner appellate reviews before the Virginia Employment Commission.

These substantive areas have been chosen because they tend to be limited in scope and meet areas of high demand for clients in our community. Some these cases can take as little as 30 minutes. Almost all can be done for less than 15 hours to complete. On-line training and resources are available in each of these substantive areas. CVLAS is available to provide technical assistance in all topics.

For more information about JusticeServer, please contact:
Lisa Bennett, Pro Bono Triage Director, (804) 200-6038. Email: Lisa@cvlas.org.