Volunteer with Us!
The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless is the only legal services organization in Washington, D.C. that focuses on the legal rights of people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Volunteers are critical to our ability to provide high-quality legal representation and advocacy to as many D.C. residents as we do!
“I volunteer with the WLCH because I believe everyone deserves equal access to legal resources and justice. The work is meaningful and tangible. Everyone deserves to live safely and with dignity.”
Legal Assistance Program
Through our Legal Assistance Program (LAP), our network of volunteer lawyers and paralegals assist clients on a broad range of civil legal issues, providing the legal assistance necessary to help these clients address the issues that keep them mired in homelessness.
Volunteers, along with a WLCH attorney, meet with clients for intake sessions. If clients present legal issues within our case-counseling guidelines (case types include shelter and subsidized housing denials, terminations and conditions; ID assistance; consumer issues; street rights and more), the volunteer will act as the primary legal representative for the client, with WLCH attorneys providing regular support and guidance.
Volunteer attorneys must be members in good standing of the D.C. Bar or compliant with Rule 49. (You do not need to be an active member of the D.C. bar if any exceptions listed in section (c) are applicable.) Federal government volunteers are not required to be members of the District of Columbia Bar but must be members in good standing of the highest court of any state.
If you are interested, please fill out the volunteer form below.
Legal Monitor Program
The Legal Monitor Program is a group of staff and volunteers who witness, document, and film law enforcement interactions with people experiencing poverty and homelessness.
All Legal Monitors will be required to complete training, and will serve as neutral, objective, and impartial observers of federal and local law enforcement interactions with vulnerable D.C. residents. Although Legal Monitors’ peaceful presence may serve as a deterrent to potential governmental abuse and overreach, they will be passive observers and will not interfere with law enforcement actions or operations in any fashion.
Please note that you do not need to have any legal experience to volunteer as a Legal Monitor.
If you are interested, please fill out the volunteer form below.
If you are already a WLCH volunteer and you would like to volunteer as a Legal Monitor, please use this form to update your information.