Pro Bono Initiative
LOOKING FOR FREE LEGAL ADVICE?
Call: 801-581-5418 | Email: probono@law.utah.edu
The Pro Bono Initiative (PBI) provides free brief legal advice to members of the Utah community. For specific information about one of PBI’s programs (including registration information), please click on that program’s name within this calendar:
The Pro Bono Initiative offers advice within the following areas of law:
Debtor's Law
Answers questions related to bankruptcy, collections, and credit issues.
In Person at Horizonte: See above calendar for walk-in information.
Online: Limited online appointments available. Email probono@law.utah.edu for information.
Expungement & Justice Law
Answers questions related to expungements and procedural issues regarding outstanding warrants or misdemeanor offenses.
Note: Please call Utah Legal Services ahead of time to see if you qualify for an expungement (801-328-8891).
In Person at Salt Lake Legal Defender Association: See above calendar for walk-in information.
Family Law
Answers questions related to child custody, divorce, and protective orders.
Note: At this time, PBI is unable to help clients who are looking for information regarding estate planning or trusts.
Online: Limited online appointments available. Email probono@law.utah.edu for information.
In Person at SJ Quinney College of Law: See above calendar for walk-in information.
In Person at the Kearns Public Library: See above calendar for walk-in information.
Immigration Law
Answers questions related to humanitarian and family-based immigration, such as citizenship, status, deportation, and visas.
Note: At this time, PBI is unable to help clients who are looking for information regarding employment or education-based visas.
In Person at SLCC West Valley Center: See above calendar for walk-in information.
Rainbow Law
Answers questions related to LGBTQIA+ legal issues, including employment, name and gender marker changes, estate planning, and family law.
In Person at the Olpin Student Union: See above calendar for walk-in information.
Online: Limited online appointments available. Email probono@law.utah.edu for information.
Street Law
Answers questions related to housing issues (landlord/tenant disputes and eviction), employment (discrimination, termination, and harassment), consumer, and small claims.
Online (any issue): Schedule an appointment
In Person at Horizonte: See above calendar for walk-in information.
Veterans Legal Site
Answers questions related to issues facing veterans, including criminal, family, landlord/tenant, disability, and VA administrative law.
In Person at the VA: See above calendar for walk-in information.
What We Do:
The Pro Bono Initiative (PBI) is a unique, noncredit volunteer program that allows law students to build real-world problem-solving skills while serving their community. Student volunteers work directly with attorneys to provide free brief legal consultation programs throughout Salt Lake City and Utah. The consultation programs are an opportunity for students to build valuable lawyering skills including client counseling, legal research, and document drafting. Beyond that, PBI provides an unparalleled opportunity for students to engage with and serve the community.
The legal advice sites operate year round and are staffed by volunteer students and attorney supervisors. In addition to the above programs that are open to the public, PBI also operates several monthly events for residents of the Gail Miller Resource Center and the Utah State Correctional Facility. Beyond monthly sites, PBI also partners with community organizations to provide aid directly to their clients, including the Road Home, the Refugee Law Clinic, People’s Legal Aid, the SLCC Dream Center, and more. Students who perform at least 50 hours of volunteer service during law school receive a certificate.
Pro Bono Initiative FAQs:
Amazing! We’d love to have you! Students can sign-up here. Attorneys, licensed paralegal practitioners, interpreters, or other legal professionals should email probono@law.utah.edu.
The consultation will be held via Zoom at the time of your appointment. Prior to the meeting, we recommend that you test using the Zoom application on either your phone, tablet, or computer. If you are unable to use Zoom, please email probono@law.utah.edu and we can arrange for you to connect to the appointment via phone call.
The Zoom link for your appointment will be emailed to you in both the confirmation and reminder emails. If you do not receive these emails, please contact us as soon as possible.
At the time of your appointment, please login to the meeting. There may be a slight wait depending on attorney availability. Once an attorney is available, the Student Director will greet you and then place you into a breakout room with a team of law students and a supervising attorney.
The consultation will take approximately 30 minutes. During that time, the volunteers will do their best to answer your questions, demystify the legal process, and help get you to the next stage of your process. If you need additional support, you may be given referrals to other legal agencies or given the opportunity to make another appointment with PBI.
When you arrive at the program, please check-in at the front desk. You will be asked to add your name to a sign-in sheet and given a waiver to sign. For walk-ins, there may be a wait depending on attorney availability. Clients without a guaranteed appointment are seen on a first-come/first-served basis. Once an attorney is available, the Student Director will pair you with a law student volunteer who will assist you with your legal questions.
PBI legal advice consultations last for approximately 30 minutes. During that time, the volunteer law students will do their best to answer your questions, demystify the legal process, and help get you to the next stage of your process. They will consult with supervising attorneys prior to giving any advice. If you need additional support, you may be given referrals to other legal agencies or given the opportunity to make another appointment with PBI.
Unfortunately, no. PBI does not provide direct legal representation and our attorneys cannot represent you in court. We provide only 30-minute legal advice consultations. If you’re interested, our volunteers can discuss your options with you and then make referrals to low or pro bono attorneys.
You are welcome to bring someone with you (including service or emotional support animals). Please note that privacy and confidentiality cannot be guaranteed when someone joins your appointment. If your guest is disruptive, they may be asked to return to the waiting room while you finish the appointment.
If your appointment is online, please make a note when you register if another person may join from a separate device. You can also let the Student Director know once you have logged into the meeting.
Yes! Your children are welcome. We have coloring books and crayons at every in-person program.
We can provide consultations in Spanish or English. If you speak another language, please let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate. If possible, bring someone with you who can help interpret.
Yes. We can accommodate online appointments at most of our programs. If you need an online appointment, please email us at probono@law.utah.edu.
Our appointments are listed in Mountain Time.
Pro bono work provides valuable experiences that are applicable to all areas of the law and helps ensure that all people receive quality legal services. To that end, PBI has a three-part mission:
1. To showcase the professional responsibility of attorneys to provide pro bono legal services to those without access to the justice system
2. To provide critical legal opportunities to law students under the direct supervision of attorneys
3. To develop placements where S.J. Quinney alumni can volunteer, network, and serve as mentors to current students
Who We Are:
Director
Fellows
Student Directors
