Opportunities From: United Way of East Central Iowa

Iowa Legal Aid provides free, high quality legal education, advice and representation to low-income and elderly Iowans with civil legal problems. If you would like a meaningful, dynamic and professional volunteer opportunity, please consider volunteering with Iowa Legal Aid’s Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic Key responsibilities:
- Assist with preparation of past due returns or amending returns.
- Assist with audits, audit reconsiderations, appeals or seeking collection alternatives.
- Provide client with basic recordkeeping tips and pointers to assist client in being more successful going forward.

Qualifications:
- Certified Public Accountant / Enrolled Agent.
- Maintain confidentiality and provide representation consistent with professional requirements, Circular 230 and IRC 7216.

Training and Support:
- Volunteers will have access to free on-line legal resources through probono.net and co-counseling.
- Volunteers will receive notifications of available trainings provided by Iowa Legal Aid.
- Volunteers will be covered under Iowa Legal Aid’s malpractice coverage.

Position Location:
- Most cases are placed externally and service is provided by the volunteer at his or her regular place of business.
- Volunteers needing office space to perform volunteer activities or wishing to only work on in-house cases may make arrangements with the regional Iowa Legal Aid office. Tax Software is available in some regional offices.
- Iowa Legal Aid offices are located in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo.

Time Commitment:
- The time commitment will depend on the volunteer’s availability and Iowa Legal Aid’s needs.

Position Benefits:
- Work with dedicated, passionate and collegial staff and volunteers.
- Positively impact members of your community.

If you are interested in this volunteer position, please visit our website at http://www.iowalegalaid.org/volunteers

For more information about Iowa Legal Aid, go to http://www.iowalegalaid.org/ and http://iowalegalaidfoundation.org/

Iowa Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified applicants upon request
Auxiliary aids and services are available in alternative formats

Background: Iowa Legal Aid seeks applicants to fill AmeriCorps member positions for its regional offices in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo, subject to funding availability. Iowa Legal Aid provides free, high quality legal education, advice and representation to low-income and elderly Iowans with civil legal problems that most dramatically affect poor and vulnerable Iowans.

 

Responsibilities: AmeriCorps members will help with various projects that can include: helping seniors, veterans, and low-income Iowans get legal help; enhancing our unified client intake system; increasing outreach to underserved veteran, minority, disabled and immigrant groups; helping seniors and people with disabilities get services to live independently, recruiting and managing volunteers; improving volunteer management practices; enhancing Iowa Legal Aid’s website; marketing and public relations activities. Members serve at least 450 hours in a 14 week position.

 

Qualifications: We seek applicants who communicate well with individuals and groups, both verbally and in writing. Applicants should also have some or all of the following:

Background working with people who are low-income, elderly, victims of domestic/sexual abuse, from other cultural and/or ethnic backgrounds, and/or have disabilities; Bi-lingual verbal and written communication skills, in one of the languages most used by low-income Iowans, including Spanish, Bosnian, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, and/or ASL; Ability to use computers to organize information, update website, and/or perform research; College or community college; Background in journalism, marketing, teaching, and/or volunteer recruitment/management.

 

Opening/Closing Date: When filled, and starting as late as June 27, 2016.

 

Salary/Benefits: Members receive a living allowance ($3,132.50), student loan forbearance, and can receive an education award of $1,515.55, plus partial repayment of interest accruing on student loans in forbearance.

 

Applications: Submit letter of application, including geographic preference, resume, and contact information for at least three professional references to:

 

Gail R. Klearman, Managing Attorney – Iowa Legal Aid

1111 9th Street Suite 230

Des Moines, IA 50314-2527

gklearman@iowalaw.org

515-243-1198 ext 1678 or 1-800-532-1503

TTY/Relay Iowa: 1-800-735-2942

 

Iowa Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified applicants upon request

Auxiliary aids and services are available in alternative formats

WHY IOWAS POOR NEED YOUR HELP:The demand for civil legal representation simply has outstripped the available legal resources. Federally funded legal assistance programs are unable to meet all of the legal needs of Iowa’s low-income population.Documenting the Justice Gap in America ? The Current Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-income Americans,” by the Legal Services Corporation found that: For every client served by an LSC-funded program, at least one person who sought help was turned down because of insufficient resources.

Only a very small percentage of the legal problems experienced by low-income people (one in five or less) are addressed with the assistance of a private attorney or a legal aid lawyer.

HOW LAWYERS CAN HELP IOWA’S POOR:

A little of your time can make a big difference. By contributing your expertise through the Iowa Legal Aid Volunteer Lawyers Project, you can provide desperately needed legal assistance. It is projected that approximately 500,000 low-income people in Iowa have income below 125% of the poverty level ($28,813 for a family of four), yet have serious legal problems. The Iowa Rules of Professional Conduct encourage every lawyer to aspire to provide at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services per year.

The Iowa Legal Aid Volunteer Lawyers Project needs attorneys willing to represent low-income clients in a wide variety of civil legal matters, including family law, consumer problems, landlord/tenant disputes, civil rights and government benefits cases.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT?

All Iowa attorneys, recent admittees, as well as experienced practitioners, are encouraged to participate. Established members of the bar will appreciate the opportunity to explore new areas of practice and develop new insights into the problems of the poor. Newer attorneys will gain valuable litigation experience through their contributions.

The Volunteer Lawyers Projects are an innovative approach to providing high quality services to Iowa’s low-income population. To be successful, however, they must receive contributions of time and expertise from attorneys who are committed to ensuring equal justice for all Iowans. Your help is urgently needed. Please volunteer.

HOW THE VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT WORKS:

Iowa has three Volunteer Lawyers Projects. They are the Iowa Legal Aid Volunteer Lawyers Project, serving residents of 96 Iowa counties, the Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, which serves residents of Polk County, and the Pro Bono Project of Scott/Clinton County, which services residents of Scott and Clinton Counties. The Volunteer Lawyers Projects are designed to give participating attorneys control over the number of pro bono referrals to be accepted and the decision as to whether to accept a given referral at a given time. Volunteer lawyers are initially contacted by a Referral Coordinator, rather than by the would-be client, and are given the opportunity to accept or decline each referral.

Clients have been screened to determine financial eligibility and to ascertain the existence of a legal problem. Volunteer attorneys are referred cases only in those areas of law in which they have agreed to practice. A case fact memo and, when appropriate, a brief legal analysis is provided. Attorneys are contacted by telephone, fax, or e?mail, prior to referral to ensure that they will be willing to accept a particular case. Although clients referred through the Project are charged no fee, volunteer attorneys are free to recover a fee from the opposing party or public funds.

BENEFITS FOR VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT PARTICIPANTS:

A library of poverty law materials, pleadings, and resource materials is available to volunteer attorneys. Staff attorneys experienced in specific areas of poverty law are available to provide technical assistance, research backup, and co-counseling. Attorneys are encouraged to join probono.net/iowa which is a collaborative project involving Iowa Legal Aid, Iowa’s three volunteer lawyers projects and attorneys in public and private practice throughout the state. This free service provides a comprehensive collection of information on legal topics, upcoming events such as continuing legal education opportunities, and resources about civil law practice for members of Iowa’s justice community. Participating attorneys are eligible to attend accredited Project Sponsored continuing legal education seminars at a reduced rate. Malpractice coverage is provided to volunteer attorneys for all cases accepted.

For more information contact:

IOWA LEGAL AID

VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT

1111 9th Street, Suite 230

Des Moines, IA 50314?2527

515-243-2980, Extension 1651

800-798-0311

www.iowalegalaid.org

Iowa Legal Aid provides free, high quality legal education, advice and representation to low-income and elderly Iowans with civil legal problems that most dramatically affect Iowa’s poor and vulnerable populations. We rely on volunteers to help us reach even more people and provide them with excellent services. If you would like a meaningful, dynamic and professional volunteer position, please consider serving as a tax volunteer with Iowa Legal Aid’s Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC).

Key responsibilities:

Assist clients with identifying and gathering key documents to assist with tax preparation. Including gathering bank statements, ordering tax transcripts, etc. Provide clients with needed assistance in filling out forms or complying with document requests. Prepare Federal and State returns needed to bring clients into filing compliance. Provide clients with basic record-keeping tips and pointers to assist client in being more successful going forward. Other duties and tasks as assigned by supervisor(s).

Qualifications:

Knowledge and experience of individual tax preparation. Strong computer skills. Pleasant, patient and dependable.

Training and Support:

Volunteer will be trained on Iowa Legal Aid’s computer and telephone systems as well as office equipment. Volunteer will receive support and supervision from Iowa Legal Aid’s staff and/or AmeriCorps members.

Time Commitment:

The time commitment will depend on the volunteer’s availability and Iowa Legal Aid’s needs.

Position Location:

Majority of volunteer’s work will be done in the regional office during regular business hours. Iowa Legal Aid offices are located in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo.

Position Benefits:

Work with dedicated, passionate and collegial staff and volunteers. Positively impact members of your community.

If you are interested in this volunteer position, please visit the “Careers and Volunteers” page at www.iowalegalaid.org

For more information about Iowa Legal Aid, go to http://www.iowalegalaid.org/ and http://iowalegalaidfoundation.org/

Please note that all positions may not be available at all times or locations nearest you. For example, a particular position may have been filled or we may have limited capacity to engage volunteers with certain types of skills. Even though we cannot guarantee a placement to every prospective volunteer, we will do our best to match the applicants’ skills and interests with our present needs.

Iowa Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified applicants upon request

Auxiliary aids and services are available in alternative formats

Iowa Legal Aid provides free, high quality legal education, advice and representation to low-income and elderly Iowans with civil legal problems. Disasters occur quite often in Iowa with devastating consequences to those living in its wake. Having an attorney available to address the critical legal needs of those affected by the disaster can make a huge difference in disaster survivors’ ability to recover from the disaster. Iowa Legal Aid is looking to recruit and train volunteer attorneys from around the state now before a disaster strikes. This would allow Iowa Legal Aid and volunteer attorneys to react immediately in the event of a disaster. If you would like a meaningful, dynamic, and professional volunteer opportunity, please consider volunteering with Iowa Legal Aid’s Coordinated Disaster Response Project.

COMMON DISASTER LEGAL PROBLEMS:
Disasters survivors face a wide variety of legal problems. Common areas that volunteers
may be needed are to:
- Assist with applications for disaster benefits and appeals.
- Assist with housing issues for homeowners and tenants.
- Assist with home repair and contractor issues.
- Assist with buyouts, farm issues, bankruptcy, and tax.

Qualifications:
- Volunteers must be currently able to practice law in the State of Iowa.
- Disasters are unpredictable and the need for attorneys will depend on when and where the disasters happen. Volunteers will need to be flexible and able to offer assistance on short-term notice in the event of a disaster.

Training and Support:
- Volunteers will have access to:
- trainings (in-person and webinar) on issue spotting common legal problems and substantive law trainings prior to any disaster.
- free on-line resources through Iowa Legal Aid’s website, probono.net, and Iowa Legal Aid’s mobile app.
- co-counseling by Iowa Legal attorneys in person, by telephone, and by email.
- notifications of available trainings provided at no cost by Iowa Legal Aid
- Volunteers will be covered under Iowa Legal Aid’s malpractice coverage.

Position Location:
- Most cases are placed externally and service is provided by the volunteer attorney at his or her law office.
- Volunteers needing office space to perform volunteer activities or wishing to only assist on internal cases may make arrangements with a regional Iowa Legal Aid office.
- Iowa Legal Aid offices are located in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City, and Waterloo.
- Volunteers may be needed to staff tables at Disaster Recovery Centers and local community and agency resource fairs.

Time Commitment:
- The time commitment will depend on the scope of the disaster, the volunteer’s ability and Iowa Legal Aid’s needs.

Position Benefits:
- Work with dedicated, passionate, and collegial staff and volunteers.
- Positively impact members of your community.

If you are interested in this volunteer position, please contact Iowa Legal Aid at 1-800-532-1275 (Jasmina Popaja) or at jpopaja@iowalaw.org.

For more information about Iowa Legal Aid, go to http://www.iowalegalaid.org/ and http://iowalegalaidfoundation.org/

Iowa Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified applicants upon request
Auxiliary aids and services are available in alternative formats

Volunteer language proficiency evaluators at Iowa Legal Aid play an important role in helping low-income Iowans with limited English proficiency (LEP) skills gain access to justice Language proficiency evaluators will assess the translation and interpretation abilities of prospective volunteer translators and interpreters In addition, they may also review and provide feedback on the materials translated by Iowa Legal Aid's volunteer translators

We need volunteers to evaluate for languages of Iowa?s LEP low-income populations, including but not limited to Spanish, Arabic, Bosnian, Somali, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, German, Russian, Swahili and Laotian Volunteer language proficiency evaluators may be asked to review materials such as website articles, outreach resources, legal forms or client letters Based on their availability, volunteer evaluators will be given regular assignments which they can perform remotely

Qualified volunteer applicants will be language professors, translation studies graduate students and translators/interpreters holding certifications from government bodies such as state or federal courts or recognized professional associations such as the ATA, NAJIT, CCHI, NBCMI or RID

To apply please visit our website at http://www.iowalegalaid.org/resource/volunteers-wanted-at-iowa-legal-aid