Emergency Legal Services
The Emergency Legal Services Committee has developed and implemented a statewide Emergency Legal Services Response Plan, which includes training volunteers and working with other bar organizations to establish communication plans in the event of natural disasters and other declared emergencies.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE
• Assistance with securing FEMA and other benefits available to disaster survivors;
• Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims;
• Help with home repair contracts and contractors;
• Counseling on landlord/tenant and mortgage-foreclosure problems;
• Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster; and
• Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies, and procedures.
If interested in volunteering, first read the Emergency & Disaster Legal Services Manual. And see this timeline of legal needs following a disaster.
Then, sign up for Virginia Free Legal Answers. The service, which connects eligible Virginians to licensed attorneys online, will be available to residents in need of advice and counsel related to issues stemming from natural disasters. Volunteer Attorney Registration.
And register to be part of the VSB's emergency legal services hotline network. For those in need without power or internet, the hotline allows those affected by a natural disaster to speak to an attorney about their emergency legal needs for free.
If neither of those options are available to you, fill out and return the Volunteer Registration Form (pdf).