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Participate in Meaningful Pro Bono from Your Home

In 2021, the ABA expanded Free Legal Answers to the areas of veterans and immigration questions. Qualified attorneys across the country can volunteer at abafederal. freelegalanswers.org to answer questions for immigrants and asylum seekers on topics such as deportation, green cards, DACA, and naturalizations. Volunteers can now assist veterans, including survivors and dependents, by answering questions about VA benefits, discharge upgrades, and other related areas. This expansion is especially significant during the pandemic when in-person services are limited and personal health concerns persist. The need for and value of this model to address basic legal questions is demonstrated in the growth of ABA Free Legal Answers since its 2016 launch. As of the date of this writing, 39 jurisdictions are live with a Free Legal Answers site, with another 6 committed to participate. Users have submitted more than 150,000 civil legal questions to date, and as of February 2021, more than 9,000 volunteer attorneys are registered to answer questions on Free Legal Answers. The most common categories of questions asked on Free Legal Answers are family law, housing and homelessness, consumer rights, and bankruptcy. Signing up for ABA Free Legal Answers is easy. Go to abafreelegalanswers.org and select “Volunteer Attorney Registration.” Even if you think you do not have time for pro bono, with ABA Free Legal Answers, you can easily fit pro bono into your busy schedule and help someone who may have nowhere else to turn. MARISSA LAVETTE IS THE ASSISTANT STAFF COUNSEL WITH THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION’S CENTER FOR PRO BONO. SHE PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PRO BONO FIELD, INCLUDING LAW SCHOOLS, BAR ASSOCIATIONS, PRO BONO PROGRAMS, AND LEGAL SERVICES OFFICES.