The Pennsylvania Bar Association is requesting that members volunteer for a new pro bono initiative called  Lawyers Saluting Veterans, which has the mission of ensuring that the men and women who have served faithfully in our armed forces receive the legal care they need and deserve.  

Serving as a Lawyers Saluting Veterans volunteer is a way of saying 'thank you' to those who have put their lives on the line in defense of our nation and to serve as a pro bono role model for other PBA lawyers. 

Each volunteer is asked to handle a minimum of one pro bono case per year in her or his areas of practice or expertise for Pennsylvania's military veterans. The program does not require a client means test.  If the matter is something the lawyer does not handle, there is no obligation to take on the veteran as a client.

When registering to participate, lawyer volunteers are required to provide certification of malpractice insurance. After registering, volunteer lawyers have access to electronic documents such as an agreement of representation, a pro bono checklist and a termination letter for use with the veteran clients. In addition, volunteers receive an official certificate of participation for use in publicizing their involvement in the program. The PBA also will recognize volunteers through a special listing in the Pennsylvania Bar News.

The PBA Pro Bono Office and the PBA Military and Veterans Affairs Committee are coordinating the program. Veterans in need of pro bono assistance can find help in several ways. They can contact directly those lawyer volunteers who publicize their participation in the program in their local communities, or they can contact the PBA Pro Bono Office online or by telephone with their initial request for assistance. The PBA Pro Bono Office will assess the request and refer it to a volunteer lawyer.  

To register for the PBA Lawyers Saluting Veterans program, go to this web address: http://www.pabar.org/public/lsv.asp. If you would like more information about the program, contact the PBA Lawyers Saluting Veterans hotline at 800-932-0311, ext. 2570.