Community Legal Resources offers pro bono opportunities for transactional attorneys in Michigan eager to improve the quality of life in their community.

Nonprofit organizations seeking assistance from Community Legal Resources are engaged in a wide range of charitable activities.  Some redevelop low-income neighborhoods by supporting new business growth, providing job training programs, and building decent, affordable housing.  Others are engaged in providing basic services to some of the community’s more vulnerable populations, including shelter and food for the homeless. 

Nonprofit organizations request assistance in nearly almost every area of law.  Volunteer lawyers are able to provide assistance on a topic within their field of expertise.  If you'd like to volunteer send an email to Heidi Mucherie at hamucherie@michiganlegal.org or call her at (313) 962-3171 x225. 

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE TYPE OF WORK OUR VOLUNTEER LAWYERS DO...

A homeless shelter gets help building a new facility

Volunteer Lawyer: Norm Hyman, Law Firm of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn
Nonprofit Organization: Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS)
Legal Issues: Handling zoning dispute

COTS provides emergency shelter as well as transitional and permanent supportive housing to those at-risk for homelessness.  CLR volunteer Norm Hyman assisted COTS with a $4 million rehabilitation of a 35-unit apartment complex that will rent from $311 to $463 per month for qualified low-income individuals and families.  Hyman defended COTS in a zoning dispute that would have threatened the viability of the project.

A youth job training program gets help with liability issues

Volunteer Lawyer: Robin Luce, Law Firm of Butzel Long
Nonprofit organization: Young Detroit Builders
Legal Issues: Liability insurance; employment policies and procedures; reviewing contracts.

Young Detroit Builders trains youths in the construction trades as they build affordable housing in Detroit’s low-income neighborhoods.  Robin Luce and her colleagues at Butzel Long prepare contracts with funders and lenders, develop personnel policies, and advise staff on worker's compensation and liability issues through a “Community Partnership” arrangement.

A business development group gets help structuring loan documents

Volunteer Lawyers:
Joel Kellman and Tony Ilardi, Law Firm of Dykema
Nonprofit Organization: Southwest Detroit Business Association
Legal Issues: Real estate financing; drafting and reviewing contracts, leases; structuring partnerships and subsidiaries; drafting employment policies; tax research and advice.

The Southwest Detroit Business Association has been working since 1957 to stem the flight of capital from its largely immigrant and minority community by providing loans and technical support to small businesses and working to remove graffiti and spruce up business districts.  For several years Dykema lawyers Joel Kellman and Tony Ilardi have assisted the nonprofit with loans to new businesses and helped them structure financing for the development of a small-business incubator.

TO READ MORE ABOUT OUR VOLUNTEER LAWYERS IN ACTION, VISIT OUR MOST RECENT "PRO BONO BRIEF" NEWSLETTER BY CLICKING HERE.

Participating Law Firms and Corporate Legal Departments

Each year we present awards to our outstanding law firms and volunteer lawyers.  Awards are presented at our Annual Celebration and Recognition Event.  

Barris Sott Denn & Driker (2003 Law Firm Award, and Rebecca Seslar, 2006 Volunteer Award!)
Bodman (2002 and 2005 Law Firm Awards, and Randy Perry (retired), 2006 Volunteer Award!)
Butzel Long
Clark Hill (Tom Nowinski, 2002 Volunteer Award!)
Comerica Bank
Dickinson Wright
Dykema (1999 and 2000 Law Firm Awards!)
Foley & Lardner
Ford Motor Company
General Motors Corporation Legal Staff (2006 Legal Team Award!)
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn (2001 Law Firm Award, and
      Cameron Evans, 2004 Volunteer Award!)
Howard and Howard (Paul Green, 2005 Volunteer Award!)
Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss (2001 Law Firm Award, and Larry
      Rochkind,  2003 Volunteer Award!)
Kerr Russell & Weber
King & Spalding
LaMont Title Corporation (Cathy LaMont, 2005 Volunteer Award!)
Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone
Miller Johnson
Pepper Hamilton
DLA Piper Rudnick
Varnum Riddering
Wayne State University Law School