Paladin has partnered with the Virginia State Bar (VSB) to launch of a new, statewide Pro Bono Portal to serve more low-income Virginians in need. The online platform will enhance pro bono engagement across the state by facilitating connections between volunteer lawyers and Qualified Legal Service Providers (QLSPs) to provide legal assistance.
The launch of the new portal grew out of the Virginia State Bar’s participation in the Virginia Access to Justice Commission’s statewide pro bono campaign to increase pro bono participation across the Commonwealth. Initially envisioned as a pro bono marketing effort, the campaign has grown into Pro Bono Virginia (PBV), a groundbreaking effort to create a permanent statewide infrastructure that turns interested attorneys into capable volunteers—providing the visibility, training, support, and community they need to take their first case and then stay engaged over time.
“PBV isn’t an awareness campaign, it is a systemic overhaul of how pro bono volunteers are engaged and how services are delivered in Virginia,” said Bryan Slaughter, Chair of the Virginia Access to Justice Commission’s Pro Bono Committee. “The statewide portal is a critical piece of the puzzle, particularly for those curious about opportunities but not yet connected to a pro bono cause or community.”
Slaughter adds that the portal is low-friction, easy to use, and integrates with several QLSP case management systems. “PBV is thoughtfully leveraging the portal to streamline and scale our pro bono training and recruitment initiatives, ensuring the new system adds value for volunteers and the pro bono programs they serve.”
The pro bono portal centralizes pro bono service and training opportunities in a statewide database that the legal community can access for free without creating an account or password. Volunteers can search for matters that align with their interests, skill sets, and availability, and connect directly with QLSPs to get started. The portal offers:
- A publicly available, centralized platform anyone can access to learn about pro bono offerings throughout Virginia.
- An accessible layout and seamless navigation.
- A statewide list of opportunities that users can filter based on interest and capacity.
- Feature local, regional, and statewide training events to bolster competence and confidence.
- Access opportunities that offer support and mentorship.
- Ongoing support available to pro bono programs to maximize benefit and enhance existing volunteer recruitment and outreach efforts.
- Harmonization with Pro Bono Virginia initiatives to thoughtfully leverage the new platform to support scalable pro bono growth.
“With their new initiative, the Virginia State Bar is doubling down on their commitment to increasing access to justice for low-income Virginians,” said Paladin Co-Founder and CEO Kristen Sonday. “We’re thrilled to partner with them to scale their impact and help even more individuals in need across the state.”
Pro bono programs across Virginia can use their free Paladin accounts to post pro bono opportunities on the public portal and directly to law firms, legal departments, law schools, and other organizations in the Paladin network. Several of their referral dashboards will allow pro bono coordinators to track and manage volunteer activity as attorneys sign up.
“For too long, the justice gap in Virginia has been widened by the simple difficulty of matching a willing volunteer with a person in need,” said VSB Access Committee Chair Scott Reid. “Paladin streamlines the search and recruitment process, making it easier for volunteer attorneys to find the right pro bono opportunity, connect with a legal service organization, and make a life-changing difference for someone.”
Check out the portal today.
Kristen Sonday
Kristen is the Co-Founder and CEO at Paladin. As a first generation-college Princeton graduate, Kristen first witnessed how complicated our judicial system is to navigate while at the U.S. Department of Justice conducting international criminal work in Mexico and Central America. As one of the few Latinos on the team, she saw the immense value of having an advocate with you throughout the legal process, which inspired her to want to build something to increase access for those in diverse communities. After DOJ, she joined the Founding Team of YC-backed Grouper, where she learned how to build a startup from the ground up. In addition to Paladin, Kristen Co-Chairs the Legal Services Corporation’s Emerging Leaders Council and is a partner at LongJump, investing in overlooked founders in the Chicago area.
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