Pro Bono Volunteer Opportunities

The Richmond Paralegal Association (RPA) encourages all members to take an active role in their profession by volunteering in the community through the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society (CVLAS) and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

CVLAS is a non-profit organization providing free civil (non-criminal) legal assistance to low income or elderly persons in five cities and 15 counties in central Virginia. Offices are located in Richmond, Petersburg and Charlottesville.

Founded in 1971, CVLAS’s mission is the zealous legal representation without charge to low income or elderly clients in civil cases and to help the low income and elderly client community through preventative community legal education.

Members of RPA have the opportunity to volunteer their time and talent at CVLAS by performing pro bono paralegal services to clients seeking no fault divorces.  To become a RPA CVLAS volunteer, please complete the volunteer application  Central Virginia Legal Aid Society Volunteer Application – Non-lawyer and email it to RPA’s Pro Bono Committee Chairperson.

As a pro bono paralegal you will be practicing under the supervision of Stephen Dickenson, Esquire, Executive Director.

To learn more about CVLAS visit www.cvlas.org

CASA – A child’s voice in court . . .Nothing touches our hearts more than helping a child.  And helping a child who is abused and neglected will affect you in ways you would never expect

Each year over one thousand children appear before the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations court because they have been abandoned, physically abused, sexually abused or the victim of some other form of mistreatment.  These children often get lost in an overwhelmed child welfare system.  Richmond CASA thoroughly screens and trains volunteers to investigate the child’s situation and to report their finding to the juvenile court judges. The judges, who appoint CASA volunteers, then carefully consider this information before rendering a decision in the best interest of the child.

Among the 27 CASA organizations in the state of Virginia, Richmond CASA is the third largest.  Every abused and neglected child without a CASA is a child without a voice in court.

Members of the Richmond Paralegal Association (RPA) have supported Richmond CASA by donating their time and school supplies.  To become a RPA CASA volunteer, please contact RPA’s Pro Bono Committee Chairperson.

To learn more about CASA visit www.richmondcasa.org