About

Idaho Pro Bono Opportunities

The Idaho Pro Bono Opportunities Website (PBOW) is a joint project funded by the Legal Services Corporation between Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program (IVLP) and Idaho Legal Aid Services (ILAS) that is fundamentally changing the way that pro bono cases are placed across Idaho.

The PBOW site is designed to supplement IVLP's phone-based placement model and has greatly expanded the ability to place pre-screened cases with pro bono attorneys. Cases and legal clinics are posted to the PBOW site and attorneys input case preferences — such as location, area of practice, and client status — which the system uses to reach out as new opportunities matching the selected criteria arise. Attorneys can easily search, find, evaluate, and select pro bono experiences that interest them. This makes it possible for more low-income, vulnerable Idahoans to gain access to justice.

The need for civil legal services in Idaho far surpasses the supply, and PBOW is a technologically innovative way to close this gap by connecting attorneys who can provide pro bono service to people around our state.

Using PBOW is a free and convenient way for attorneys in Idaho to find and volunteer for pro bono opportunities. Questions or comments? Send an email to [email protected].

How It Works

1. Activate Your Account

To use this website you must be licensed and in good standing with the Idaho State Bar (ISB). Enter the email address you have on file with ISB and your Idaho State Bar ID number. Accept the terms of use for this website and activate your account.

2. Search for Pro Bono Opportunities

Once you have activated your account you can search for pro bono opportunities in Idaho by legal topic, populations served, and Idaho counties.

3. Receive Alerts

Set the type of pro bono opportunities you are interested in and you will receive email alerts when opportunities become available.

4. Volunteer for Pro Bono Opportunities

When you find an opportunity you are interested in, do a conflict-check to make sure you can take on the case. If there is no conflict, you can request the case through the platform.

5. Record Your Efforts

Once the case is assigned to you, you can work on the case and keep notes. After you have completed the case, record the outcome and the time you spent. This documentation supports program reporting and recognizes your contribution to access to justice in Idaho.

Frequently Asked Questions

PBOW is a joint project between Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program (IVLP) and Idaho Legal Aid Services (ILAS), funded through a Pro Bono Innovation grant from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). Both IVLP and ILAS are longstanding pillars of legal aid in Idaho.

IVLP focuses on recruiting and supporting volunteer attorneys, while ILAS provides direct legal services to low-income residents. Together, they created PBOW to bring the case placement process online and dramatically expand its reach statewide.

No. PBOW serves the entire state of Idaho, and attorneys can filter opportunities by county to find cases close to where they practice. Whether you are based in Boise, Twin Falls, Coeur d'Alene, or a rural area, there are likely cases in your region posted to the platform.

For attorneys willing to work remotely or via telephone, some case types — particularly advice-only consultations and certain benefits matters — can be handled without geographic proximity to the client.

Pre-screened means that IVLP or ILAS staff have already verified the client's eligibility for pro bono assistance before posting the case to the platform. This typically involves confirming that the client meets income guidelines and that the matter involves a civil (not criminal) legal issue within the scope of the program.

Pre-screening saves attorney time by ensuring that every case in the system is a legitimate, eligible matter ready for attorney assignment — you won't be evaluating intake eligibility as part of your volunteer role.

PBOW does not perform conflict checks on behalf of attorneys. You are responsible for conducting your own conflict-of-interest analysis before accepting any case, consistent with Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct. The platform provides enough case information — including the nature of the matter and general geographic area — to allow you to complete a preliminary check before requesting the case.

If a conflict is identified after a case has been assigned to you, contact the PBOW administrator immediately so the case can be reassigned without delay to the client.

Idaho attorneys may receive CLE credit for pro bono services under Idaho State Bar rules. Additionally, PBOW's Resources section lists free CLE courses available to attorneys who pledge to accept a case through IVLP. These courses cover practice areas commonly needed for pro bono work, including family law, elder law, consumer issues, and civil protection orders.

Check the Resources page for the current list of available CLE pledge opportunities and contact information for CLE coordination.

IVLP provides mentoring and consultation support to attorneys handling pro bono cases. If you take on a case in a practice area where you have limited experience, program staff can connect you with more experienced attorneys for guidance.

The Resources section also includes substantive legal training materials covering areas frequently encountered in pro bono work. You can reach the PBOW program team directly at [email protected] with questions about any active case.