The Public Interest Law Center is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages diverse candidates to apply. The Law Center is also committed to keeping children safe and has adopted a child safeguarding policy.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Pro bono attorneys
Lawyers who would like to contribute their skills and expertise to advance the Law Center’s mission can do so in a number of ways. Learn more on our pro bono opportunities page.
Administrative and Legal Volunteers
We welcome volunteers with all levels of experience to assist us in administrative tasks including:
- Organizing, indexing and reviewing documents
- Preparing exhibits
- Scanning documents
- Filing
- Data entry
- Client intake and referrals
Our volunteers include parents, advocates, secretaries, paralegals and others who want to make a difference in their community. We seek individuals who can commit to a regular weekly schedule of a minimum of two hours a day, one day a week. Visit our profile on VolunteerMatch to learn about our specific, current volunteer needs.
How to Apply
If you are interested in volunteering, please follow these instructions to submit an application:
- Download the Volunteer Application
- Save as a new document, and title it “Volunteer Application_YOUR NAME.doc”
- Email completed form as an attachment to lbrooks@pubintlaw.org. You may also print the form and submit it by mail to the address on the bottom of the form.g
- Please allow up to one week for a response from the volunteer coordinator.
We are currently looking specifically for volunteers to assist with the following:
Receptionist
- Description: The Public Interest Law Center is looking for an energetic volunteer for our front desk! Volunteers will be in charge of receptionist duties including answering phones, writing messages and visitor check in.
- Responsibilities:
- Coverage of reception desk: answer telephone, take messages, direct to voice mail if appropriate or as instructed; deliver messages on a timely basis. Discuss requests for assistance with callers to determine appropriate organizations or lawyers for referral. Enter information about requests for assistance and follow up into database.
- For consultations: maintain a supply of the material packages. Mail packages with cover letters as requested. Greet and settle visitors and inform appropriate staff person promptly.
- Contact with children: The candidate’s contact with children will be limited; and will occur only incidentally when children accompany parents for meetings with Law Center staff.
- Location: Two Penn Center, 1500 JFK Boulevard, Suite 802, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- Schedule: Flexible
- Position Type: Volunteer
- Required Skills: Office Reception
- Required Commitment: 15–20 Hours/Week, 4 months
- Staff Manager: LaTrice Brooks
Coordinator
- Description: The Public Interest Law Center, the city’s oldest civil rights law firm, seeks a volunteer to coordinate the dedicated individuals who contact us, offering to help advance our mission of using high-impact legal strategies to improve the well-being and life prospects of the Philadelphia region’s most vulnerable populations.
- Responsibilities:
- Maintain regular flow of weekly volunteers for reception desk, administrative support, and paralegal projects
- Maintain a regular volunteer/intern schedule and seating chart
- Maintain a monthly volunteer hours spreadsheet
- Solicit new volunteers
- Manage all ad hoc projects as determined by staff
- Contact with children: The candidate’s contact with children will be limited; and will occur only incidentally when children accompany parents for meetings with Law Center staff.
- Location: Two Penn Center, 1500 JFK Boulevard, Suite 802, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- Schedule: Flexible
- Position Type: Volunteer
- Required Skills: Organization and Communication Skills
- Required Commitment: 15–20 Hours/Week, 6 months
- Staff Manager: LaTrice Brooks
