.png)
Process for Prospective Clients
Learn how to request pro bono services through Green Pro Bono
Contact us
Prospective clients fill out our application to Request Pro Bono Legal Services.
1
Intake process
-
The Green Pro Bono team reviews each application and reaches out to prospective clients for an Intake Meeting.
-
During the Intake Meeting, we discuss your organization's environmental mission, the requested legal work, and the stage of the organization's growth.
-
This initial meeting helps us to determine whether your organization is a proper fit for our network of pro bono legal professionals and allows us to help you identify any additional legal needs you may have.
2
Matching process
-
Following the Intake Meeting, if the organization meets our required criteria, we distribute the legal request to our network of law firms and lawyers that have the requisite specialization and experience.
-
The matching process can take anywhere from a few days to a few months to find the right lawyer. Due to the nature of our services, we cannot guarantee a match will be found, but we work to find one until a client lets us know that they no longer need assistance or are moving forward with another option.
3
Pro bono relationship
-
Once a law firm or lawyer has expressed interest in working with an organization, we will alert you.
-
If you choose to move forward, we introduce you and your attorney team on a virtual call where we clarify the scope of work and make sure it is a good fit.
-
If you and the pro bono attorney choose to work with each other following this meeting, it is up to you to manage the relationship with your new pro bono counsel.
-
Should additional legal needs come up, we ask that you bring those needs back to Green Pro Bono to respect your volunteer attorneys' time and the original scope of work. We are happy to start a new matching process!
4
Intake Process
Matching Process
Pro Bono Relationship
Client Criteria and Referral Pipelines
Clients are introduced to Green Pro Bono through partnership channels (e.g., accelerators, incubator programs, environmental justice networks, universities) or direct inquiries via the Green Pro Bono website. All prospective clients fill out our application to request pro bono legal services.
Green Pro Bono evaluates eligibility for our services based on three factors: (1) Mission, (2) Financial need, and (3) Client-Type. We maintain flexible standards to maximize our impact, while recognizing that law firms may have stricter requirements. Green Pro Bono is happy to collaborate with law firm pro bono teams to assess client eligibility based on firm-specific criteria.
Mission-Driven
-
Green Pro Bono prioritizes organizations and individuals whose work is rooted in a social justice mission.
-
Requests from startups and small businesses are evaluated carefully to ensure that they meet the criteria of a social enterprise.
-
The overall impact of an organization’s environmental mission is considered to avoid unintended harm to communities and greenwashing.
Financial Need
-
Due to the variety of organizations and individuals we work with, financial requirements vary based on client-type.
-
Financial data is self-reported and can be shared with a volunteer firm on request.
-
If a volunteer law firm has strict guidelines that they must follow with pro bono clients, we are happy to ask clients to send proof of income via financial records to the volunteer law firm for additional review.
Client-Type
Nonprofits & Community Organizations
-
Must show that legal fees would impact resources or mission
-
Evaluated on finances, past legal aid, mission, and service needs
Social Enterprises
-
Must have a clear mission with measurable climate impact
-
Must allocate a portion of profits to mission-driven work
-
Must lack funds for legal expenses
-
Pro bono support is time-limited until financial viability
