Caselist

Last Updated: Thursday, July 28, 2022

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with VLA by taking on a pro bono case! If you have not yet attended a New Attorney Orientation, please click here for more information about volunteering with VLA.

Some cases may be on review with another attorney. As one case can only be on review with one attorney at a time, cases marked as “On Review” are not currently available. However, these cases may return to the list if not accepted by the reviewing attorney, so please indicate your interest so that your name may be added to the queue in the event the case becomes available.

To request a case, please email Emma Frean, VLA’s Legal Services Coordinator, at probono@vlany.org. Please indicate the case number in the email subject line.

Receive CLE credit for pro bono work

VLA is approved to provide CLE credit to attorneys who provide pro bono legal services through our organization. Eligible pro bono activity is limited to legal services performed within New York State to clients unable to afford counsel, and is not available to attorneys volunteering at a clinic.

Credit for pro bono legal services shall be awarded in the following ratio: one (1) CLE credit for every 120 minutes of eligible pro bono legal service. A maximum of ten (10) pro bono CLE credits may be earned during any biennial reporting cycle.

Newly admitted New York attorneys may earn pro bono CLE credit only for the purpose of carrying over those credits to the following biennial reporting cycle, in partial fulfillment of the pro bono requirement for experienced attorneys.

 

 

Contract

 

Dance

17608
Client, a dance instructor who is creating an app and a website, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to draft an agreement to hire an app and website developer.

 

Film/TV

17716 – On Review
Client, an actor who has been offered an opportunity to write, and star in, a feature film, seeks assistance with drafting an agreement with the producer.

 

Music

17753 – NEW CASE
Client, a performance artist, seeks assistance with terminating an artist management agreement.

17748 – NEW CASE
Client, a trained musician, seeks a volunteer attorney to draft terms of service for an app she is developing to assist freelance musicians in determining fair payment rates.

17697
Client, a Texas-based musician, seeks assistance with terminating an artist management agreement with a New York-based manager.

17614 
Client,
a well-known figure from the 1960s New York LGBTQ+ ballroom culture, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to negotiate and redraft a Featured Artist Agreement governed by the law of England and Wales.

17380 – On Review
Client,
a not-for-profit dance company that created a dance film responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to obtain the necessary permissions to use pre-existing music, sound, and video in the film and for live performances in the future.

 

Theater

17552
Client,
a playwright and performer, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to draft an agreement with collaborators in a musical tribute show.

 

Copyright

 

Film/TV

17723
Client, the director of a documentary focusing on LGBTQ+ human rights issues in Iran, seeks a fair use assessment concerning use of unlicensed material in the film.

17604
Client, an arts administrator who produces arts and cultural programming, seeks a fair use assessment concerning use of unlicensed clips in a film about influential figures in Newark, NJ. If advisable, Client seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to obtain licenses to use the clips.

17599
Client, a filmmaker who produced a documentary that uses stand-up comedy to illustrate social justice issues, seeks a fair use assessment concerning the use of unlicensed comedy clips in the film. If advisable, Client seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to obtain licenses to use the clips.

17530
Client, a documentary filmmaker, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to negotiate licenses and permissions for the production of a documentary about a Grateful Dead cover band.

 

Music

17666
Client, a songwriter about whom a major media company in England is producing a documentary, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to establish ownership of copyright in songs she wrote in 1970, which will be featured in the film.

17644
Client, a musician, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to obtain clearance for the use of sample tracks for songs Client has produced.

 

Theater

17711 – On Review
Client, a playwright who wrote a musical revue that has been produced worldwide, seeks assistance evaluating his legal rights with respect to a new work that is based on his musical.

17651
Client, a performance artist who originated a character in the 1990s, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to assess the viability of a copyright infringement claim against another performer whose character Client believes is similar to her own.

17462
Client, a small theater company, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to respond to a demand letter regarding the unauthorized use of photographs on their website.

 

Corporate

 

Mixed

17674 – On Review
Client, the co-founder of an expanding artist collective currently operating as a fiscally-sponsored LLC, seeks advice as to which corporate entity is the best for their operations.

 

Defamation

 

Literary

17529
Client, a photographer, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to assess whether online comments about a defunct publisher may expose her to a potential claim for defamation.

 

Disputes

 

Dance

17756 – NEW CASE
Client, a dancer, educator, and advocate for equitable practices within the dance industry, seeks assistance with recovering compensation from a dance publication company for the unauthorized use of his teaching materials on a subscription-based service.

 

Fashion

17757 – NEW CASE
Client, a photographer, seeks payment for unpaid invoices associated with contract work she performed for an art gallery, as well as for merchandise from her apparel brand that the art gallery refuses to return.

 

Film/TV

17743
Client, a filmmaker, is seeking advice regarding her legal rights to stop another filmmaker from using footage of her in his film.

17729 – On Review
Client, an actor who appeared in a 2019 commercial for a meal delivery service, seeks assistance in requesting additional compensation for the continued airing of the commercial.

17725
Client, a graffiti artist whose work was used without permission in a film released on a streaming service, seeks assistance evaluating his legal rights and potential remedies against the filmmakers.

17724 – NEW CASE
Client, a comedian, actor and writer, seeks assistance with resolving an issue with a former co-worker who is damaging his reputation.

17557
Client, a documentary filmmaker, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to negotiate with the subject of her film, who now refuses to allow her to release and market the film. If he refuses to mediate or negotiate, an attorney should be prepared to litigate.

17298 – On Review
Client, an independent filmmaker and producer, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to resolve a breach of contract dispute with a director hired to work on Client’s docuseries.

 

Music

17715
Client, a musician, seeks an assessment as to whether he has a valid copyright infringement claim, and to pursue relief, if appropriate.

17700
Client, the heir of her father’s music, seeks help settling a copyright issue with one of her father’s old collaborators who has re-released some of his music.

17655
Client, a musician who hired a filmmaker to direct and produce a documentary about his band, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to resolve a dispute with the director/producer, who is withholding, and profiting from, the footage.

17534
Client, a musician and record producer, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to request the takedown of an album he produced for a former collaborator with whom he no longer wishes to be associated.

17442
Client, a content creator and one half of a comedy duo, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to resolve a trademark ownership dispute with a former collaborator.

16535
Client, a folk musician who co-founded a band and is a member of the band’s limited liability company, seeks the assistance of a volunteer litigator to assist with the dissolution of the LLC.

 

Photography

17487
Client, a visual artist and co-creator of a successful social media account, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to settle a dispute with his co-creator, and potentially engage in mediation.

 

Theater

17586
Client, Executive Director of a theatre promotion media company, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to draft a demand letter, and to dissolve a possible partnership while protecting him from liability and to recover unpaid wages.

17514
Client, a not-for-profit circus organization, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to resolve a dispute with a member of the circus group who has been removed for alleged improper conduct.

 

Visual Arts

17594 – On Review 
Client, a visual artist who made a collage that incorporates an image from another artist’s work, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to respond to correspondence from a representative of the original artist alleging infringement and seeking a licensing fee.

17592 
Client, a professional realist painter, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to represent her in an ongoing lawsuit concerning a website that falsely attributes a painting to the client (Southern District of New York).

 

Employment

 

Music

17738
Client, a not-for-profit woodwind quintet, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to remove a member of the group.

17701
Client, an organization that aims to offer health insurance options to musicians, seeks advice from an employment attorney on their business model.

 

Immigration

 

 

Mediation

 

 

Non-Profit

 

Dance

17430
Client, the founder and director of a not-for-profit dance company, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to reinstate the organization’s tax-exempt status, which was revoked in 2012.

 

Music

17669
Client, a not-for-profit organization that promotes appreciation of the recorder, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to obtain tax-exempt status and advise on compliance with tax filing requirements.

17595
Clients, a cellist and a composer whose organization is dedicated to cultivating direct links between artists and audiences through narrative-driven musical experiences, seek the assistance of a volunteer attorney to form a not-for-profit entity in New Jersey, apply for tax-exempt status, and draft foundational documents.

 

Theater

17636
Client, a not-for-profit organization that conducted theater workshops in correctional facilities, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to ensure the organization is in compliance with operational requirements.

 

Visual Arts

17657 – NEW CASE
Clients, the owners and founders of a community arts center, seek assistance with forming a not-for-profit organization, applying for tax-exempt status, and drafting foundational documents.

 

Real Estate/Landlord/Tenant

 

 

 

Trademark

 

Fashion

17754 – NEW CASE
Client, the creator of a line of branded apparel and accessories with the mission of promoting self-love and acceptance, seeks assistance responding to a federal trademark opposition, filed by a beverage company. Client must file an answer by August 7, 2022.

17749 – NEW CASE
Client, a designer of holiday-themed children’s clothes, seeks assistance responding to a USPTO Non-Final Office Action rejecting a trademark application. The deadline to respond in October 6, 2022. Ideally, Client should work with an attorney or translator who can communicate in Mandarin.

 

Film/TV

17699 – On Review
Client, a visual historian and documentarian, seeks assistance with registering trademarks for the title and logo of her new documentary series about Black art history.

 

Music

17638 – LOW BONO REFERRAL
Client, the founder of a music ensemble that performs Baroque music, seeks assistance obtaining a trademark for the ensemble’s name.

17442
Client, a content creator and one half of a comedy duo, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to resolve a trademark ownership dispute with a former collaborator.

 

Wills, Trusts, and Estates

 

Film/TV

17673
Client, a camera operator in the film and television industry, seeks the assistance of a volunteer lawyer to draft trust documents under his estate plan and update existing estate documents including a will, a power of attorney, a health care proxy and a living will.

 

Photography

17618
Client, an artist with a catalog of photographic, musical and performative works, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to update her will and living will, and advise on forming a trust to manage her creative works upon her death.

 

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