Arts & Entertainment Pro Bono Cases

Last Updated: Wednesday, March 13, 2024

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 VLA 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

Film/TV
11541
Client, the sole owner of a film production company, seeks assistance drafting a contract between the company and an editor.

Performance
11674
Client, a model, seeks the assistance of a German lawyer to negotiate an exclusive representation agreement with a German management agency.


COPYRIGHT

NO CASES AVAILABLE


DISPUTES

Film/TV

11106 – On Review
Client, a television writer and producer, seeks a volunteer attorney to send a demand letter to the producer of a television show that allegedly infringes on Client’s copyright.

10011 – NEW CASE
Client, an independent film and television production company, seeks assistance with claiming credit and compensation for the development and pitch of a television project.

1500
Client, a film production company, seeks representation in a contract dispute pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, related to a default on a loan for a film project.

Literary

11902 – On Review
Client, an independent writing coach, seeks assistance with responding to cease and desist letter she received from her previous employer alleging that she has violated a non-compete agreement.

11622
Client, an author, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to claim damages for lost book sales.

11575 
Client, an author, seeks assistance with demanding an accounting from a publishing company he believes is selling his novel without permission.

Mixed

11426 – On Review
Client, a former events coordinator, seeks assistance with recovering money paid under an app development contract.

Music

10660
Client, the son of a late R&B singer, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to recover royalties owed by various record labels for his mother’s backing vocals on recordings with major artists.

Photography

11422 
Client, a product photographer, seeks representation in a breach of contract suit pending in Supreme Court of the State of New York. Client also seeks assistance with possibly filing a separate claim in federal court for copyright infringement.

10363
Client, the spouse of a deceased photographer, seeks assistance with the removal of images from an online archive.

Theater

9605 
Clients, theater company owners, seek assistance with recovering monies owed to them after ticket sales were withheld by a ticketing company notorious for failing to make payments.

1384 
Client, the author of a young adult novel, seeks an attorney to represent her in a dispute over an option agreement with a theater producer, along with the artists engaged to create the musical from her original work.

1344 – On Review
Client, a musician involved in a musical theatre production, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to respond to a cease and desist letter from a producer.

Visual Arts

11709 – On Review
Client, a visual artist, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to draft a response letter to an art gallery which has terminated its relationship with Client.

11692 
Client, a website designer, seeks assistance with recovering payment from a client. Client also seeks assistance with drafting a template independent contractor agreement.

10476 – On Review
Client, a visual artist, seeks a volunteer attorney to draft a demand letter to recover artwork loaned to an auto body shop.

9647
Client, a comic book illustrator, seeks assistance with recovering unpaid royalties from two former employers.

9429 – On Review
Client, a visual artist, seeks the assistance of an attorney to negotiate the return of artwork from a gallery.

1368 – On Review
Client, a photographer, seeks assistance with a copyright infringement claim for the unauthorized use of his photograph in a television documentary.


EMPLOYMENT

NO CASES AVAILABLE


IMMIGRATION

Film/TV
11236
Client, a filmmaker, seeks assistance with applying for an O-1B visa.

Music
10542
Client, an Egyptian singer and dancer, seeks assistance with applying for an O-1 visa.


NON-PROFIT

NO CASES AVAILABLE


TRADEMARK

Dance

10398 – On Review
Client, a dance instruction organization, seeks assistance to file a trademark for the name of their online dance course.


WILLS, TRUSTS, AND ESTATES

Literary

11636 
Client, the son of an actress and writer, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to recover his mother’s property from the estate of the executor of her will.

10774 
Client seeks a trust and estates attorney to assist with the administration of the estate of an author who died intestate in Rockland County.

Mixed

10506
Client, the administrator of her deceased husband’s estate, seeks a volunteer attorney to remove Client as the administrator and appoint her children as co-administrators.

Visual Arts

11378 
Client, a visual artist, seeks assistance with a claim against the estate of a philanthropist to whom he lent funds for the purposes of retaining and renovating properties to create an arts colony.

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