Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (located in New York) is not associated with any of the organizations listed here and is merely providing this list as a courtesy to the arts community in areas outside of the New York region. We recommend that you contact your local and state arts council and bar association if seeking information and access to services.

This directory was updated May, 2023.

Alabama

See Tennessee 

More than 3,000 Alabama lawyers provide free legal services to low-income citizens in certain civil matters (no criminal matters) through the five volunteer lawyers programs in this state.

Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham
Tel: (205) 250-5198
E-mail: ghewitt@vlbham.org
Website: www.vlbham.org

Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program
Tel: (256) 539-2275
E-mail: info@vlpmadisoncounty.com
Website: www.vlpmadisoncounty.org

Montgomery Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program (Montgomery County)
Tel: (334) 265-0222 ext. 1
Website: https://montgomeryvlp.org/

South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program (Mobile, Baldwin, Washington and Clarke counties)
Tel: (251) 438-1102 or (855) 997-2857
Website: www.savlp.org

Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program (all other counties)
Tel: (888) 857-8571
Website: http://www.alabar.org/programs/volunteer-lawyers-program/

Arizona

Volunteer Legal Assistance for Artists Arizona
Email: vlaa.arizona@gmail.com
Website: http://www.artsadvocacy.org/about.html

Services: referral to volunteer lawyers willing to assist artists seeking to negotiate gallery agreements, form not-for-profit organizations, register copyrights, and other related issues.

Intake Process: Complete form on website for further assistance

Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP) run by the State Bar of Arizona
Tel: (800)852-9075
Email: vlaa.arizona@gmail.com
Website: https://clsaz.org/volunteer-lawyers-program/

Services: The VLP offers free legal services to low-income individuals who cannot afford private attorneys. They have a network of volunteer lawyers who provide pro bono legal assistance in various areas of law, including contract disputes, intellectual property rights, and other legal issues relevant to artists.

California

California Lawyers for the Arts
Website: http://www.calawyersforthearts.org/

Greater San Diego Area Office
Tel: (888)775-8995
Email: sandiego@calawyersforthearts.org

Greater Los Angeles Area Office
Tel: (310)207-0001
Email: losangeles@calawyersforthearts.org

Greater Sacramento Area Office
Tel: (916)441-7979
Email: sacramento@calawyersforthearts.org

San Francisco Bay Area Office
Tel: (415)775-7200
Email: support@calawyersforthearts.org

Berkeley Office
Tel: (888)775-8995
Email: lris@calawyersforthearts.org; aams@calwyersforthearts.org

Services: CA Inventors Assistance Program, Lawyer Referral, Educational Workshops, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Income Qualifications: Yes, but eligibility determined after submission of financial information.

Intake Process: Online application
Fees: $30 for working artist membership; $20 for students and seniors (65 and older)

Colorado

Colorado Attorneys for the Arts (A program of Colorado Business Committee for the Arts)
Tel: (720) 428-6720
E-mail: main@cbca.org
Website: http://cbca.org/colorado-attorneys-for-the-arts/

Services: Pro-bono legal referral services for arts-related matters including, but not limited to, corporate and general business, intellectual property (copyright, trademark, and licensing), contract drafting/review/negotiation, dispute resolution (mediation/negotiation), not-for-profit formation and tax exemption; employment and labor, and landlord/tenant issues.

Income Requirements: Individual artists with an annual adjusted gross income of $31,900 or less (with an additional allowance of $11,200 for a spouse or domestic partner and each dependent) and nonprofit arts organizations with annual operating budgets of up to $250,000

Intake Process: Online application
Fees (nonrefundable): $50 individual artist administration fee, $75 not-for-profit organization administration fee, $100 for-profit organization administration fee

Washington, DC

Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts
1629 K Street, NW Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 289 4440
E-mail: legalservices@waladc.org
Website: www.waladc.org

Services: Legal referral to pro bono attorneys for assistance with arts-related issues including intellectual property (copyright, trademark, and patents), business formation matters, and contract review and drafting; in addition to educational programming for artists.

Income Qualifications: Less than $30,000 (single) or $40,000 (married) annual income
Intake Process: Online Form
Fees: Regular Member $35, Student Member $20, Non-Profit Organization $150

Florida

LegalARTLink (a program of Locust Projects)
3852 North Miami Ave.
Miami, FL 33127
Tel: (305) 576-8570
Website: http://www.locustprojects.org/for-artists/legallink
Email: info@locustprojects.org

Services: Legal aid and educational programming for artists and arts organizations throughout the state

Intake Process: Online application accompanied by a $60 membership fee

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Miami
https://artsbizmiami.org/fuel-the-arts/volunteer-lawyers-for-the-arts/
For more information, email: jean@artsbizmiami.org
Tel: (305) 326-1021

Services: Serves income-eligible artists, creative entrepreneurs, and arts organizations in Miami-Dade county.
Intake Process: Online form

Georgia

Georgia Lawyers for the Arts
887 W. Marietta Ave., Ste: J-101
Atlanta, GA 30318
Tel: (404) 873-3911
Fax: (404) 817-6827
E-mail: gla@glarts.org
Website: http://www.glarts.org

Services: Lawyer Referrals, Resource Library, Pro bono consultations,

Seminars and Workshops

Income Qualifications: Individual artists seeking pro bono services must make less than 250% of the federal poverty guidelines; not-for-profit arts organizations with budgets under $1 million are eligible for pro bono assistance.

Intake Process: send in Membership Form explaining issue

Fees: $50 Membership Fee for individuals

Illinois

Lawyers for the Creative Arts
161 North Clark Street, Suite 4300
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel: (312) 649-4111
Email: info@law-arts.org
Website: http://www.law-arts.org

Services: direct counseling, referrals, educational programming, not-for-profit operations, mediation and alternative dispute resolution

Intake Process: Online Application

There is a nonrefundable processing fee of $50 for individuals and $100 for businesses and groups of two or more individuals for approved applicants

Indiana

Notre Dame Law School Intellectual Property & Entrepreneurship Clinic
Tel: (574) 631-6704
Email: Jodi.Clifford@nd.edu
Website: https://law.nd.edu/academics/experiential-courses/clinics/intellectual-property-and-entrepreneurship-clinic/ 

Services: The Clinic can assist clients on a variety of transactional intellectual property matters. The Clinic will not handle litigation or contested matters. Exemplary matters include patent searches and provisional patent preparation, trademark searches and registration, and intellectual property agreement and licensing issues.

Fees: The Clinic does not charge a fee for its services, but the client is responsible for paying any required government fees.

Iowa

Iowa Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Attn: David Bright, President
130 Grand Avenue Court
Iowa City, IA
Tel: (319) 335-9636
Email: dbright@uiowa.edu
Website: https://www.facebook.com/IowaVolunteerLawyersForTheArts/

Kentucky

Kentucky Arts Council
Tel: (502) 564-3757
Email: tomr.musgrave@ky.gov; christopher.cathers@ky.gov
Website: https://www.artsattorney.ky.gov/
Further resources: http://artscouncil.ky.gov/KAC/Entrepreneurs/ArtistResources-Legal.htm

Services: Free initial 30 minute consultation

Louisiana
The Ella Project
400 Esplanade Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70116
Tel: (504) 250-0429
E-mail: gene@ellanola.org
Website: www.EllaNola.org

Services: Pro bono Legal assistance (issues of copyright, trademark, business formation, contract preparation, negotiation and review, licensing, and other entertainment law matters) and Arts Business (grassroots non-profits with arts business advice and assistance, entrepreneurial training, and business development workshops) for low to moderate income artists, musicians, and not-for-profit organizations

Intake Process: Online application and one-time $25 application fee for individual artists

Maine

Maine Lawyer Referral & Information Service
Main State Bar Association
Tel: (800) 860-1460 (toll-free)
Email: lrs@mainebar.org
Website: https://mainebar.community.lawyer/pages/legal_aid

Services Note: This is a Bar Association referral service only and does not specifically deal with arts related legal issues

Maryland

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
120 West North Avenue, Suite 305A
Baltimore MD 21201
Tel: (410) 752-1633
Website: https://mdvla.org/
E-mail: info@mdvla.org

Services: Pro bono legal referral services for arts related matters, legal clinics, lectures

Intake Process: Online Application

Massachusetts

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts
(part of the Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston)
15 Channel Center Street, Suite 103
Boston, MA 02210
Tel: (617) 350-7600
E-mail: vla@artsandbusinesscouncil.org
Website: https://artsandbusinesscouncil.org/vla/

Services: Legal counsel referral, education, organizational support, estate planning, and patents to individual artists, musical groups, and cultural organizations

Intake Process: Online or Mail Application

Fees: Individual Artist Application Fee $55

Harvard Recording Artists Project (RAP)
Harvard Law School
6 Everett St., WCC Suite 4103
Cambridge, MA 02138
Tel: (617) 998-0101
E-mail: rap@law.harvard.edu
Website: https://clinics.law.harvard.edu/tlc/for-clients/recording-artists-project/

Services: pro bono legal assistance on music business matters including contract review/negotiation, copyright matters and other transactional work.

Intake Process: Online contact form

Michigan

Detroit Mercy Law 
651 E. Jefferson Ave Detroit, MI 48226
Tel: 313-596-0200
https://springboardforthearts.org/resources-access/legal-assistance/pro-bono/

Minnesota

Minnesota Lawyers for the Arts (part of Springboard for the Arts)
262 University Ave. W
St. Paul, MN 55103
Tel: (Saint Paul) (651) 292-4381 (Fergus Falls) (218)998-4037
E-mail: legal@springboardforthearts.org
https://springboardforthearts.org/resources-access/legal-assistance/pro-bono/

Services: legal workshops, legal clinics, attorney referral service, and free phone consultations (30 minutes max)

Income Qualifications: equal to or less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines

Intake Process: Online application

Missouri

Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers & Accountants for the Arts (KCVLAA)
PO Box 413199
Kansas City, MO 64141
Tel: (816) 974-8522
E-mail: info@kcvlaa.org
http://www.kcvlaa.org/index.htm

Services: Legal and accounting assistance, workshops, entity formation assistance

Income Qualifications: Less than $28,725 annual income, plus $10,050 for spouse and each dependent. Income guidelines vary for partnerships, not-for-profit organizations, and for-profit corporations.

Intake Process: Online Application

Fees: $50 Individual Membership Fee plus $25 Application Processing Fee

St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts
3301 Washington, Suite 2E
St. Louis, MO 63103
Tel: (314) 863-6930
E-mail: vlaa@vlaa.org
Website: http://www.vlaa.org/

Services: Legal and accounting assistance, workshops, entity formation assistance

Income Qualifications: Less than $38,280 annual income, plus $4,480 for each additional member of household. List of fee-generating attorneys and accountants available for $15 to those whose income exceeds the requisite level.

Intake Process: Online Application plus $15 fee

Nebraska

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts – Nebraska
1419 South 13^th Street, Suite 103
Omaha, NE 68108
Tel: (402)982-4397
E-mail: info@amplifyarts.org
Website: https://www.amplifyarts.org/vla-ne

Services: Free legal referrals for income-qualifying artists experiencing an arts-related legal issue

Income Qualifications: Less than $30,150 annual income, plus $4,180 for spouse and each dependent

Intake Process: Online Application

New York

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Tel: (212)319-2787, ext. 1
E-mail: vlany@vlany.org
Website: www.vlany.org

Services: In-house consultations, Case List placement for pro bono legal representation, Legal clinics with partner law firms, MediateArt (mediation service), Seminars

Intake Process: Online application

Fees: $185 for individual artists; $80 for full time students and artists over 60. Organizational membership levels vary.

North Carolina

Carolina Lawyers for the Arts and Entertainment
Tel: (919)283-1076
E-mail: info@carolinalawyers.org
Website: https://www.carolinalawyers.org/home

Ohio

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Program of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
Tel: (216)696-3525
E-mail: communications@clemetrobar.org
Website: https://www.clemetrobar.org/?pg=VLAProgram

Oregon

Oregon Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Tel: (503) 768-6946
Email: legalhelp@oregonvla.org
Website: http://www.oregonvla.org

Services: Legal consultations (50 minutes) providing one on one legal advice with a pro bono attorney (no referral services)

Income Qualifications: Less than $45,000 annual income (individual), Less than $100,000 budget for Non-Profit Organizations

Intake Process: Online Application

Fees: $20 Administrative Fee

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (PVLA)
100 S Juniper Street, Third Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Tel: (267) 416-8940
E-mail: pvlalegal@pvla.org
Website: pvla.org

Services: One-time phone consultation (30 to 60 minutes) to discuss arts related matter, full-service representation referrals, speaking engagements and presentations, workshops and networking opportunities.

Income Qualifications: Less than 300% federal poverty guidelines for individuals and artist collectives; less than $1 million operating budget for arts and cultural organizations

Intake Process: Online Application

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council (GPAC) –Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
810 Penn Avenue, 6th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Tel: (412) 391-2060
Fax: (412) 394-4280
E-mail: businessandlegal@pittsburghartscouncil.org
Website: https://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/programs/business-and-legal-services-artists

Services: Pro bono assistance for arts-related legal matters including copyright, IP, contracts, nonprofit compliance, facilities leases, tax matters, board member liabilities (no criminal cases)

Income Qualifications: Less than $31,226 annual adjusted gross income for individuals

Intake Process: Online Application

Fees: $35 application fee for members of GPAC; $50 for non-members

The Dauphin County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA)
213 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Tel: (717) 232-7536, ext. 7
Website: https://www.dcba-pa.org/community-programs/volunteer-lawyers-for-the-arts/
Email: kim@dcba-pa.org

Services: Pro bono assistance and education programs to all disciplines of artists (and arts and cultural organizations) of limited means.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Bar Association – Lawyers for the Arts Referral Service
Tel: (401) 421-7799
E-mail: info@ribar.com
Website: https://ribar.com/referral

Services Note: This is a Bar Association referral service for artists and arts organizations. Reduced fee and pro bono services may be available and are based on income eligibility.

Ocean State Lawyers for the Arts (OSLA)
Tel: (401) 789-5686
E-mail: dspatt@artslaw.org
Website: https://www.artslaw.org/

Services: Rhode Island affiliate of a nationwide network of non-profit public service organizations dedicated to providing legal assistance to visual artists, actors, performers, theatre companies, museums, dance troupes, artists’ groups and any other artists or arts organizations in need of help regarding contracts, copyrights, trademarks, tax-exempt status, collection of accounts and any other arts-related problems.

South Carolina

Carolina Lawyers for the Arts and Entertainment
E-mail: cherryja@law.sc.edu
Tel: (919)283-1076
Website: https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/law/internal/current_students/pro_bono/students/student_opportunities/sc_volunteer_lawyers_for_the_arts.php

Scope of services: Transactional matters for start-ups or already formed non-profits
Intake process: See instructions on website. Send intake materials to cherryja@law.sc.edu.

Tennessee

Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville -Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts
1900 Belmont Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37212
Tel: (615) 460 8274
E-mail: info@ABCnashville.org; vlpa@ABCnashville.org
Website: https://abcnashville.org/

Services: pro bono legal services for arts and arts organizations including contract drafting, contract review, copyright, trademark, dispute resolution, and not-for-profit formation

Income requirements: Yes

Membership fees: $20 student; $30 individual artist

Intake Process: Call or e-mail

Texas

Arts Counsel Texas (Dallas)
Tel: (214) 702-9862
E-mail: info@artscounsel.org
Website: http://artscounsel.org

Services: educational programming and promotion of legal advocacy on behalf of artists and arts organizations

Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (Austin)
P.O. Box 144722
Austin, TX 78714
Tel: (512) 459-8252 or toll free at (800) 526-8252
E-mail: info@talarts.org
Website: http://talarts.org

Services: arts legal line, patent assistance, legal referrals

Income requirements: less than 300% federal poverty guidelines

Fees: $75 for individual artists

Intake process: Online application form

Utah

Utah Lawyers for the Arts
P.O. Box 4473
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84110
Tel: (801)560-8932
E-mail: info@utahlawyersforthearts.org
Website: https://www.utahlawyersforthearts.org/

Washington

Washington Lawyers for the Arts
P.O. Box 61308
Seattle, WA 98141
Tel: (206) 328-7053
E-mail: info@thewla.org
Website: www.thewla.org

Services: Pro bono attorney referral service, educational workshops, 30-minute consultations with IP attorneys

Intake Process: Online Application

Wisconsin

Create Wisconsin
P.O. Box 1054
Madison, WI 53701
Tel: (608) 255-8316
E-mail: info@createwisconsin.org
Website: https://createwisconsin.org/legal-issues

Services: advocacy and development services providing legal information, partnerships and connections for Wisconsin artists (not legal referral). The organization can help artists identify pro bono legal attorneys by working with the state bar association.

Intake process: Artists should email a description of their issue to the email listed above along with their contact information.

INTERNATIONAL

AUSTRALIA

Arts Law Centre of Australia
The Gunnery, 43-51 Cowper Wharf Road
Woolloomooloo, Sydney NSW 2011
Tel: (toll free AUS) 1800 221 457
Tel: (02) 9356 2566
E-mail: artslaw@artslaw.com.au
Website: https://www.artslaw.com.au/services/legal-advice/

Services: Seminars regarding legal rights for artists, Pro bono arts-related legal advice, indigenous Australian artist advocacy, Pro bono (or reduced fee) legal referral

Intake Process: Online query form

Fees: Certain services require subscription to Arts Law Centre (individuals $160; arts organizations $320)

CANADA

CARFAC – Canadian Artists’ Representation (Ontario)
414-401 Richmond St. West
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8
Tel: (416) 340-8850 or (877) 890-8850
E-mail: carfacontario@carfacontario.ca
Website: http://www.carfacontario.ca/

Services: Workshops and events, One-on-one legal advice through Visual Artists Legal Clinic of Ontario concerning issues including copyright, commercial contracts, labour law, commercial leases, tenants’ rights, and business incorporation

Intake Process: Application form

Pacific Legal Education and Outreach Society
938 Howe Street, Suite 100
Vancouver BC V6Z 1N9
Tel: (604) 543-7642
E-mail: administrator@pacificlegaloutreach.com; communications@pacificlegaloutreach.com
Website: https://www.pacificlegaloutreach.com/

WORLDWIDE

Artistic Freedom Initiative
Tel: (929) 294-9226
E-mail: info@artisticfreedominitiative.org
Website: https://artisticfreedominitiative.org/

Services: Led by immigration and human rights attorneys, Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI) facilitates pro bono immigration representation and resettlement assistance for international artists who are persecuted or censored.

Avant-Garde Lawyers
Tel: 33 601318533
E-mail: contact@avantgardelawyers.org
Website: https://avantgardelawyers.org/

Services: Avant-Garde Lawyers (AGL) is an international non-governmental organization that provides specialized pro-bono legal support to artists facing harassment and censorship for peacefully expressing their social and political opinions through art.

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts England and Wales
E-mail: enquiries@lvfa.org.uk
Website: https://lvfa.org.uk/