Request for Legal Assistance

REQUEST LEGAL ASSISTANCE

After we process your intake request, we will be in touch by email, via vlany@vlany.org.

Please be sure to:

(1) Provide a working email address, and (2) Check your Spam folder if you do not see an email from us within approximately 10 business days after submitting your inquiry.

If you have any questions about your intake or want a status update,

please email us at vlany@vlany.org.

Please note that services may be delayed due to high intake volume and remote work.

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts is a not-for-profit organization that provides legal services to artists and arts organizations in the New York area. If you are interested in our services, please fill out the intake form below. After we receive your request, we will contact you for further information. Requests are addressed in the order they were received.

Completing an application does not automatically qualify you for services.

Contact Information

First Name

Middle Name or Initial

Last Name

Preferred Name/Professional Name

Personal Pronouns

Organization Name

Leave blank if not applicable

Email address

Daytime phone number

Birth Month

Birth Day

Birth Year

Calculate Birth Day

Mailing Address

Street Address

Apartment/Suite/Unit

City

State

Zip Code

Personal Information

Are you contacting us on behalf of yourself individually, or on behalf of an entity?

IndividualNot-For-Profit (Unincorporated)Not-For-Profit (Incorporated)For-ProfitMultiple/Unclear

What is your relationship to New York?

Current Resident

Business Contacts

Other

None

Unknown

What is the artistic discipline related to this legal matter?

Other artistic discipline (if multiple, please separate with a comma)

Are you currently a member of VLA?

Yes

Date of Membership Purchased

How did you hear about us?

Website

Word of mouth

Social media

Other

For Other - how else did you hear about VLA?

Demographics

Approximately how many artists and/or audience members does your organization serve each year?

We appreciate your taking a moment to provide us with some additional information about yourself. Your personal information here will remain anonymous and will only be used in aggregate form. VLA collects the information below to better assess our audience and provide accurate reporting to funders. Your responses will have no effect on your eligibility for legal services.

Race

African American/BlackAmerican Indian/Alaska NativeAsian, Pacific Islander, or Native HawaiianWhiteTwo or more racesPrefer not to answer

Ethnicity

Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish originOtherPrefer not to answer

Annual Taxable Income Bracket

Less than $20,000$20,000 to $39,999$40,000 to $49,999$50,000 to $74,999$75,000 to $99,999Over $100,000Prefer not to answer

Age Range

18-24 years25-59 years60-64 years65+ yearsPrefer not to answer

Are you over the age of 60?

YesNoThis information is required for our grant applications.

Are you a full-time student?

YesNo

Do you identify as having a disability?

YesNoPrefer not to answer

Legal Issue

Only one legal issue per intake form.

How would you categorize this legal issue?

Bankruptcy	Contract	Copyright
Corporate	Dispute	Employment
Immigration	Non-Profit	Patent
Real Estate	Trademark	Wills, Trusts, and Estates

Legal Issue Variable

Please specify the type of Real Estate

Real Estate - Commercial

Real Estate - Residential

Please provide a brief description of your arts-related legal problem/question.

Please state your goal(s) in working with an attorney.

The State in which the legal issue arises or occurred (e.g., NY, CA, NJ, etc.)

Please list any additional States where the issue has taken place (e.g., CA/NJ)

Please list the names of all other parties involved in your legal matter/issue and describe their relationship to the legal matter. (If none, put n/a)

Have you attended a Freelancers Union Clinic?

Yes

Have you previously consulted with an attorney on this issue?

YesNo

Name of the previously consulted attorney

Please provide the reason(s) you are not pursuing the matter with that attorney.

Patent Program Survey

The following information helps the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office better understand the demographics of inventors in the Patent Pro Bono Program. Please complete this survey to the best of your ability. Your responses will have no effect on your eligibility for VLA services.

Gender: How do you identify?

FemaleMaleNon-BinaryOtherPrefer not to answer

Are you a veteran?

YesNoPrefer not to answer

Organization Budget

Please list your organization's total revenue.

If you filed a Form 990, this is Line 12.

Please list your organization's gross income.

This is Line 7 from your Schedule C.

Please list your organization's total expenses.

For-Profits, this is Line 28 from your Schedule C.
Not-For-Profits, this is Line 18 from your Form 990.

Does your Organization have any Partners?

YesNo

Do you have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status?

YesNo

Please provide your EIN

Please provide your State of Incorporation or the state where your unincorporated organization is based (State Abbreviation)

Other State/Country of Incorporation

Is your organization fiscally sponsored?

YesNo

Please provide the name of your fiscal sponsor.

Please upload an IRS Determination Letter as proof of your 501(c)(3) status (.pdf format)

Partner Income

Please provide the income information for each of your Partners, one at a time, using this repeatable section. Click "Add another response" below as needed for each Partner.

Partner Name

Add another Partner?

Partner 2

Partner Name

Add another Partner?

Partner 3

Partner Name

Add another Partner?

Partner 4

Partner Name

Add another Partner?

Partner 5

Partner Name

Notes on Partner Income

Please enter any notes or important information concerning partner income.

Income

All artists may take advantage of VLA's legal services, regardless of income. In order for VLA to determine the extent of services we can offer you, we require information regarding your financial status. Upon reviewing your intake form, someone from VLA may request a copy of your latest tax return or other financial proof before scheduling you for a consultation.

Did you file taxes last year?

Yes - singly

Yes - jointly with a spouse

(We will request a copy of your tax return)

Tax Year

Taxable Income

Line 15 of Form 1040.

Do you have any dependents?

YesNo

Number of Dependents

For those who haven't filed taxes last year, please indicate your estimated income below.

If you believe that your tax return does not accurately reflect your current financial status, please indicate your special circumstances in the space below.

Notes on Income

Agreement of Terms

VLA is a membership-based organization, and membership fees are collected after your matter is approved for VLA services. Annual membership includes one limited-scope consultation with a VLA Attorney and, if you are financially eligible, referral to VLA's pro bono attorney network for a full representation on your matter. VLA members can receive additional consultations for other approved matters, which may be free or at a discounted rate. Members may also register for VLA's educational programs at a reduced rate. In some cases, VLA can offer limited legal services to non-members.

Completing an application does not automatically qualify you for services.

I understand that there will be an administrative cost for legal services.

Upon submitting your intake form, someone from VLA will review your intake and contact you for more information. At that time, they will discuss VLA membership with you, and follow up on any additional information we require.

In the meantime, feel free to check out VLA's FAQ page here.

I understand that VLA will contact me for more information.

Submitting your request for legal services does not automatically make you a client of VLA, and does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, its employees, directors, officers, or contributors to this website. Please certify that you understand you will only become a client if a VLA Staff Attorney has approved your case for a consultation, and you have actually attended a consultation with a VLA attorney or volunteer.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL VLA BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES THAT RESULT FROM THE USE OF, OR THE INABILITY TO USE, THIS FORM OR WEBSITE OR THE INFORMATION GATHERED AND/OR CONTAINED ON THIS FORM OR WEBSITE, EVEN IF VLA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

I have read the paragraph above and understand that submitting my application does not create an attorney-client relationship.

You hereby affirm that the above information is correct and complete, to the best of your knowledge and ability.

I affirm

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