A Summer of Volunteerism

The Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project (MVLP), started in 1982, represents the nation's first formal association of a state Bar with representatives of the Legal Services Corporation. The primary mission of the MVLP is to provide high quality pro bono legal assistance to honest, hard-working Mississippians of low income and limited means, who would not otherwise have access to the courts.

Potential clients are screened by Legal Services to determine income eligibility and the legal merit of their cases. The cases are then forwarded to the MVLP and referred to Mississippi Bar members who agree to take the cases on a pro bono basis.

This summer, the Project will have three summer volunteers: Brad Kerwin, John Biggs, and Ashley Daniel. Brad and John will begin on May 21, 2007 and Ashley will begin in July.

Throughout their summer of volunteerism, they will blog about their time with MVLP, what they do and would like to do at MVLP, and provide us with stories.

Their first blog will be one introducing them and their plans.

MVLP would like to formally express its gratitude, in advance of their service, to the summer volunteers.

Hopefully, this will remind all that the privilege of practicing law is a gift that can be given continuously and not just once.