Volunteers

COVID-19 Notice

Due to the pandemic, CLARO is not accepting new volunteers at this time.

CLARO programs are able to run because of committed volunteer attorneys who assist the unprecedented numbers of individuals who must defend themselves in consumer debt collection cases. In 2011, creditors filed over 134,000 consumer credit cases in New York City Civil Court. In these cases, approximately 2.5% of defendants had attorneys representing them. Debt collection matters can be overwhelming for pro se litigants. Often, debtors first learn of a lawsuit after their wages have been garnished or their bank accounts frozen. CLARO provides limited legal advice to unrepresented debtor-defendants with consumer debt cases in Civil Court.

At each CLARO session there is at least one consumer law expert to oversee and help out on any complicated issues that may arise. Volunteer attorneys must attend a mandatory 3-hour introductory training. On completing the training we invite our volunteer attorneys to observe CLARO sessions in progress before becoming client-advisors themselves.

If you are interested in signing up to volunteer with CLARO, please provide your information in the form below. 

Volunteer Training Information

Description: Join fellow attorneys for a comprehensive training in consumer law.

Requirements: You must be admitted in New York and have time to attend the training and commit 6 hours to CLARO sessions. Please note that to avoid conflict of interest, this opportunity is not available to attorneys working for debt settlement or other financial institutions.

CLE Credit: 3

Cost: None

For information on the next training please contact feerickcenter@law.fordham.edu.

Advantages

• Provide a much needed advice-only service to New Yorkers who can't afford representation
• Learn about an area of the law that may be useful in your regular practice
• Gain 3 FREE CLE credits for 6 hours volunteering at CLARO