Legal Network

The Catholic Charities Legal Network offers pro bono civil legal services, providing general information, access to volunteer attorneys and law firms, and referrals to other appropriate legal service organizations.

About the Program

The Catholic Charities Legal Network serves low-income families and individuals whose earnings are equal to or less than 250 percent of the U.S. federal poverty guidelines. The Legal Network serves residents of the District of Columbia and surrounding Maryland counties of Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s.

Civil law areas covered by the network include:

  • Consumer debt and bankruptcy
  • Employment
  • Family law (including child custody and domestic violence)
  • Landlord-tenant and housing issues
  • Public benefits (Social Security, Disability)
  • Estate planning: Wills, advanced health care directives and power of attorney

The Legal Network does not handle criminal, fee-generating or immigration cases. Find more information on Immigration Legal Services.

Requests for legal assistance: Call our hotline at 202-350-4305 during the listed hours to go through a prescreen process. If eligible for our services, callers will receive an intake appointment with a volunteer to determine if the program can accept a caller’s matter. Since we cannot guarantee placement of all matters with a volunteer attorney, callers may receive referrals and general information.

For a list of legal resources and referrals in the District of Columbia, visit Law Help DC.

Contact Information

Additional Information

  • Monday: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 2– 4:30 p.m.
    Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 2 – 4:30 p.m.
    Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 2 – 7 p.m.
    Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 2 – 7 p.m.
    Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 2 – 4:30 p.m.

A proud member of the D.C. Consortium of Legal Service Providers

The generous support of the DC Bar Foundation and individual, corporate and law firm donors enables our Catholic Charities Legal Network team to continue to offer the highest quality pro bono civil legal services to our clients. Thank you on our behalf and on behalf of the clients we serve.

Legal Network Advisory Council

Michael J. Francese, Esq., chair, Covington & Burling LLP

James P. Gillespie, Esq., immediate past chair, Kirkland & Ellis LLP (ex officio Council member)

John E. McCarthy Jr., Esq., chair emeritus, Crowell & Moring LLP (ex officio Council member)

Christopher Anzidei, Esq., general counsel of the Archdiocese of Washington (ex officio Council member)

Brian W. Stolarz, Esq., senior counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP (ex officio Council member)

Andrew N. Cook, Esq., K&L Gates LLP (president, John Carroll Society, ex officio Council member)

Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi, Esq., Church of the Little Flower (chaplain, John Carroll Society, ex officio Council member)

James D. Bishop, Esq., director, Catholic Charities Legal Network

Daniel Archuleta, Esq., Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP

Miguel Eaton, Esq., Jones Day

Charles J. Engel III, Esq., King & Spalding LLP

The Honorable Leo E. Green Jr.

Andrea Halverson Harper, Esq., assistant general counsel, Pepco Holdings, an Exelon Company

Jason N. Workmaster, Esq., Miller & Chevalier Chartered

Victoria D. Kelley, Esq., Foley and Lardner LLP

Thomas J. Kelly, Esq., Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLPC

Kristine Dunne Maher, Esq., Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

Denis C. Mitchell, Esq., Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner LLP

Timothy F. Maloney, Esq., Joseph Greenwald & Laake, PA

Stephen J. Obermeier, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP

Bridget K. O’Connor, Esq., Jones Day

Kate O’Scannlain, vice president, assistant general counsel, Government Operations

Caroline S. Pinkston, Esq., Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Robert F. Shaffer, Esq., O’Melveny & Myers LLP

Michael C. Williams, Esq., Hogan Lovells US LLP

Support Pro Bono Civil Legal Services

Catholic Charities’ Legal Network hosts activities throughout the year, including an annual golf tournament, and a tennis and pickleball tournament. Support of these events allows us to provide legal services to low-income individuals and families.

Annual Reports

Newsletters

Get Involved

Volunteer

It is only through the generosity and time given from more than 500 attorneys that we can help families in need work through their civil legal matters. If you are a licensed lawyer in Washington or Maryland, please consider taking on a case or volunteering during intake. Contact James D. Bishop, director of the legal network, at 202-772-4300 or by email.

Donate

Your gift will give low-income individuals and families access to civil legal help.

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