Volunteer for Legal Aid of Nebraska's Board of Directors

Volunteer for Legal Aid of Nebraska's Board of Directors

What does Legal Aid's Board do?

Legal Aid of Nebraska is a non profit organization made up of a committed staff of high quality lawyers and legal professionals. We have a strong Board of Directors made up of 13 attorneys and 7 client-eligible members of the communities we serve. Our Board helps govern Legal Aid through financial review, strategic planning, and continually focusing on the legal needs of our current and potential clients. The Board is responsible for working with the Executive Director, Dave Pantos, in establishing and implementing a clear vision for carrying out Legal Aid's mission "To promote Justice, Dignity, Hope and Self-sufficiency through quality civil legal aid for those who have no where else to turn."

Can I volunteer for the Board?

Legal Aid's 13 lawyer members have all been recruited by existing Board members and nominated by the Nebraska State Bar Association. Legal Aid's attorney members must be Nebraska residents licensed to practice law in the state of Nebraska. Legal Aid's 7 client-eligible board members must be Nebraska residents and meet the eligibility criterial for free legal services from Legal Aid. 

What is required by a Board member?

First and foremost, one must strongly support Legal Aid's mission and its well-being. All of our Board members are committed to the long-term success and sustainability of Legal Aid. Our Board members recognize that, in addition to being a great law firm providing high quality legal services, Legal Aid is an essential component to the community's coordinated response to the needs of the poor.

As with any organization, Legal Aid's Board members must act in a fiduciary role towards the organization.

Board members are expected to attend and participate in quarterly board meetings as well as an annual meeting. Board members also participate in one or more committees of the Board (e.g. Finance and Audit, Personnel.) Board members are also expected to provide financial support to Legal Aid at whatever level is possible, and assist Legal Aid in raising funds from others.

Board members also provide assistance to Legal Aid in carrying out its mission. For example, attorney board members have advised Legal Aid's senior management in implementing a new attorneys' fee policy. Client-eligible board members have led strategic planning and priority-setting.

Learn more about the general responsibilities of a non-profit Board member at BoardSource(TM) (not affiliated with the Legal Aid of Nebraska website).

How does Legal Aid support Board members?

Board service for Legal Aid comes with no compensation. However, Legal Aid does budget funds to support Board development. For example, Legal Aid regularly pays for Board members to national conferences related to legal aid and poverty law.

Additionally, Legal Aid will reimburse Board members for any costs associated with attending board meetings, such as mileage (and, in the case of client-eligible board members, wage loss).

Finally, in 2010, Legal Aid received grant funds from the Legal Services Corporation Technology Initiative Grants program to pay for technology upgrades for client-eligible board members. These include laptop usage, high-speed broadband, printers, training, and more.

Do you have any current openings?

Yes, we have an opening for a client-eligible board member. We hope to have this position filled by our April 11, 2012 quarterly board meeting.

I am interested! What do I do next?

You can contact Dave Pantos, Executive Director, at dpantos@legalaidofnebraska.com or (402) 348-1069, x203. To learn more about Legal Aid of Nebraska we encourage you to search the rest of this website to see what we do and the programs we offer to low-income Nebraskans.