Hunton Andrews Kurth and Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program Restore Access to Pro Bono Services Through Virtual Clinics

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP recently teamed up with the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program to launch the organization’s first virtual legal aid intake clinic and restore access to vital pro bono services for area residents.

DVAP, a collaborative between the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, was forced to shutter all 14 of its monthly legal aid clinics in early March as a precaution against the growing coronavirus pandemic.

Seeking a pathway forward to continue serving those in need of pro bono legal services, DVAP reached out to Hunton Andrews Kurth. Dallas associate Fawaz A. Bham led the firm’s effort to quickly assemble a multi-disciplinary project team consisting of attorneys, IT managers, administrators, engineers and security experts, to virtually replicate the legal aid application, intake and interview process conducted at traditional on-site clinics.

The solution involved designing and implementing a user friendly online intake tool with a Spanish language alternative for applicants and establishing primary and backup video conferencing and client document upload systems to enable volunteer attorneys to effectively conduct interviews. In addition, the Hunton Andrews Kurth team created automated systems for communicating upcoming clinic call-windows, transmitting applications, assigning and distributing applicants to volunteer attorneys and submitting interview summaries.

On April 16, a team of 18 attorneys from Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Dallas and Austin offices conducted DVAP’s first ever fully-online legal aid intake clinic, “meeting” with 38 applicants and processing summaries back to DVAP seamlessly.

“I watched the whole process unfold and it was remarkable,” said Dan Garner, who chairs the firm’s Dallas pro bono committee. “Fawaz provided vision, drive and confidence, with a cool sense of urgency and a high-tech vibe.”

On the basis of this success, DVAP intends to continue conducting weekly virtual clinics, with attorneys from Hunton Andrews Kurth scheduled to participate on April 30 and May 7. Because DVAP relies on attorneys from across the Dallas Bar to support its clinics, Hunton Andrews Kurth specifically designed the software to allow use by DVAP with other law firms as well.

DVAP is also exploring offering virtual clinics after its traditional, in-person sessions resume. The organization hopes to leverage the convenience and efficiency of virtual clinics to enhance and transform the accessibility and delivery of pro bono legal services to people in need in the Dallas community.