DBA MVL

METRO VOLUNTEER LAWYERS | BY IVONNE ESPARZA

DBA MVL’s Legal Clinic at the Denver Indian Center, Inc.

Assisting Native American and Indigenous People with Their Legal Issues Since 2012

Native American and Indigenous people have built and diversified our communities with vibrant cultures for many generations. Even though we celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November, Denver Bar Association Metro Volunteer Lawyers (MVL) encourages volunteer attorneys to honor and strengthen Native American cultures and communities by providing vital pro bono support services in the Denver metro area throughout the year. As the coordinator for MVL’s Legal Clinic at the Denver Indian Center, Inc. (DICI), I invite you to join a team of dedicated volunteer attorneys who help community members with their legal questions. I hope the following information will encourage you to volunteer for MVL’s walk-in legal clinic at the DICI or assist in our full referral program.

DICI and MVL

Since spring 2012, MVL’s Legal Clinic at the DICI has been an integral part of the DBA’s mission by bridging the gap in access to justice for Native Americans and Alaska Natives in the Denver metro area. Together we strive to provide exceptional legal services. The DICI offers MVL space for the legal clinic and markets and promotes the clinic to community members and partner organizations. MVL staff and volunteer attorneys work with paralegals and law students to assist community members with legal questions.

Types of Issues

Issues that often come up at the clinics include divorce, custody, probate, wills, powers of attorney, guardianships, conservatorships, landlord-tenant and social security matters. MVL attorneys who regularly volunteer their time at the legal clinic will reiterate that any nerves about participating in a walk-in-style clinic are temporary. Still, volunteers who do not know the answer to a legal question can ask MVL staff members, who are always present at the clinics and who support volunteers. If a volunteer attorney is comfortable, the volunteer can give brief legal advice or provide information about other relevant resources in the community. A volunteer’s willingness to provide legal advice and information through in-person clinics or remote settings to someone in need of legal recourse is vital and helps build trust with community members.

MVL’s First Wednesday Clinic and Ric Morgan’s Second Friday Virtual Pro Se Clinic

Ric Morgan’s Virtual Pro Se Clinic supports and collaborates with MVL’s first Wednesday walk-in clinic at the DICI. The second Friday Virtual Pro Se Clinic provides much-needed pro bono support to DICI community members on a case-by-case basis. If required, a DICI community member in need may come to DICI staff directly for help with scheduling an appointment or be referred by the first Wednesday MVL Clinic.

DICI community members often need extensive follow-up or unbundled support, which Morgan provides by appointment only at his clinic on the second Friday of each month. Morgan has provided extended pro bono support to DICI community members for various legal issues, such as the probate distribution of tribal allotment lands, assistance in coordinating Indian Child Welfare Act involvement in family law cases, trial preparation and coaching for community members in family law cases, assisting with tribal membership applications, and formal representation for community members in social security and Social Security Disability Insurance cases. Despite the pandemic, Morgan has been conducting the second Friday support clinic without interruption. For more information on the Virtual Pro Se Clinic, please visit Checkerboard.co.

“Issues that often come up at the clinics include divorce, custody, probate, wills, powers of attorney, guardianships, conservatorships, landlord-tenant and social security matters."

What if I Don’t Know Federal Indian or Tribal Law?

Volunteers do not need experience in federal Indian law or tribal law. Still, it’s always good practice to research a topic of interest beforehand. MVL occasionally offers free CLEs in which volunteers can learn more about American Indian law. In addition, MVL provides access to a free training video on American Indian law on our Tips and Training page.

Get Involved

MVL has several volunteer opportunities for attorneys, mediators, paralegals, and law students: referrals to individual attorneys for direct representation, the Family Law Court Program, the Post-Decree Consultation Clinic, the Power of Attorney Workshop, the Family Law Unbundled Workshop, and the Mediation Program.

The Legal Clinic at the DICI meets every month on the first Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Volunteers are welcome to observe or shadow a more experienced attorney or provide a 30-minute telephone or Zoom consultation for community members who request a virtual appointment. Law students can participate by supporting volunteer attorneys, shadowing consultations, and assisting with research. Paralegals and other legal staff can support volunteer attorneys with research or communication with a community member at the DICI.

You can sign up through MVL’s website at www.denbar.org/mvl or contact Ivonne Esparza directly at iesparza@ denbar.org. A link for our sign-up form is here. In honor of Native American and Indigenous people, please get involved today and join MVL every first Wednesday of the month!

IVONNE ESPARZA has been interning and volunteering with Metro Volunteer Lawyers since 2018, and now manages MVL’s Direct Referral Program and Legal Clinic at the Denver Indian Center, Inc.