Join the GBLS Mission
At Greater Boston Legal Services, our staff advocates do critical work every day, but the need for civil legal aid in Massachusetts far exceeds our capacity. That’s where you come in.
Join our mission to provide free legal assistance to low-income individuals. Whether you’re a seasoned attorney, a corporate team, or a high school student, we have volunteer opportunities that help you make a meaningful impact in the Greater Boston area. Let us help you find an opportunity with GBLS that suits your strengths and fits your schedule.
Pro Bono Attorneys
We partner with attorneys who want to use their skills to support individuals and families who otherwise couldn’t afford legal help. Whether you’re looking to take on a single case or contribute to ongoing work, we’ll match you with opportunities that fit your experience, interests, and availability. All volunteers receive training and one-on-one mentorship, empowering you to contribute to our mission in a meaningful way.
Pro bono volunteers make a meaningful impact in areas such as:
- Immigration
- Housing and eviction defense
- Consumer rights
- Criminal record sealing
- Probate
Pro Bono Spotlight: Eviction Sealing
Eviction is a direct cause of homelessness, and having an eviction record (including evictions from decades ago) can prevent tenants from finding housing in the future. Eviction sealing gives tenants a much-needed second chance. You can help.
For the first time, a new Massachusetts law allows eligible residents to seal their eviction records. Support this effort by taking part in our monthly virtual Eviction Sealing Clinics. At the clinic, volunteer advocates meet with clients who have one or more evictions on their records and support them in completing petitions to have each of these eligible records sealed.
General Volunteers
You don’t have to be a lawyer to make a difference. At GBLS, we welcome volunteers from all backgrounds who believe that income shouldn’t be a barrier to justice, including students, professionals, corporate teams, and community members.
Your time and skills help us serve more clients, strengthen our operations, and expand our impact across Greater Boston.
Ways You Can Help
We offer a range of non-legal volunteer opportunities based on your interests and experience. Training and mentorship are always available.
- Client Intake: Help field calls from potential clients, listen to their concerns, and gather key information for our legal team
- Translation Support: Assist with translating documents, templates, and communications for multilingual communities
- Community Engagement: Help us spread the word about the work that we do and be a listening ear to the concerns of the community
- Resource Drives: Donate and wrap holiday goodies, fill backpacks with back-to-school essentials, or supply mittens and hats to keep our clients warm in the winter months
- Finance: Support budgeting, financial planning, or serve on finance-related committees
- Fundraising: Join a fundraising committee or host your own event to support GBLS
- Information Technology: Contribute to projects like document automation, web development, or internal systems
- Marketing & Communications: Help with content creation, graphic design, video production, and storytelling
Volunteer Spotlight: Kids Corner Book Drive
The Children’s Disability Project at GBLS maintains a Kids Corner for youth visiting our Boston office. The goal is for every child who enters the building to
have the opportunity to select a book to bring home. Team up with a group of friends, colleagues, or neighbors to check off items from our children’s literature wish list, supporting the enrichment and development of youth in our community!
Contact Us
Interested in supporting GBLS with your time? Reach out to us to learn more about current opportunities. We'll work with you to find a project that fits your skillset and your availability.
Email Volunteer & Pro Bono Coordinator Amanda Melvin at probono [at] gbls.org (probono[at]gbls[dot]org) to get started.