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The Mobile Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program, Inc. (“VLP”) is a charitable organization dedicated to delivering pro bono publico legal services to low-income citizens in  Mobile County.  Through local volunteer lawyers, the VLP provides free legal services in certain civil matters.
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  • History of the Volunteer Lawyers Program

    The Mobile Bar Association  (MBA) was founded in 1869 and has provided public service to the community on a continuing basis since that time.  In 1985, the MBA organized the Pro Bono Program to provide free legal representation to low-income clients in Mobile County.  In 2000, the Program’s name was changed to the Mobile Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP) to be more easily understood by the general public. 

    During the first two years of its existence, the Program was operated through the office of the MBA Executive Secretary.  A separate Pro Bono Office was established in 1989 with a part-time director.  Today the VLP is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit program and a partner agency of the United Way of Southwest Alabama.  It has a full-time executive director, an administrative assistant, and an intake specialist.  The Program has over 600 lawyers who volunteer their expertise and time to work with low-income clients in certain types of cases. 

    The VLP has a very active Board of Directors, which meets monthly.  The President of the Board is an ex-officio member of the MBA Executive Board, which oversees the VLP.  Twenty-seven lawyers in the Mobile area, appointed by the MBA President, serve on the VLP Board. 

    The MBA Volunteer Lawyers Program is a leader in Alabama and nationally in pro bono work.  Through the leadership of the Mobile Bar Association, the spirit of volunteer work is readily embraced and thriving in Mobile County.

     
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  • Founders

    Ben H. Kilborn
    Irvin Grodsky
    Marshall J. DeMouy
    Mitchell G. Lattof, Sr.
    Lionel C. Williams
    James H. Frost
    Mary Beth Mantiply
    G. Sage Lyons, Jr.
    Robert E. Gibney
    Ben H. Harris, Jr.
    Herndon Inge, Jr.
    William H. McDermott
    Ann E. Taylor

     

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  • Volunteer Lawyers Program Board

    Officers 

    President:  David Peeler
    Vice-President:  Lisa Darnley Cooper
    Treasurer: Meegan Nelson
    Secretary: Martha Hennessy

     


    Tonny Algood
    Kate B. Bonnici
    Ann Brown
    Hank Caddell
    Henry Callaway
    Angela Campbell
    Harwell Coale
    Luke Coley
    Celia Collins
    Robert Edington
    Scott Hetrick
    Chris Knight
    Gil Laden
    Edwin Lamberth
    Beth Lee

     


    Barney March
    Judge Michael McMaken
    Terrie Owens
    Larkin Peters
    Gaby Reeves
    Denise Riemer
    Frankie Fields Smith
    Michael A. Smith
    Bill Watts
    Rick Williams
    Ricardo Woods

    Ex officio

    Blakely H. Davis
    Ariana H. Moore
    Carlos A. Williams

     
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