Utah residents who are facing legal problems in the wake of COVID-19 can now call the Utah State Bar to receive free legal advice. The clinic allows Utah residents to call in and schedule an appointment with a qualified attorney, free of charge.

How it works

To sign up for an appointment, people can either call the Bar at 801-297-7053, email at probono@utahbar.org, or use the online sign-up sheet at www.utahlegalhelp.org/vlc. All three options are available in English and Spanish.

Once the Bar receives a request, they send it to a qualified volunteer attorney in the state. The attorney will then respond via phone or email within 48 hours.

If anything goes wrong in the process, people can simply call the Bar to report the issue and try again.

How much advice is given?

Interactions are limited to 20-30 minutes. The volunteer attorneys cannot be expected to provide comprehensive legal advice on an entire case. However, attorneys can answer specific questions, give general advice, or help the client know what the best next step would be. Attorneys can also recommend additional resources.

What’s the wait time like?

After submitting a request for an appointment, most people will hear back from an attorney within 48 hours.

What kinds of legal issues are covered?

Utahns can call in for any issue. Some common issues include divorce and custody disputes, business disputes, landlord-tenant problems (evictions), debt collection, and employment. The Bar staff will do their best to pair each person with an attorney knowledgeable in the legal area.

Is the program new?

The Utah State Bar has held in-person clinics for decades, allowing people to meet with an attorney face-to-face for brief advice. The new virtual model makes it possible to talk with attorneys remotely. It also allows the Bar to serve many more clients since the clinic is no longer restricted to a single evening in the week.

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