Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

Founded in 1969, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) is the leading legal aid and education organization dedicated to New York artists and its arts and cultural organizations. VLA strives to protect the artistic community’s livelihoods, businesses, and creative works through access to dedicated legal representation and focused innovative education programs.

VLA’s vision is for all artists and arts and cultural organizations to receive the legal assistance they need without the barrier of traditionally high legal expenses so that they can devote their focus to their creative practices.

1. What types of Legal Issues does VLA Handle?

VLA assists low-income artists with their arts-related legal issues. “Artist” includes almost any artistic discipline, including, but not limited to, visual arts, design, dance, theater, film, and music. VLA assists artists with “arts-related legal issues,” meaning legal issues arising as a result of artistic work. For example, intellectual property issues, contracts, application for an artist visa, or incorporation of arts-related businesses and non-profits, among others.

2. What types of legal issues does VLA not handle?

VLA cannot assist artists with criminal matters, domestic relations matters, landlord-tenant matters unrelated to their art, and business advice. Also, VLA is not able to assist on legal issues that do not have any connection to New York, New Jersey or Connecticut.

3. Does VLA work with individuals and organizations?

Yes, VLA works with individuals and with arts-related organizations, including both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

4. Will VLA represent me in long-term issues?

For long-term legal issues, VLA has a network of lawyers, who volunteer their services on a pro bono free basis to represent VLA members. To be eligible for this long-term assistance through VLA, the member must demonstrate financial need and have the legal issue further reviewed in a legal consultation or clinic. VLA Staff Attorneys do not provide ongoing legal representation on any matter.

5. What does pro bono mean?

Pro bono means that volunteer attorneys give legal services free of charge.

6. Is there a fee for VLA services?

Yes. VLA works on a membership structure. Fees vary based on whether you are a member or a nonmember, an individual or an organization. As a non-profit organization, VLA collects these membership fees to cover administrative costs, which enables VLA to serve the arts community.

7. How much are VLA membership fees?

VLA offers an annual membership fee. The membership fees for artists and arts organizations are listed on VLA’s website here. Membership fees for attorneys are listed on VLA’s website here.  Institutional Membership fees are listed here. Membership benefits include:

• Unlimited legal consultations on approved matters

• Placement on our referral list for matters requiring additional assistance

• Discounts on our educational classes (view upcoming events on our calendar).

If you are only interested in receiving discounts on our educational classes, Education Membership Fees for artists can be found here.

If you have questions about our fees, please contact us at 212.319.2787.

8. But, your name is Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. What is free or “Volunteer” about your services if there is a membership fee?

VLA has a network of New York attorneys willing to work on VLA member matters pro bono (free) basis. Once the volunteer attorney agrees to represent a VLA member, the volunteer attorney will not charge for his/her time working on the case. However, qualifying members may still be responsible for certain expenses, such as filing fees, mailing and copying expenses, and government administrative fees.

9. What is VLA’s case list?

VLA provides a list of potential legal matters requiring long-term pro bono assistance to its volunteer attorney network. This “case list” is updated regularly.

10. How do I get on VLA’s case list?

Contact VLA, either by filling out a request for legal assistance on our website or by calling the Art Law Line, at 212-319-2787 ext. 1. As part of our intake process, VLA will determine if you qualify for referral to our case list and if your legal issue is appropriate for VLA services. If your legal matter is appropriate for VLA, we will schedule you for a consultation with a VLA attorney. You must have a consultation before we will consider you for referral to our case list. VLA’s intake process can vary depending on the volume of calls we receive to the responsiveness of those seeking legal assistance.

11. How do I know if I qualify for VLA’s case list?

Eligibility for pro bono legal services is based on financial need. To help VLA determine your financial need, please know your taxable income (line 43) on your tax return when you contact VLA.

12. How long does it take to get a consultation and then be placed with a pro bono attorney?

Before you are placed on the case list, you must meet a VLA attorney for a consultation. We can generally schedule these consultations within a week of receiving all information and documentation that we request from you. From the time that you are placed on the case list, it typically takes 8-12 weeks for an attorney to pick up your case, depending on the type of legal issue involved. Disputes usually take longer to place than a contract issue, for instance. Also, pro bono attorneys take on cases as they are able, so sometimes the wait may be shorter or longer, depending on their availability.

To contact VLA: https://vlany.org/