Become a Volunteer

Volunteer to assist an individual artist or nonprofit organization

Opportunities are available for attorneys and accountants who wish to serve the creative community.

  • Professionals are needed to provide individual client services to pre-screened financially eligible artists and small nonprofit organizations.  Attorneys must be licensed in Texas and in active standing with the State Bar of Texas.
  • TALA conducts seminars and workshops at locations throughout the State.  Speakers are needed on topics relevant to artists and nonprofit organizations.
  • TALA offers legal clinics in various cities throughout the year and is in need of attorneys that would be willing to conduct 30 minute consultations with artists on site in a clinic environment.

What is the volunteer process for TALA’s arts pro bono matching program?

Approximately every two weeks, an email is sent to all TALA volunteers listing available cases. Volunteers that are interested in a case then email TALA’s legal director with information about which case they would like to handle. If selected for placement, a conflicts check can then be performed.   A letter is then sent to both the client and the volunteer that confirms the case has been placed and also informs both parties of how to contact each other. It is the client’s responsibility to make initial contact with the volunteer, but the volunteer may make the initial contact if they choose to do so.

What is the time commitment?

The time commitment varies for each case, but generally, TALA cases are fairly brief in nature. TALA does not provide ongoing representation with the same attorney or accountant, so once the individual matter is complete, client representation is closed.

Volunteer to assist an inventor with a patent

TALA is recruiting volunteer patent attorneys and agents to consult with verified income eligible clients desiring to file and prosecute nonprovisional patent applications.  The patent attorney or agent will determine the scope of representation upon consult, which could include advice related to the patentability of the invention and the filing of the nonprovisional patent application.

If you are interested in receiving notices and updates about opportunities with TALA Patent Pro Bono, please complete the short form at the link above.  This in no way obligates you to take cases. This is just to receive information about the program and potential pro bono clients.

Patent attorneys and agents will assist with the following:

  • Filing nonprovisional applications
  • Providing patent advice and counsel
  • Participating in Patent Pro Bono clinics
  • Presenting workshops to inventors wishing to learn more about the patent process

For more information about volunteering for TALA’s Patent Pro Bono program, click here.