July 9, 2025 – Demand for civil legal assistance in Wisconsin continues to outstrip available resources. In 2024, the state’s two Legal Services Corporation-funded programs had to decline between 16,000 and 20,000 eligible applicants because staff and funds were insufficient.

Helping to fulfill that unmet need depends on attorneys who donate their time and expertise.

Recognizing the pivotal role of volunteer counsel, the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Legal Assistance Committee has named WisLawHelp.org – the statewide triage and referral portal developed by Judicare Legal Aid – its 2025 Pro Bono Firm/Organization of the Year.

The platform streamlines access to plain language resources and matches clients with lawyers ready to serve, but its continued impact hinges on a robust commitment from the private bar.

The Platform: Connecting Those in Need with Legal Resources

WisLawHelp.org is “really geared to be a Wisconsin statewide legal-help website,” says Megan Lee, Communications & Development Director for Judicare. It aims to “centralize a lot of legal resources and information for people and [put] them in plain-language terms.”

Visitors answer a short triage questionnaire and are directed to self-help guides, downloadable court forms, and – when appropriate – live referrals to volunteer lawyers.

Similar portals exist in more than 20 other states. Bringing one to Wisconsin was a decade-long goal of the Access to Justice Commission, especially as “access to justice issues are severe and getting worse, [with] rural legal deserts and everything,” says Lee.

Collaboration Behind the Award

Judicare may host the site, but success rests on a statewide coalition, says Lee. “We have a huge stakeholder committee – the law schools, the Wisconsin State Law Library, other legal-aid providers … bringing together all of the different providers across the state to make this resource come to life.”

Private practitioners reviewed every article on the site for legal accuracy and continue to update content as statutes change. That breadth of collaboration drove the State Bar’s decision to honor the project.

Why Pro Bono Still Matters

Technology can guide people to the courthouse door, but it often takes the expertise of a lawyer to help them successfully cross the threshold.

When litigants misfile pleadings or forget to request critical relief, cases stall and outcomes suffer. A single volunteer attorney’s phone call or letter “can take things in a totally different direction than what that tenant was able to do alone,” says Lee.

Finding an On-Ramp That Fits Your Schedule

Lee’s advice for busy attorneys:

• Pair up. “Find … an attorney friend who already does pro bono … Tag along. It’s a lot less scary if you do the buddy system.”

• Start small. Answer one question on the ABA’s Free Legal Answers platform – a 15-minute commitment that uses expertise you already have.

• Use the State Bar Pro Bono Portal. Filter opportunities by practice area, geography, or time commitment to find a case that fits.

• Clinic nights count. Reviewing forms at a local clinic keeps dockets moving and clients housed. “There are small ways to get involved. There are big ways to get involved.”

Beyond the intrinsic reward, pro bono work sharpens litigation skills, broadens professional networks, and fulfills the aspirational 50-hour goal in SCR 20:6.1.

Looking Ahead

Judicare and its partners plan to add interactive flowcharts, Spanish and Hmong translations, and real-time attorney-availability tools by early 2026. Each enhancement will make the site more useful – but only if lawyers remain available to take referrals.

Whether you draft one demand letter or litigate a full case, your contribution fills a gap no software can close.

Call to Action

Visit wisbar.org/probono or email probono@wisbar.org to see current needs. A few volunteer hours today will help ensure that no Wisconsin resident must face civil court alone.