Legal Services

Legal Referral Program

A panel of more than 400 attorneys is available to provide free or low cost (depending upon eligibility) legal assistance for arts related problems.

The Legal Referral Program can assist with inumerous legal issues including but not limited to contracts, copyright and trademark, First Amendment, tax and non-profit, estate planning, landlord tenant, non-profit incorporation and employment. The VLA's services are available to artists, arts and cultural organizations and individuals with arts related legal issues.

Information for Artists and Arts Organizations

Below you will find an application for legal assistance through the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts, Inc. Please complete the application and return it with your application fee and most recent tax return. Based on the information in your application, the VLA will determine if your arts-related legal issue can be addressed by this office directly or whether it is more appropriate to refer you to a VLA panel attorney. Weekly emails are sent to the panel of attorneys and cases are usually placed within 2-3 weeks.

If you are eligible for free legal services, the VLA will attempt to refer you to a volunteer attorney. If it is determined that you are not eligible for free legal services, the VLA will refer your to a VLA Member Attorney. Our Member Attorneys are lawyers dedicated to assisting artists and arts organizations, and thus are often willing to negotiate their fees.

Though we try to refer every case, we cannot guarantee that we will find a lawyer to take your case. Depending upon the nature of your question/problem, you should expect to hear from us within approximately two weeks from the date the application is submitted.

Thank you for your interest in the VLA. If you have any further questions or comments about the program, please do not hesitate to call, 617.350.7600.

Applications for Legal Assistance

Application for Individual Artist, English .doc

Application for Individual Artist, Spanish .doc

Application for Musical Groups .doc

Application for Organization .doc

Application for Non-Profit Incorporation .doc

Application for Estate Planning .doc