Do you have an arts-related legal concern?

 ArtServe Michigan is proud to launch the Volunteer Lawyers for Arts and Culture program (VLAC). This is a referral service that provides pro-bono legal assistance for arts related matters to income-eligible artists, arts and cultural organizations. VLAC clients must :

  • Have an arts-related legal problem

  • Be a current member of ArtServe Michigan

  • Meet the financial eligibility guidelines for pro-bono service.*

Individuals and organizations that are above the income eligible guidelines for free legal assistance will be referred by VLAC to attorneys with the appropriate expertise who will consider handling their matter on a fee-paying basis. Please note that the process of assigning an appropriate lawyer may take a few weeks. 

VLAC provides arts and cultural-related legal referral services to artists and arts and cultural organizations in a broad range of arts related fields, including: music, theater, visual arts, interdisciplinary, film, television and video, dance, arts education, literature and computer generated art.

Arts and cultural-related legal matters may include: contracts, copyright, patent and trademark, acquisition of business space, real estate, incorporation, insurance, labor relations, small claims court advice, tax, trusts, estates/wills and constitutional rights/First Amendment issues.

*Income eligibility guidelines are listed in the Referral Guidelines

For more information, please contact:

Kim Dabbs, 248 - 557-8288 ext. 14

Referral Guidelines

ArtServe Michigan’s Volunteer Lawyers for Arts and Culture (VLAC) program is a referral service which provides legal assistance for income eligible individuals, non profit, and for profit arts and cultural organizations that are members of ArtServe Michigan, have an arts-related legal problem, and meet the financial eligibility guidelines for pro bono service. 

Legal assistance shall be rendered free of charge. However, the client shall be responsible for all of the attorney’s out-of-pocket expenses. Any matters involving litigation may necessitate charging an attorney fee. In this event, such fee shall be discussed and mutually agreed upon by the attorney and client and the attorney shall receive prior approval from VLAC. The client may be referred back to VLAC for a reassignment if the attorney and client cannot agree upon a fee. 

Individuals and organizations that are above the income eligible guidelines for free legal assistance will be referred by VLAC to attorneys with the appropriate expertise who will consider handling their matter on a fee-paying basis. 

Volunteer Lawyers for Arts and Culture provides arts and cultural-related legal referral services to artists and arts and cultural organizations in the following fields: music, theater, visual arts, interdisciplinary, film, television and video, dance, literature and computer generated art.

Arts and cultural-related legal matters may include: contracts, copyright, patent and trademark, acquisition of business space, real estate, incorporation, insurance, immigration, labor relations, small claims court advice, tax, trusts, estates/wills and constitutional rights/First Amendment issues. 

The referral process works as follows: 

  1. An artist or arts or cultural organization contacts ArtServe Michigan’s Volunteer Services Program/VLAC staff for an application and an ArtServe Michigan membership application (if not already a member). 

  2. The completed application is returned to ArtServe Michigan along with the $40 ASM minimum membership fee. 

  3. Volunteer Lawyers for Arts and Culture screens each application to determine if the client is financially eligible, if the client is a current member of ArtServe Michigan*, and if an arts or cultural-related legal problem is present. 
    *To receive services, clients must be a current member of ArtServe Michigan.

  4. Criteria to be eligible for free legal assistance are as follows:

    A. Non-profit Organizations - annual operating budget at $250,000 or less. At the discretion of the intake attorney, this criterion may be modified.

    B. For Profit Organizations - Gross income of each principal not to exceed $15,000.

    C. Individuals - Gross household income may not be in excess of the following: At the discretion of the intake attorney, this criterion may be modified.

    Family Size Income 

    1……………………………………………..$20,732
    2……………………………………………..$24,695
    3……………………………………………..$29,157
    4……………………………………………..$33,620

    (Contact ArtServe Michigan for larger family size)

  5. Once VLAC has determined that the arts or cultural-related legal problem criteria have been met, an appointment will be scheduled for a meeting with an intake attorney.

    The purpose of this meeting is to: 

    A. Determine the legal issues involved in meeting the client’s needs.

    B. For pro-bono clients, to refer the client to an attorney. While the legal services are free, expenses such as court fees must be paid by the client as well as attorney fees agreed upon in those matters necessitating litigation.

    C. For fee-paying clients, to provide the client with up to three attorneys from which to choose.

    The client and attorney enjoy the customary confidential relationship.

For more information, please contact:

Kim Dabbs, 248 - 557-8288 ext. 14

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