Mission & History

Mission

The South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program, Inc. (SAVLP) provides access to justice for low-income individuals by extending free civil legal services through the dedication of volunteer lawyers, empowering clients to navigate the justice system with dignity.

SAVLP History

The South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program (SAVLP) as we know it was formed by the Mobile Bar Association (MBA) in 1985. The MBA organized the Pro Bono Program to provide free legal representation to low-income clients in Mobile County. The MBA had been providing Pro Bono public service to the community since 1869.

During the first two years of its existence, the Program was operated through the office of the MBA Executive Secretary. A separate Pro Bono Office was established in 1989 with a director.

In 2000, the Program’s name was changed to the Mobile Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP). As the program became more established and expanded its reach to include other southern counties in Alabama, the name was changed to the South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program (SAVLP) in 2012.

Today the SAVLP is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit program and a partner agency of the United Way of Baldwin County and the United Way of Southwest Alabama with a full-time staff of five. The Program has over 700+ lawyers who volunteer their expertise and time to work with low-income clients in certain types of civil cases.