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Pro Bono Opportunities for Attorneys

The Eastern District of Wisconsin has pro bono opportunities, primarily in prisoner civil rights cases. The court recruits attorneys for limited purposes, such as representing a civil pro se litigant in mediation, as well as for full representation. Wisconsin SCR 31.05(7) states that an attorney may claim one CLE credit for every five hours of pro bono work, up to six credits per reporting period. Below are the cases that the court is currently recruiting for. For more information on a case, please contact the court's pro se staff attorneys at ProSeStaffAttorneys@wied.uscourts.gov.

The court is currently looking for pro bono volunteers for the following cases:

Discovery, Draft/Respond to Dispositive Motions, and Pursue Settlement

  • Yerks v. Godiwalla, 24-cv-713-PP. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent an incarcerated individual who alleges that the defendants did not adequately treat his chronic pain conditions in violation of the Eighth Amendment. The lawyer would engage in discovery, respond to any dispositive motions, and participate in settlement proceedings and/or trial. Please see Judge Pepper’s screening order for more information. (Recruiting since May 2026)

Damages Hearing

  • Negron v. Pace Industries, 25-CV-371-SCD. The court is looking for a lawyer to assist a plaintiff establish damages following entry of default judgment in connection with an ADA claim. Representation will require some fact investigation and a possible hearing, likely via video. The plaintiff has a traumatic brain injury and other conditions that make it difficult for him to represent himself. (Recruiting since April 2026)

Trials

  • Clayborne v. Serio, 19-cv-1689-PP. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent an incarcerated individual who alleges that the defendant City of Milwaukee police officers used excessive force in arresting him on April 18, 2018, and that the Milwaukee Police Department has an informal policy not to use body cameras or dashboard cameras so that they could use excessive force against detainees without detection. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at a jury trial. The plaintiff is incarcerated at a federal prison in Pennsylvania. (Recruiting since August 2026)

  • Cooper v. Wenger et al., 25-cv-983-BBC.  The plaintiff is proceeding on Eighth Amendment and state law negligence claims in connection with the care he received following gallbladder surgery while housed at Waupun Correctional Institution in 2023.  The Court is requesting a volunteer attorney to assist the plaintiff with presenting his case by responding to the defendants’ pretrial report and motions in limine prior to trial, and then at trial, conducting direct- and cross-examination of witnesses, participating in a verdict and jury instruction conference, and giving an opening statement and closing argument.  The trial will be scheduled to suit the parties’ schedules.  This recruitment offers an opportunity to improve counsel’s trial skills while at the same time providing an important service to the parties and the Court.  (Recruiting since September 2026)