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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:

Mediation

  • Jones v. Heidt, 23-cv-121-PP. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent an incarcerated individual who alleges that a correctional officer sexually assaulted him in violation of the Eighth Amendment. The correctional officer filed a counterclaim against the plaintiff for assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress in violation of Wisconsin state law. No dispositive motions have been filed. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at mediation before a magistrate judge. (Recruiting since July 2025)

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

  • Moore v. Murphy, 24-cv-1344-SCD. The court is looking for a lawyer to assist a prisoner plaintiff by conducting discovery, drafting and/or responding to dispositive motions, and engaging in settlement discussions in connection with an Eighth Amendment claim based on allegations that the defendant doctor sexually assaulted the plaintiff during a medical examination.  The plaintiff has significant physical limitations in connection with burn injuries that make it difficult for him to represent himself. (Recruiting since April 2025)

  • Lewis v. Peskie, et al., 23-cv-225-LA. The court is looking for a lawyer to assist a non-incarcerated plaintiff in final settlement negotiations or, if needed, a short trial. The only remaining issue after summary judgment is plaintiff’s allegation that state police improperly searched his home in violation of the Fourth Amendment. Please see Judge Adelman's screening order for more information. (Recruiting since July 2025)

Trial

  • Gidarisingh v. Dobbins, 22-cv-468-JPS. The court is looking for a lawyer to assist an incarcerated individual with trial in connection with an Eighth Amendment denial of medical care case. Plaintiff alleges that Defendant purposefully withheld his pain medication following a hernia surgery. Please see Judge Stadtmueller's summary judgment order for more information. (Recruiting since May 2025)
  • Knight v. Avery, et al., 22-CV-886-NJ. The court is looking for a lawyer to assist a prisoner with trial in connection with a claim against Milwaukee County Jail officials for using excessive force against him while he was a pretrial detainee. Please see Judge Joseph's summary judgment order and supplemental order for more information. (Recruiting since September 2025).