What your membership includes
Membership is a flat monthly fee. One number, everything above included. No tiers, no surprise invoices. Details provided during the application conversation.
What MALC members commit to
Membership is a set of mutual commitments — what MALC provides to you, and what you agree to as part of joining the collective.
- Pro bono commitment. Every MALC member commits to a minimum of 20 hours per month of pro bono legal work as a condition of membership. That work can be on MALC matters or through external programs (NLG, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Chicago Lawyers' Committee, and so on). This exceeds the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct aspirational standard; we set it as a floor because accessibility is structurally built into the practice.
- Alignment with MALC values. Members don't need to share every political position, but they need to be able to practice comfortably within a firm that publicly holds the values described on our About page.
- Sliding scale participation. Members set their own fees for their own clients, but members who take on clients through MALC's intake system use the firm's sliding-scale rate structure.
- Collective decision-making on new members. Decisions about who joins the collective are made together.
Applying to join
We're selective about who joins MALC, not because we're looking for a particular pedigree but because the collective works only if every member is someone the other members trust with their clients and their practice.
To apply, email us at mlmd@mutualaidlegalcollective.org with:
- A letter of interest — one page or less, on why MALC and what you'd bring to it
- Your current resume or CV
- Two professional references — names and contact information for attorneys, supervisors, or community partners who can speak to how you practice
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. If your materials look like a potential fit, we'll invite you for an extended conversation with Maya and at least one other member. Decisions are made collectively. If we move forward, we'll request a current ARDC Certificate of Good Standing (or the equivalent from each jurisdiction you're admitted in) at that stage.
Ready to apply?
Send your letter of interest, resume, and two references to mlmd@mutualaidlegalcollective.org. We'll confirm receipt and be in touch if your application looks like a fit.
Email your application →