In 1989, with help from a grant from the Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA), ARDF established a Pro Bono Publico Program Known as Volunteer Lawyers for Appalachian KY (VLAK) in an effort to meet the needs for legal representation of low income residents throughout Appalreds's thirty-seven county service area.

For many years now, Appalred's VLAK program has provided a vehicle through which private attorneys can contribute their time and expertise to help meet the growing civil legal needs of those in poverty by voluntarily accepting cases to ensure that the poor have representation in our courts.  The private attorneys who work with VLAK are known as its Pro Bono Panel.  These attorneys represent the clients they accept through our program without charge to the program or to the clients.  However, attorneys on our panel are not "Free" attorneys.  An eligible client will not be paying for the attorneys services just as VLAK will not be paying the attorney for his or her donated legal services, but their services are not "Free".  Our Panel consists of conscientious attorneys who are willing to voluntarily represent deserving clients without charge.  The time these attorneys invest on behalf of Pro Bono clients is time they could use to represent people capable of paying them for their professional services.  To label professionals as "Free" lawyers is inappropriate and demeaning.  These attorneys feel it to be part of their humanitarian and ethical duty to volunteer a portion of their time and their unique expertise to help the less fortunate with their legal needs.