The Dramatists Legal Defense Fund is committed to helping dramatic artists and educators who have either been affected by censorship or need legal services at no or low cost by connecting you to pro bono legal resources.

DLDF staff has created a list of pro-bono attorneys experienced primarily in areas of intellectual property, entertainment, and employment law.  In total, there are more than 70 attorneys in DLDF’s outreach list from firms such as Davis Wright Tremaine, Alston & Bird, Ropes & Grey, and Latham & Watkins.

Additionally, DLDF remains in contact with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and California Lawyers for the Arts. These organizations grant further access to other non-profit networks of pro-bono attorneys specialized in the arts and entertainment industry. Additionally, the above-mentioned organizations also offer low-cost arbitration and mediation services, which offer several advantages. First, if a dramatist does not meet the indigent definition, they may reach out to them to arbitrate their dispute. Secondly, accepted DLDF applicants may also prefer to arbitrate than file lawsuits since arbitration often is a pre-lawsuit process that can resolve issues more amicably and in a less time-consuming manner. Additionally, low-cost arbitration allows DLDF applicants to cheaply resolve disputes in the event that a pro-bono attorney is not placed on the matter.

If you need help in finding legal aid, please contact the DLDF via email info@thedldf.org or call 866-236-6842.

DLDF staff will accept dramatist-applicants whose work is being censored or whose rights, afforded in the DG’s Bill of Rights, have been adversely affected. Applicants must be considered indigent to be paired with pro-bono attorneys, meaning they must have an annual gross income of $45,000 or less.

Notable disputes have included, but are not limited to, unfair contractual practices pertaining to bad faith negotiations, billing disputes, copyright ownership infringements, unauthorized productions, wrongful termination disputes, refusal to meaningfully consult with playwrights, and other general Bill of Rights infringements. On top of providing connections to pro-bono attorneys, the DLDF works closely with the Dramatists Guild attorneys to draft complaint letters to send to producers and companies engaging in unfair practices. Complaint letters broadly define the issues the applicant is experiencing and apply such issues to the rights afforded to dramatists, as outlined in the Guild’s Bill of Rights.

Online Resources

We’re proud to introduce “Rights and Resources for Dramatists in the Age of ICE”, a newly compiled guide for those currently navigating violations to their civil rights, regardless of their citizenship and/or immigrant status. Included are links to information about our Constitutional rights, how to find legal help, and how to access support. 

Also, in 2022, after a two-year study, the DLDF published DRAMATIC CHANGES: A College Cancellation Toolkit, as a resource for administrators and students to help get a challenged show back on which is accessible on the Initiatives/College Toolkit page.