This course has been designed to provide training for lawyers who wish to volunteer for CLARO (Civil Legal Advice and Resource Office), an exciting and innovative advice and counsel project offered to pro se debtors sued by creditors in Kings County Civil Court.

CLARO is open on Thursdays from 2:30-4:30 p.m. and from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Kings County Civil Court. This course is FREE to those who volunteer for a minimum of two CLARO sessions before April 21, 2009. Experienced attorneys who volunteer for CLARO receive an additional MCLE credit from the VLP for each six hours of volunteer service.

Topics will include: Introduction of CLARO & Ethical Considerations; Pre-Litigation & The Life of a Debt; The Court Process; Substantive Defenses; Negotiating a Settlement; Stipulations; Frozen Bank Accounts and Exempt Income; Counterclaims; Client Interaction; CLARO Session Role Play; Questions & Answers.

With Presentations By: SIDNEY CHERUBIN, ESQ., VLP; CAROLYN COFFEY, ESQ., MFY Legal Services; ELIZABETH KANE, ESQ., Public Service Program Office, Brooklyn Law School; APRIL NEWBAUER, ESQ., The Legal Aid Society, Queens Civil Practice; CLAUDIA WILNER, ESQ., NEDAP; SUSAN HELLER, LCSW-R, MFY Legal Services and JOHN BUHTA, Brooklyn Law School.