Happy Spring from the NYC Pro Bono Center! In this issue of the newsletter you can learn about April's outstanding volunteers, available cases, new library resources, upcoming trainings, and the latest pro bono news.

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April's Outstanding Volunteers

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP has been assisting the Cancer Advocacy Project (CAP) of the City Bar Justice Center for many years in the preparation of simple wills and powers of attorney and related issues for disenfranchised individuals diagnosed with cancer. Learn more

Proskauer Rose LLP, in partnership with The Legal Aid Society, recently initiated the Indefinite Detention Project, to provide pro bono counsel for deportees languishing in United States jails for more than eighteen months. A cadre of Proskauer lawyers will assist aliens who are in this "no man's land", through the submission of administrative applications for parole as well as representation in Federal Court on habeas corpus petitions. Learn more

We welcome your contributions! To nominate an outstanding volunteer, send an email describing the pro bono case or project to asclater@probono.net

New Case Opportunities

Ten-year old child seeks disability benefits at an April 18 hearing

A fourth grade special education student suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and depression, but does not take medication because his doctors recommend alternative treatment. Pro bono counsel, working with a senior Legal Aid attorney, will have the opportunity to review the medical evidence, obtain any additional or current medical evidence, draft a pre-hearing letter memorandum, and represent the client at the hearing. Learn more

Sixty-Seven (67) year-old woman requires simples will

Legal Aid Society client, whose sole income is her monthly social security check for $1326, wishes to leave her small estate to her niece. The estate consists of a certificate of deposit, some savings and a small 401K account. Pro bono counsel is being sought to draft and finalize a simple will. Learn more

Abused inmate, needs pro bono counsel for federal lawsuit

While a pre-trial detainee, Mr. L was knocked to the floor by an officer, kicked, and struck with a baton. Afterwards, he was carried outside the housing area where an officer accused him of punching another staff member, and then challenged him to a fight. Mr. L. denied any involvement but was struck in the back of the head with a baton. The prison clinic record notes that Mr. L. has a laceration to the occipital scalp, 2-3 mm deep, which was sutured. The Federal Court action is a complicated lawsuit for which it is critical for Mr. L. to be represented by counsel. Pro bono counsel will have the opportunity review documents, take and defend depositions, prepare witnesses for trial, and conduct direct and cross-examination. The volunteer attorney will be mentored by experienced senior counsel with Legal Aid's Prisoner's Rights Project that has pursued similar claims on behalf of individual prisoners and can offer sample pleadings and discovery requests. Learn more

Click here to see the full listing of available cases.

New Resources Available in the Library

Representing Taxpayers in Earned Income Credit (EIC) Disputes

This Legal Aid Society training will teach you how to represent taxpayers in Earned Income Tax Credit ("EIC") disputes. The EIC is a refundable tax credit for low-income taxpayers who work. In recent years, the EIC accounted for about 50% of all individual income tax return examinations conducted by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). This training and supporting materials provide an overview of how to handle an EIC examination, including the substantive tax law involved in EIC claims and related matters such as filing status, dependency exemptions, the child tax credit, and the dependent care credit. Click here to watch the webcast and download training materials.

Petitions for Review to the Second Circuit

Learn how to file and litigate a federal court petition for review, a critical avenue of relief from a Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) deportation or removal order. These materials provide practitioners with an overview, current procedures and general requirements for filing a petition for review on behalf of non-citizens who are facing deportation or removal. It also will include a discussion of recent case law on the types of decisions the Court of Appeals has jurisdiction to review under the INA, as amended by the REAL ID Act. Click here to download.

Click here to see more training materials.

Upcoming Trainings

April 10: Intellectual Property for the Micro-Entrepreneur

This Legal Aid Society training will teach you the basic principles of copyright, trademark, trade secret and patent law, with emphasis on how micro-entrepreneurs should be advised as they develop their business ideas and confront the need to protect their own intellectual property assets and avoid infringing intellectual property rights of others. The session will include discussion of the advantages of timely registration, practicalities of various search options, strategies for obtaining federal registration, and issues raised when the micro-entrepreneur's business includes an online presence. Learn more

April 16: Order of Protection & Custody/Visitation

This training by inMotion, the Bronx Bar Association and LSNY-Bronx will teach you how to represent women who have been victims of domestic violence in family offense proceedings and custody/visitation cases in Family Court. Procedural and substantive aspects of Family Court practice will be discussed as well as tips on how to represent and advise these vulnerable clients. Learn more

April 21: Legal & Business Bootcamp for Arts Professionals

This training by Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts is a comprehensive program about the legal and business issues that affect individual artists and individuals within organizations and cultural institutions. This program is for professionals within organizations, individual artists, and art students at all stages of profesional development. Lawyers and other professionals who represent arts professionals will also benefit from the course. Learn more

Click here to view the full calendar of pro bono events
and training opportunities.

Pro Bono News

City Bar Justice Center Annual Gala to be Held on April 18, 2007

This year's recipients of the City Bar Justice Award will include Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Time Warner Inc., for their leadership and dedication to public service. In addition, the City Bar Justice Center is thrilled to have two extraordinary event co-chairs, Rosemary T. Berkery, Esq. of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and Robert D. Joffe, Esq. of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. Proceeds from the Gala will enable the Justice Center to expand its important work to increase access to justice for thousands of poor and vulnerable New Yorkers.
Learn More

New Pro Bono Immigration Project Launched by the City Bar and Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy

This initiative aims to create a rotating fellowship model for pro bono involvement by large firms in the pressing need of volunteer lawyers to help low-income individuals with immigration matters. Learn More

Click here to read more pro bono news.