NYC Pro Bono Center

The City Bar Justice Center is delighted to honor American Express as an outstanding volunteer for their work with the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP). Linking philanthropic support and legal expertise, American Express awarded a grant to NELP to develop a new financial literacy initiative geared towards low-income microentrepreneurs. Then attorneys in the Corporate Legal Department at American Express work pro bono with NELP to teach the program's financial literacy course. Learn more

This month, the Legal Aid Society honors Ilona Coleman-Lange, a sixth-year litigation associate at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP. Ilona was Legal Aid's first extern with the Criminal Defense Practice and Legal Aid Attorney Claudia Conway was Ilona's primary mentor. During her six month externship, the Legal Aid Society's Pro Bono Practice sat down with Ilona to talk about her experience. Learn more

Sanctuary for Families and the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges won a precedent-setting appellate victory in the case of Miriam Marchany v. Warren Marchany. Associates at Weil, Gotshal & Manges worked closely with attorneys at Sanctuary for Families in securing protection for the same-sex partner of a woman who was a victim of domestic violence. In particular, Weil attorneys Mark Fiore, Caroline Geiger, and Harris Cohen worked with Sanctuary attorney Brett Figlewski and were crucial in achieving victory in the case. Learn more

Jacqueline Arana, an associate with Kaye Scholer LLP working pro bono with the Legal Aid Society, filed an Article 78 petition against the parole board on behalf of Jack South, challenging the arbitrariness of the most recent denial of parole. Mr. South, who receieved a bachelor's and master's degrees followed by a doctorate in theology, overcame a heroin addiction and counseled other prisoners, yet had been denied parole six times. With the help of Ms. Arana, Mr. South was victorious at his recent hearing and will be released from prison shortly

More than 650 members of New York's legal community, corporate leaders, and government officials joined in the tribute to Evan A. Davis, a partner at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, as he received The Legal Aid Society's Servant of Justice Award. Mr. Davis served as counsel to former Governor Mario Cuomo, who presented the award to Mr. Davis during the 31st Annual Servant of Justice Award Dinner at the Waldorf on May 13, 2008. Learn more

Weil, Gotshal, & Manges has made a strong commitment to the Bankruptcy Pro Bono Panel at the City Bar Justice Center. Over the past year, the firm has volunteered to take on several pro bono matters referred by the Panel. Most have involved debtors who are faced with undue hardship as they seek the discharge of student loans. Weil has contributed hundreds of hours of work, and a recent referral from the Bankruptcy Court to the Panel demonstrates the firm's dedication to providing pro bono assistance. Learn more