NYC Pro Bono Center

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

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January's Outstanding Volunteer

In 2006, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe's Pro Bono Coordinator, Rene Kathawala, contacted the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) at the City Bar Justice Center. Mr. Kathawala was interested in a legal project that would encourage the firm's transactional attorneys to do more pro bono work. 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

Mother in Overcrowded Apartment Wrongfully Denied Public Housing

Client and her children live in an extremely overcrowded apartment which detrimentally affects the children. She applied for public housing but was denied because her children's father has a criminal history. However, he lives in South Carolina and will not be residing with the family. She has timely requested a hearing, but New York Housing Authority has failed to schedule one. Pro bono counsel is sought to seek, and provide representation at, a March hearing. Learn more

Foster Agency's Failure to File Timely Financial Paperwork Results in Child Losing College Aid.

A foster youth was forced to leave college because the responsible foster care agency failed to assist him with the necessary financial aid paperwork. The college informed him that he could apply for retroactive financial aid, but missed the deadline because the foster care agency was unable to produce his immunization records. Pro bono co-counsel is sought to file a plenary action to compel the foster care agency to pay his back tuition which will enable him to enter college. Learn more

Abused Mother and Child in Need of VAWA Assistance

TG is a citizen of Ecuador. TG's most recent entry into the US was in 2004 with a B2 Visa. TG married her US Citizen spouse in June 2004 after seeing each other for a couple of years and having a US Citizen daughter together. After about two years of marriage, TG's husband became physically, as well as emotionally and verbally abusive. He hit TG on several occasions, the most recent attack resulting in police involvement. TG is in need of an attorney who is bilingual (Spanish) or has access to an interpreter to assist her in the filing of a VAWA self-petition and other immigration documents. Learn more

Click here to see the full listing of available cases.

New Resources Available in the Library

Adoption & Guardianship Training

Approximately 300,000 children in New York City are cared for by relatives, primarily grandparents. Learn how you can help these families through private placement adoption and guardianship proceedings in Family Court. Click here to watch the webcast and download training materials.

Children's Rights Appeals

Learn how to be an appellate lawyer for children who have been abused or neglected, have been freed for adoption, or have been adjudicated a juvenile delinquent. These materials review the underlying Family Court proceedings, types of issues commonly appealed, and procedures governing appeals from the Family Court. Click here to download.

Click here to see more training materials.

Upcoming Trainings and Pro Bono Events

Jan 17: How to Draft a Will for Low-Income Elderly

This Legal Aid Society training will teach you how to draft a will for seniors with small estates. Attendance at this session will enable you to interview the client, assess the information collected, and prepare the appropriate documents. Learn more

Jan 25: Negotiating a Commercial Lease

This Legal Aid Society training will teach you how to negotiate and draft commercial leases. This seminar will focus on basic terms and conditions of a model commercial lease. Learn more

Jan 26: Become a Guardian Ad Litem in Housing Court

The Housing Court Guardian Ad Litem Program recruits, trains, and provides Housing Court judges with a pool of advocates whose goal is to safeguard the rights and prevent the eviction of some of New York City's most vulnerable people. A Judge will often appoint a GAL when there is concern that a tenant is unable to advocate for him or herself mostly due to mental illness or age. Learn more

Feb 1: Representing Clients with AIDS

This Legal Aid Society Training will provide you with comprehensive training on substantive law and procedure as well as ethical considerations in various legal areas helpful in assisting individuals living with HIV/AIDS including: confidentiality, contact tracing and partner notification, government and public benefits, family law and future care and custody planning tools (estate law, guardianship, standby guardianship, Families In Transition Act), and health care directives (living wills and health care proxies). Learn More

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

Pro Bono News

Don't Miss Pro Bono Opportunities Day on February 8, 2007

Representatives from a large and diverse group of legal service providers will be on hand at the New York City Bar Association to provide information about opportunities for all lawyers to perform pro bono and other public service work. This will include information regarding transactional, as well as litigation-related pro bono opportunities. The program will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a free 90-minute CLE panel presentation on ethical issues that arise in pro bono work. Learn more

New Edition of NYC Pro Bono Opportunities Guide Now Available

"Pro Bono Opportunities: A Guide for Lawyers in New York City" is produced by the City Bar Justice Center, Volunteers of Legal Service, and Pro Bono Net. It is the definitive reference tool for New York City attorneys seeking pro bono opportunities. Learn More

Click here to read more pro bono news.