NYC Pro Bono Center

Welcome to the Summer edition of the NYC Pro Bono Center newsletter! Read on to learn about outstanding pro bono initiatives, available cases, new library resources, upcoming trainings, and the latest pro bono news.

You will need to log in using the password that you created or was assigned to you when you joined in order to access some of the material on the site. Can't remember your password? Click here to have it emailed to you.

June's Outstanding Volunteers

Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy, LLP recently launched a Fellowship program for one of their attorneys to work full time at the City Bar Justice Center for six month periods. The first Fragomen Fellow, Myriam Jaidi, began her rotation February 28, 2007. Learn more

Davis Polk & Wardwell, in partnership with The Legal Aid Society, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, and Disability Advocates Inc, provided approximately 30,000 hours of volunteer attorney time and 10,000 hours of paralegal time to the successful litigation of Disability Advocates, Inc. v. New York State Office of Mental Health and Department of Correctional Services. 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

Eastern District Case to Prevent the Loss of Subsidized Mitchell Lama Housing for 454 Families

Legal Aid is seeking pro bono co-counsel to work with an experienced Legal Aid attorney in its Law Reform Unit to seek an order enjoining HUD to reject a mortgage pre-payment in compliance with new feder law. The volunteer attorney will participate in all aspects of the litigation including factual and legal analysis, drafting pleadings and memorandum, and conducting documentary discovery. Learn more

Prisoner Assaulted by Assistant Deputy Warden Requires Pro Bono Representation

Legal Aid has reviewed a prisoner's medical records which confirm that a 36 year-old prisoner, Mr. P., had a comminuted minimally displaced fracture of the mid portion of the nasal bone with rightward deviation, a broken tooth and a bruise under his left eye. When he was interviewed by a Legal Aid attorney, the inmate reported that he had a verbal altercation with a captain, who had been summoned to his housing area in to deal with another inmate. Learn more

Apparel Designer Seeking Assistance with Intellectual Property Issues

Queens-based apparel designer is starting a new hip hop clothing line and company with original tee shirt designs. The business' mission/goal is to promote positive cultural messages and images through its graphic apparel. The business plans on creating standard silkscreen t-shirts with original designs to sell wholesale to retailers and distributors. He is seeking assistance with intellectual property issues, as well as related contracts and general business structure issues. Learn more

Click here to see the full listing of available cases.

New Resources Available in the Library

Courtroom Advocates Project (CAP) Training

This training will enable you to help fill the gap in advocacy, education and services for domestice violence victims in New York City's Family Courts. Advocates assist domestic violence victims by helping them draft and file their petitions for Orders of Protection, advocating for them during court appearances, educating them about their legal rights and remedies, and providing them with safety planning and referrals to community resources, such as shelters and counseling. Click here to watch the webcast and download training materials.

The Role of an Attorney on Nonprofit Board

Learn about service on a nonprofit board in this program co-sponsored by the New York City Bar, Pfizer Inc and Time Warner, Inc. The video and materials cover the unique role and responsibilities of attorneys as nonprofit board members. Click here to watch the webcast and download materials.

Click here to see more training materials.

Upcoming Trainings

June 29 & July 13: Bankruptcy Petition Training

This NYC Bankruptcy Project training teaches attendees to screen and assess debtors for bankruptcy, as well as how to prepare the bankruptcy petitions. Prior bankruptcy experience is not necessary. Attendees will be oriented to bankruptcy practice from the debtor's perspective, with a focus on assessing new bankruptcy cases and preparing them for filing. Learn more

July 13: Special Education

This New York Legal Assistance Group training will cover special education topics, including dequacy of child's Individual Education Plan (IEP), appropriateness of child's school placement, and need for after school tutoring or other services. Learn more

July 19: Family-Based Immigration

This New York Legal Assistance Group will cover the basic issues of family-based immigration, including sponsorship and humanitarian parole. Learn more

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

Pro Bono News

Pro Bono Barrister: BBA Volunteer Law Program Reaches Out For 'Help!'

For the past 17 years, the Volunteer Lawyers Project has been the pride and joy of the Brooklyn Bar Association. Through it, millions of dollars in legal time and expertise have gone to the benefit of thousands of those in need of competent legal advice and service. Now, it seems, the demand for what the VLP does for its "clients" is outstripping what can be done. Putting her case directly, VLP Executive Director Jeannie Costello wrote as follows in the recent Brooklyn Barrister: "This is a plea for help!" Learn More

Bank of America Forms NYC Pro Bono Program

The Bank of America legal department in New York City expanded the company-wide pro bono effort, forming a local, New York pro bono initiative to help meet the legal needs of the city's under-served. The company kicked off the program on June 20, with employees meeting with members of local non-profits, such as the Sanctuary for Families, Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project, Volunteers of Legal Service, New York Family Court and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. Employees in Bank of America's legal department will also partner with New York law firms Greenberg Traurig and Shearman & Sterling in completing pro bono work, said associate general counsel, Abby Meiselman. Learn More

Click here to read more pro bono news.