NYC Pro Bono Center

THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY HOSTS NEW YORK CITY'S LARGEST EXTERN ASSOCIATE CLASS

As a result of the economic downturn, major law firms have expanded traditional externship programs to enable a large number of first year and current associates to volunteer for up to one year with public interest programs. In response, The Legal Aid Society itself has expanded its regular externship program to accommodate 37 externs in the Civil, Criminal, and Juvenile Rights Practice . . .Read more.

CHIEF JUDGE JONATHAN LIPPMAN TO PRESIDE OVER THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY'S 2009 PRO BONO AWARDS

On October 26th, the Legal Aid Society's 2009 Pro Bono Awards Ceremony will honor the leading pro bono volunteers, law firms, corporations, as well as individual community representatives for their outstanding pro bono services provided to The Legal Aid Society and the Society's clients during the past year. . . Read more.

LAW FIRMS WORK TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Low-income families and individuals are being forced out of their apartments and into the homeless shelter system and other inadequate housing situations because of unlivable conditions in their apartments. To address this problem systemically, The Legal Aid Society has created the "Adopt a Building" pro bono project in which law firms represent most if not all of the tenants in a building who are being endangered by the landlord's failure to maintain their building. . .Read more.

THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY PRESENTS ITS TWELFTH ANNUAL CLE PRO BONO TRAINING SERIES

The Legal Aid Society is proud to present its 12th annual CLE Pro Bono Training Series, commencing in November of 2009 and running through April of 2010. The training sessions will be conducted at participating New York City law firms. . .Read more.

LAW FIRMS WORK TO REDUCE DRACONIAN ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAW SENTENCING PRISON TERMS

Pro Bono partnership established with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP; Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP; Debeveise & Plimpton LLP; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; Kaye Scholer LLP; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP; and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

The New York State Legislature's recent amendment to the Rockefeller drug laws became effective on October 7th and inmates initially sentenced to mandatory indeterminate Class B felon prison terms now have the opportunity to apply for re-sentencing to a greatly reduced term. . .Read more.

SECOND ACTS® ATTORNEY HELPS SENIOR CITIZEN REGAIN DEED TO HOME AND LIFE SAVINGS

Roger Hawke, a retired partner formerly with Sidley Austin LLP, is a Second Acts® attorney with The Legal Aid Society's Brooklyn Office for the Aging ("BOFTA"). Second Acts® is a pilot project, funded by the Pro Bono Institute, to establish innovative and replicable public interest law opportunities for transitioning and retired attorneys. Since January of 2009, he has worked two days a week BOFTA, providing outstanding legal assistance to a low-income elderly Brooklyn residents and expanding the office's scope of services. . .Read more.