The LSI Foundation Increases Donation of Translation Services to Help Increase Access to Justice

For Immediate Release

July 17, 2013

Pro Bono Net

CONTACT:

Karin Romans, Pro Bono Net

The LSI Foundation Increases Donation of Translation Services to Help Increase Access to Justice

New York (July 17, 2013) - The LSI Foundation, a nonprofit affiliate of Linguistic Systems, Inc., a leading provider of language translation services located in Cambridge, Mass., announced an increase in their support of Pro Bono Net, a national nonprofit leader dedicated to increasing access to justice through innovative uses of technology and increased volunteer lawyer participation. The additional $75,000 worth of in-kind translation services will help alleviate necessary but costly expenses for Pro Bono Net's partners, including public interest law firms.

For example, LSI recently worked with New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYPLI), a nonprofit civil rights law firm. NYLPI was in the midst of lawsuit on behalf of tenants from New York's lower east side - the largest suit of its kind ever filed in housing court. More than 320 tenants participated, the majority of whom spoke Chinese and Spanish. Attorneys and community organizers needed help communicating with tenants to help them understand their rights.

NYLPI Staff Attorney Stephanie Rudolph said, "Working with LSI provided us with the tools we needed to ensure that all clients - no matter their language of origin - received high quality communications from their lawyers. Thanks in large part to LSI, this massive repair case includes a dynamic and diverse group of empowered tenant leaders."

Tenants are currently receiving mold, lead, and asbestos remediation in their apartments. The New York Times as well as the Daily News covered this high profile case.

Martin Roberts, President of LSI, stated, "When immigrants have a language problem, pro bono attorneys are frustrated in serving their clients unless competent language services are available. With access to LSI's 7,000 translators and interpreters, the LSI Foundation has the necessary language resources and is proud to provide them free of charge to Pro Bono Net and the legal aid community at large."

"We are very pleased that our relationship with the LSI Foundation allowed our partners at NYLPI to access needed services at no cost to the clients they serve," said Adam Licht, Director of Product Management at Pro Bono Net. "For the 25 million limited English proficient individuals in the U.S., there is a significant need for multilingual legal services to overcome language barriers, helping them address serious legal issues including domestic violence, child custody, and workers' rights."

This new commitment increases the value of donated translation services available in 2013 through the LSI Foundation's service grant Pro Bono Net to $175,000. So far, Pro Bono Net's Language Access Initiative has provided free translation services, valued at at least $98,000 to more than 20 legal aid offices and law firm pro bono programs across the country. More than 150 documents were translated into 25 languages, including multilingual client legal education materials and interactive interviews for online document assembly programs that are available through the LawHelp Network of statewide websites maintained by grantees of the federal Legal Services Corporation.

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About Pro Bono Net

Pro Bono Net is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to justice through innovative uses of technology and increased volunteer lawyer participation. Pro Bono Net's innovative web-based platforms - www.probono.net, www.lawhelp.org, and www.lawhelpinteractive.org - are used by public interest law firms, pro bono programs and courts across the country to recruit and support volunteer lawyers and provide direct information and tools for self-representation to low-income communities. Pro Bono Net also developed Pro Bono Manager, pro bono practice management software that helps AmLaw 200 law firms increase pro bono participation, manage pro bono caseloads more efficiently, and raise internal and external awareness of pro bono efforts. For more information, please visit www.probono.net.