Legal education organization to conduct free briefing on how the legal community can provide assistance to Haitians

NEW YORK, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On January 27th, 2010, at 1 P.M. ET, the Practising Law Institute (PLI), the nation's largest producer of continuing legal education, will present a free One-Hour Audio Briefing entitled "Crisis in Haiti: Addressing the Legal Issues."

In the wake of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12th, nearly one million residents have found themselves displaced and in need of assistance. In order that the Haitian diaspora currently living in the United States will be allowed to work and send vitally needed money home, the Obama administration has designated Haiti as a country whose nationals may be eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This is similar to actions taken in the past in cases of extreme turmoil, as with survivors of Latin American earthquakes and those fleeing extreme political upheaval in Africa, and federal immigration officials are expecting up to 200,000 undocumented Haitian immigrants to apply.

The audio briefing, delivered live via the PLI website, will feature Julie E. Dinnerstein, Co-Director of the Immigration Intervention Project, Sanctuary for Families, and Miriam A. Buhl, Pro Bono Counsel at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, discussing the ways in which attorneys and related professionals can offer their help in registering TPS applications and through disaster-related pro bono legal/non-legal assistance designed to minimize the risk of catastrophic loss of life and infrastructure.

Among the topics covered will be an explanation of Temporary Protected Status and the application process, the legal needs that are likely to emerge from the current situation in Haiti, and how lawyers can help victims of natural disasters.

The One-Hour Audio Briefing comes as part of the pro bono efforts critical to the non-profit organization's mission, which resulted in more than 9,000 scholarships awarded to attendees of PLI programs in 2009, as well as thousands of hours of free Continuing Legal Education and training for public interest and legal aid organizations across the country.

About Practising Law Institute:

Practising Law Institute (PLI) is a non-profit continuing legal education organization chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, founded in 1933. PLI is dedicated to providing the legal community and allied professionals with the most up-to-date, relevant information and techniques critical to the development of a professional, competitive edge. We achieve these goals through the highest quality seminars held annually in locations across the United States, regularly supplemented Treatises, audio CDs and DVDs, MP3s, live Webcasts, Course Handbooks, CLE Now web programs and Private Label Solutions, all with the guidance of practice specific Advisory Committees. PLI is headquartered in New York City and also maintains offices in California.

SOURCE Practising Law Institute