The Posse List New York — Pro Bono Opportunities

New York Posse List Members: 

• * Interested in helping underserved New Yorkers who cannot afford legal representation?
• * Want to maintain and improve your skills and acquire new skills?
• * Need Free CLE credit?

There are many reasons for contract attorneys to do pro bono and there are many pro bono opportunities in New York. Clearly there is a serious need for pro bono legal services in New York. In a recent report, the Office of NY’s Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives stated that the supply of publicly funded legal aid and pro bono services is “entirely inadequate” to meet the need. In addition to the obvious need, pro bono work is also a great opportunity for contract attorneys to maintain and improve their skills & acquire new skills, work directly with clients, network and get free CLE credit.  (CLE credit is available for pro bono work in NY State).

This email highlights pro bono resources, as well as opportunities that may be well-suited for contract attorneys who have time off between projects or otherwise (some pro bono work may not be appropriate because of time-commitment, requirements of particular pro bono legal service providers).

Note that patience is required for finding the right pro bono opportunity.  The need is great but some legal services organizations that put together pro bono work are understaffed in their pro bono programs and swamped with volunteers because of the state of the economy.  Persistent matters and the right opportunity will happen!  

(1)  PROBONO.NET‘S NYC PRO BONO CENTER

http://www.probono.net/ny/nyc/

The NYC Pro Bono Center is an excellent resource.  Attorneys can learn about pro bono opportunities by practice area as well as different legal service providers, review the calendar of pro bono trainings and lectures (many involve free CLE credit), sign up for webinar series and more.  

Check their calendar for daily trainings, lectures and other pro bono opportunities. 

(2) VOLUNTEER LAWYER FOR THE DAY PROJECT IN HOUSING COURT

http://www.courts.state.ny.us/courts/nyc/housing/vlfd_hsg_prospectiveattys.shtml

Over 90% of housing court litigants go without representation.  The Civil Court of the City of New York and the New York City Bar Association operate the Volunteer Lawyer for the Day (VLFD) Project, which is designed to assist self-represented tenants and landlords appearing in nonpayment cases in housing court. This is a great opportunity for contract attorneys to help New Yorkers — especially for those attorneys who would like courtroom experience and to keep their skills sharp. The representation begins and ends the same day. There are no client calls, filing deadlines, motion practice or responsibilities beyond the allotted day, which is scheduled in advance at your convenience.

You can earn free CLE credits for your service.

(3) NEW YORK COURTS NEW PROGRAM FOR VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS

 http://www.courts.state.ny.us/attorneys/volunteer.shtml

 “Economy Prompts NY Courts New Program for Volunteer Attorneys”  

This is a brief advice program that was created for the New York courts to enlist attorneys, many of whom have been laid off or on reduced work schedules because of the economy.  Notably, there is no minimum time commitment. Lawyers can volunteer “just a few hours a week or as frequently as every day on a schedule convenient for the attorney,” according to the program application. According to the website, under the supervision of court staff, volunteer attorneys spend full days or parts of days in a courthouse, and are available to provide legal advice and assistance to self-represented litigants in:

– answering questions and inquiries

– completing petitions and other court forms

– preparing for court hearings

–  interpreting court orders

Many of the cases are a result of the bad economy, such as foreclosures, tenant-landlord disputes, personal debt, child support and other matters in Family Court and small estate settlements in Surrogate’s Court. Applications and other information about the program are available on the link above. Free training will be available, and attorneys will earn CLE credit for volunteering under the program.

(4) CONSUMER DEBT CLINIC SPONSORED BY BROOKLYN BAR ASSOCIATION (CLARO – CIVIL LEGAL ADVICE AND RESOURCE OFFICE)  http://www.brooklynbar.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=38

This is an innovative advice project for pro se debtors sued by creditors in Kings County Civil Court. The Brooklyn Bar did a webinar about the program, which can be viewed here: http://www.probono.net/ny/nyc/webinar/.  Assistance is offered by pro bono attorneys to pro se debtors every Thursday from 2:30-4:30 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Kings County Civil Court in downtown Brooklyn, so a lawyer’s commitment is limited in time. The webinar also discusses other pro bono projects run by the Brooklyn Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project.