The
Legal Project
Pro
Bono Corner
Lisa A. Frisch, Executive Director
As
I write this, I am getting ready to travel to New York City to attend
the New York State Bar Statewide Meeting of the Pro Bono Coordinator's
Network. Being part of this network has been invaluable, providing an
opportunity to connect with other pro bono leaders and legal services
providers from across the state. Hearing about the variety of programs
and community needs is very informative, and this network allows us
to provide much needed support and information for each other, avoiding
the proverbial "reinvention of the wheel". Not surprisingly,
many of the identified needs cross geographic boundaries- legal help
for domestic violence victims, affordable housing, bankruptcy, tenant's
rights, etc. The challenges we face cross those boundaries as well,
particularly the need for an increasing number of attorneys willing
to volunteer to do pro bono, and, of course, the need for more funding.
We all struggle with getting the most support possible from attorneys
and law firms, as well as broader community support. We also are working
together to try to identify ways to increase governmental support for
the work that we do. However, it is clear that if we do not have a range
of supports for our programs we cannot survive on grants and government
funds alone and we must find more ways to work together to encourage
funding across the board so our programs are not competing for dollars,
but encouraging support for legal services for the poor for all programs,
whether in our local community or across the state. We know that as
a society, and in the legal profession, there must be a commitment to
do all that is possible to ensure that these services can and will be
provided to battered women, the homeless, those with HIV/AIDS and others
who so desperately need our help. Thanks to all of you who have helped
us at The Legal Project as well as those who have provided support to
other legal services programs, such as Legal Aid, so we can continue
to work together to serve this community. We need your help in so many
ways, now and in the future-we can't do this without you!
Thanks for taking
cases in January!
AHAA
Ann Sharpe
Domestic Violence
Legal Connection
Jennifer Barnes
Eric Gee
Barrett Mack
Demostene Romanucci
Camille Siano-Enders
Paul Van Ryn
Legal Clinic
Volunteers
YWCA
Arthur Casey
Philip Schuyler
Coordinator - Katie Weinberg
Janet Axelrod
Gayle Hartz
Barbara King
Ron Orlando
Unity House
Jill Nagy
South End
Coordinator - Carla Brogoch
Katherine Levitan
John McBride
Meredith Savitt
Margaret Vella
Equinox
Coordinator - Stephanie Hollner
David Levy
Heena Shaikh
Joann Sternheimer
Small Business Clinic
Our next Small Business Clinic will be held at The Legal Project office
on Thursday March 23rd from 5:30-7:30pm. Appointments are no-charge,
30 minute, one-on-one consultations with an attorney on a wide range
of legal issues including Starting a Business, Contracts, Copyrights,
Licenses, Trademarks, Insurance, and Liability. Interested persons
can call 435-1770 to schedule an appointment. If you are an attorney
who would like to volunteer for this program, please call Katie Weinberg
at our office.
We Need You
for Legal Clinics!
Please consider volunteering once a month (or bi-monthly) to provide
pro bono consultations at our community Legal Clinics. Only a couple
of hours a month of your time in the evening to share your expertise
will greatly help clients with their legal questions. No representation
is involved. Please call us for more information-435-1770 and ask
for Ellen Schell. Thank you!
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