February 2009 (Downloadable PDF)

The Legal Project

Pro Bono Corner
Lisa A. Frisch, Executive Director

The Funding Crisis of 2009

I am pleased to report that thanks to you and the many supporters of civil legal services across the state, New York has taken its first step toward ameliorating the funding crisis reported on in the last newsletter. In his 30 day amendments, Governor Paterson included a $1 million restoration of funding for civil legal services, one of only 2 funding restorations made. While we still have a long way to go to get to our goal of $11.4 million dollars (which is 75% of the 2007 funding level for CLS) the legal services community takes this move as a sign of the Governor’s commitment to justice issues and we are hopeful that as the Governor and Legislature begin to negotiate the budget, he will join with both the Senate and the Assembly to get us to our goal.

As reported in the CDWBA Weekly Highlights, the original proposed budget eliminated all state funds for civil legal services programs. It will be critical for us to continue to work together to restore ALL of the funding, particularly at this time when our clients need us even more, it is alarming to imagine how we will provide those critical services across the state—with no support from the state. This is support that our programs have relied on for many years as the core of our funding, to provide housing, employment, domestic violence, immigration, social security representation and face the mountain of foreclosures and bankruptcies—so this is virtually impossible for us to replace or plan our programs without.

Please take a moment to reach out to the Governor and thank him for his commitment and to reiterate how essential it will be for him to partner with the legislature to restore civil legal services funding to $11.4 million in the final budget. We will be providing sample letters that can be sent to the Governor and the Legislature through the Weekly Highlights or by directly contacting me at lfrisch@legalproject.org. Thanks in advance for your help—hearing from you about your concerns regarding these funding cuts have already made a difference but more needs to be done to avoid a real crisis for our programs and our clients.

New Programs and New Funding

At the same time that our base program is at some significant risk of funding cuts, we do have some exciting news to report. We met the first phase of a matching grant challenge through a wonderful anonymous donor, who, through the Millenium Fund of the Community Foundation of the Greater Capital Region, is providing $25,000 annually over a three year period. This grant will help us fund a Spanish Speaking Legal Services Coordinator which will not only assist us in doing more effective outreach for all of our programs in the Hispanic community in the Capital Region, but will also allow us to continue some of the important work in reaching out to the immigrant community, particularly in the area of domestic violence.

Our first phase of the match was met this year by two generous grant sources: The New York State Bar Foundation, which provided us with $7,500 and the Community Foundation’s Barry Alan Gold Memorial Fund awarded us $17,500. We were thrilled with these wonderful grants, provided at a time where private foundation funds are also being challenged by this economy. Our matching challenge is asking for an additional $25,000 to go toward this program in 2009, but we are able to begin this important program now with the funds that have been made available.

If you are able to help with this challenge, please indicate “Matching Grant” on any donations that you make so the funds will be allocated toward this program. This match will continue for 2010-2011, allowing us to continue and expand this outreach and services program for the Hispanic community, as their numbers and needs continue to grow in the Capital District area.

Thanks to all of our contributors to this great project!

The Legal Project is Moving!

As of February 1st, we are moving to the rear of Stuyvesant Plaza, into a beautiful new space that will accommodate our new programs and staff. We will be located next to the Security Office, two doors down from Tynan’s Dance Studio, directly across from the parking area we have been using in Executive Park—you should continue to use that same parking lot when you come to our office. Our phone, email and fax numbers remain the same. We are planning an Open House on the evening of Monday, March 30th, so save the date!

Thank you for the Donations!

Thank you to the Law Firm of Hiscock & Barclay for the extremely generous donation of $5000 and to the Albany County Bar Association for their grant of $2500.

Thank you to the former firm of Gordon Siegel for the wonderful donation of a state of the art copier to our offices. This will be greatly appreciated as we move into our new offices! A special thanks to Barbara King and Chris Galvin for making that happen. Speaking of the new office space, the law firm of McKenna Long & Aldrich LLP donated incredibly beautiful furniture to us, which fits perfectly in the new offices and we are just thrilled!

Domestic Violence and Military Families

Last issue, we announced our exciting new program to provide free civil legal assistance to military families affected by domestic violence as well as technical assistance to civil attorneys, victims and advocates in this issue. We are thrilled to announce the return of Ellen C. Schell, Esq. to the role of Legal Director and Director of this program, as of February, 2009.

As most of you know, Ellen was our terrific Legal Director from 2001-2006, leaving to take a position with the Essex County District Attorney’s Office and to be able to live full time at home in Port Kent.

Ellen is ready to return to take on this new and challenging program, and to provide her leadership as The Legal Project grows and enters new waters in the civil legal services world. We received many excellent resumes for this position and so appreciate the interest that so many expressed in coming to The Legal Project, but we believe that Ellen is the right person for this job right now, and we could not be more pleased. Watch for more updates on this program in the months to come.

Seeking Pro Bono Attorneys for Help With the Foreclosure Crisis

Under a grant through NYS Division of Housing and Urban Renewal, in collaboration with Legal Aid of Northeastern NY and the Empire Justice Center, The Legal Project will be organizing a panel of pro bono attorneys to represent clients in mandatory settlement conferences in cases in which there is a foreclosure action on a sub-prime loan. Training and mentoring will be available. Here is a great chance to help in dealing with a crisis of enormous proportions and really make a difference. Please contact Gina Marie at 518-435-1770 or gcannistraro@legalproject.org if you are interested in helping.

Thank you for volunteering in November and December!