June 2006 (Downloadable PDF file)

The Legal Project

Pro Bono Corner
Lisa A. Frisch, Executive Director

The Legal Project is mid-way through its 11th year, and we have been fortunate to have successfully met some major challenges this past year, and, not surprisingly, have more to face in the future. Some of our challenges involve changes here in personnel, as was evidenced in the departure of our wonderful Legal Director, Ellen Schell. Change is always hard, and it is especially hard for us to say goodbye to Ellen as she has been someone who played such an integral role in the workings of our organization. She also possesses an unusual array of skills, talents and experience which will be next to impossible to replace in any one human being.

I wanted to let you all know what our plans are, now that Ellen has left for the Great North to do her level best to improve the criminal justice response to abusers in Essex County. We have decided not to immediately fill the Legal Director position, and instead to take advantage (in a good way) of the talented staff that we already have here. Susan Pattenaude, our longest tenured attorney, will be the Supervising Domestic Violence Attorney, and is now the one to call regarding volunteering, training, CLE credits, any client issues or technical assistance questions related to our domestic violence program. Gayle Hartz will be assisting us with any issues or planning regarding our non-domestic violence programs, pulling from her experience in real estate, wills, and bankruptcy. Carla Brogoch will be supervising our law school interns and all three attorneys will be helping to mentor new panel attorneys. Jessica Lennon is now our Practice Manager, and is generally the one to contact for most any issue as she knows more about the workings of the Legal Project than the rest of us put together.

Change is hard, but it can open up doors to new opportunities. That certainly is consistent with the open door logo for The Legal Project, so we're thinking positively and creatively about our plans for the future.

Thanks to all who were able to come to Ellen's going away party and wish her well in her new "life of crime" at the Essex County District Attorney's Office.

Ellen with Legal Project staff (who are trying to look happy) Katie Weinberg, Lisa Frisch, Gayle Hartz, Carla Brogoch, Susan Pattenaude and Jessica Lennon

Amy Schallop, Hon. Helena Health Roland, Ellen Schell, and Robin Christenson.

Save-The-Date

Thanks for taking cases in May!

Domestic Violence Legal Connection
Stacie Brunet
Camille Siano Enders
Scott Harms
Michelle Haskin
Barrett Mack
Judith Mellyn
Margaret Tabak
Anita Thayer
Joanne White

AHAA
James Gross
Elizabeth Ingold
Michael Mullaney
Kenneth Schwartz
Ann Sharpe
Kimberly Verner


Legal Clinics

Philip Schuyler
Coordinator - Robin Ferro
Janet Axelrod
Gayle Hartz
Ron Orlando

Unity House
Coordinator - Abe Bolgatz
Thomas Kenney
Jill Nagy

Mechanicville
Anne Reynolds Copps

South End
Coordinator - Vickie Smith-Moyo
Katherine Levitan
John McBride
Meredith Savitt
Margaret Vella

Equinox
Coordinator - Katie Weinberg
Heena Shaikh
Joann Sternheimer

AHAA Training
Anne Reynolds Copps
Susan Cotner
Michelle Wildgrube

Legally Speaking
Tubosun Osofisan

Dennison Ray Director Award

I was thrilled to be the recipient of the New York State Bar Association's 2006 Dennison Ray Director Award, which was granted in no small part to acknowledge the survival of The Legal Project this past year during our major funding crisis. I am grateful for the award, but I continue to reiterate that I am not the one responsible for "saving" The Legal Project-all of you are. Every single person who provided us with financial support of any amount, or supported us in other important ways, are what got us through this difficult time. Law firms like Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, local businesses like the Swyer Companies and Stewart's Shops, corporations such as AIG and AT&T, and foundations such as the New York State Bar Foundation were (and are) wonderful supports. Senators Bruno and Breslin, and Assemblymembers Canestrini, Tonko, McEneny and Reilly all came through with assistance that made the difference in our keeping our program stable and strong. Senator Clinton really stood by us and helped us get the message out about the importance of our program. The media attention to our situation inspired the generosity of an anonymous $50,000 matching donation, as you all are aware. And it was the help that so many of you provided-both with a donation from the CDWBA and individual donations from members, that helped us keep up the great work that we do here in the Capital District. This is not a one-time challenge for us but an on-going one, with assistance needed from the community to allow us to continue to move forward without undue reliance on federal grants and other "soft" money that come and goes. Thank you for all that you have done for us, and for all of the support, financial and with volunteer hours, that we know we can count on from CDWBA members in the future-support that will ensure the future of The Legal Project.