May 2008 (Downloadable PDF file)

The Legal Project

Pro Bono Corner
Lisa A. Frisch, Executive Director

Update on New York State Funding for Civil Legal Services Programs

Here’s where things stand for civil legal services in New York State. Thanks to all the efforts from members of CDWBA, WBASNY, as well as NYSBA and so many others across the state and due the strong support of Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair, Helene Weinstein, core funding for civil legal services was restored in the final budget to close to where it was in 2007 budget. These restorations include $4.2 million through the Department of State; approximately $2 million through the Legal Services Assistance Fund and approximately $1.2 million in targeted funds for domestic violence services through the Division of Criminal Justice Services. Total restoration amounted to just over 50% of the previous year’s funding level, which had included an unprecedented $8 million in the Executive Budget for civil legal services statewide.

At this writing we are still trying to work with Governor Paterson to urge him to consider adding the Executive Budget funds back in during his decision-making on some discretionary funds, and will be working with his staff to try to ensure that the 2009 budget includes these funds. As all of our programs continue to see rising need for civil legal services in our communities as the economy continues to decline, we can ill afford any cuts to our services. Thanks again for your help with this and we will keep you informed as to what can be done as we move ahead to help support this critical funding by New York State.

Zelda M. Uthe Law Award Presented by the Zonta Club
to Albany Law School Intern

We are thrilled to announce that on April 9th , the Zonta Club of Albany presented the 1998 Zelda M. Uthe Law Award to our terrific intern from Albany Law School, Lauren Hunt. This award

provides a $5000 stipend to Lauren so she can continue her year-long internship at The Legal Project throughout the summer. In 2007, the Award was presented to our intern, Katie Breitenbach, who will be working at the Court of Appeals upon graduation this year. Zelda Uthe was an Albany Law School graduate in 1950, when she was one of only two women graduates in the class. A long-time Zonta member, she was dedicated to the education of young women and committed to Zonta’s mission to improve the global status of women. Ms. Uthe provided a monetary gift to Zonta upon her death which allowed them to establish the Zelda M. Uthe Law Award.

Lauren is a worthy recipient of this award, participating in the Albany Law Review, the Student Bar Association, the Domenick L. Gabrielli Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Competition and she is a Lexis/Nexis Representative. Last summer, Lauren studied International Environmental Law and Comparative Family Law at the Nairobi International Summer Insistute in Nairobi, Kenya.

Lauren has been an intern with us at The Legal Project, supervised by staff attorney Carla Brogoch, since September 2007 and we are thrilled that her award from Zonta will allow her to continue with us over the summer. Thank you, Zonta, for this important support of women in the law and of The Legal Project!

Justice Victoria Graffeo, NYS Court of Appeals;
Lauren Hunt, 2008 Awardee;
Katie Breitenbach, 2007 Awardee

Thank you to our Wonderful SEFA Donors!

Thank you for volunteering in February!