January 2008 (Downloadable PDF file)

The Legal Project

Pro Bono Corner
Lisa A. Frisch, Executive Director

Happy New Year!

It’s so hard to believe that it is 2008 already. Sometimes it feels like yesterday when I first came to The Legal Project in the summer of 2003. So much has happened since that time. As mentioned a million times, in 2005 we no longer received federal funding for our domestic violence program and we (and our wonderful community) kicked into high gear and increased our individual fundraising, as well as finding support in many other areas—such as businesses, law firms and corporations. We’re still in this mode—ensuring that our fundraising is strong enough to provide adequate support for our program so we never have to face a time where a loss of a grant can mean a loss of a vital service. So far, so good. At the end of 2005, we had an incredibly generous anonymous donor come forward and provide us with a $50,000 matching grant which all of you helped us more than match in only two months!

Last year, we received another wonderful matching grant of $50,000 from Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, LLP, the Sidney & Beatrice Albert Foundation; the Sherry and Barry Gold Donor Advised Fund of The Community Foundation; and Liza’s Legacy Foundation. As I write this, we have very nearly met our match, and expect to receive the necessary donations as we enter the New Year. I want to express my sincere appreciation for all of you who have helped us in the past and continue to support us.

The need for our services only grows and we continue to depend on the generosity of your time to volunteer to take on a pro bono case—whether it be for a few hours a month at a legal clinic; for a home closing for a first time, low income homebuyer; or for a more complex domestic violence case in Family Court---we can’t do this without you.

Meet The Legal Project Staff!

Kyle Smith is the Legal Project’s administrative assistant, legal clinic coordinator, and resident jack-of-all-geeky-trades. He spends most workdays answering the phones, organizing legal clinics, and helping staff deal with computer issues and other geek-related things here. Nearly fluent in Japanese, he even has helped with translations on a few occasions. He has been working with the Legal Project since May, and greatly appreciates no longer being a member of the retail workforce. Outside of work, Kyle is an avid gamer and a semi-professional jazz bassist (although performance opportunities in the Capital District have been sparse, at best). A relatively recent transplant from Cincinnati, Ohio, Kyle majored in Theology (Eastern & Indigenous Religions) and minored in Gender/Diversity Studies at Xavier University.

Thank you for volunteering in November!

Violence Against Women Campus Grant

The Legal Project is part of a consortium of campuses and community organizations who have recently received funding from the US Department of Justice, Violence Against Women Office for a program designed to respond to violence against women in a campus setting. It was a very competitive grant process and we are proud to report that our proposal was one of only 11 funded nationally—out of 117 applications!

The lead campus is the College of St. Rose, and the two other partner campuses are Albany Law School and Siena College. Equinox Domestic Violence Program has received funds to hire a coordinator for the project and a half time advocate, and the group is working together with other community partners such as the Crime Victims Center in Albany, the DA’s Office and the Albany and Colonie Police Departments.

The Legal Project will be responsible for working with the groups to develop strong policies and protocols for responding to campus violence and sexual abuse; developing and implementing campus-based training programs for students, staff and security staff; and providing free legal consultations to students on civil legal issues, even beyond the abuse issues (housing, employment, etc.)

Lucky Raffle Winner Picks Up Her New Car!

Kim Deso, the very lucky Grand Prize Winner of the 2 year lease from Keeler Motor Car Company, picked up her shiny new Mercedes convertible. Kim is thrilled to be the big winner and we are very happy for her! Congratulations, Kim!

I want to give a very special thank you, again, to Jim Huerter of Symmetry AV for donating the amazing 50 inch Plasma television. This is no ordinary television, but the top of the line model that only the rich and famous have in their living rooms. Now, the Grygiel family have joined the rich and famous and are enjoying that wonderful television in their very own living room! Please consider checking out Symmetry AV if you are in the market for any size television or multi-media system. They are a very generous company and deserve our support. You can take a look at their website at www.symmetryav.com. A BIG thanks also to Stuyvesant Plaza, who not only generously donated a $500 gift certificate to the raffle, but allowed Keeler to place their car at the Plaza for two months leading up to the raffle. The long-term support of Ed Swyer and the wonderful help of Janet Kaplan at Stuyvesant Plaza, makes all the difference to us at The Legal Project and we are enternally grateful.

Check out our website at www.legalproject.org to see the names of the generous underwriters and silent auction donors for the 12th Annual Pro Bono Reception and consider frequenting their businesses if you can—and please tell them that you appreciate their support of The Legal Project!