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Volunteers
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The Private Attorney Involvement (PAI)
Program gives private attorneys the opportunity to volunteer their time
and talent to serve Legal Aid clients. Volunteers sign up for the types
of cases they want, in the own locale. Sign up by filling out the PAI
Registration Form. Our PAI Paralegals (Kristie Cinelli and Tiffani
Thomas in Albany and Linda Larue in Canton) will call you to see if you
can accept a case. If you're too busy or can't serve this particular
client, just let them know. If you can accept the case, they'll send you
particulars about the client's problem and ask the client to contact
you. PAI volunteers are eligible for professional liability insurance
coverage, reimbursement of up to $200 of out of pocket expenses (more with
prior approval), mentoring, and other free supports. Our PAI Volunteers
receive recognition for their good deeds -- see our newsletter, Legal
Aid Matters.
If you are interested in
participating please contact:
Kristie
Cinelli,
PAI Paralegal in Albany (serving Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Essex,
Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga,
Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington Counties) at (800)
462-2922 ext. 322 or kcinelli@lasnny.org
.
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Other Volunteers
From time to time Legal Aid can work with non-attorney volunteers as clerical assistants and paralegals. |
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If you are interested please contact:
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Wendy Wahlberg,
Deputy Director in Albany at (800) 462-2922 ext. 313
or
Peter Racette, Deputy
Director in Plattsburg at 563-4022 ext. 18
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NYSBA Empire State Counsel Program
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Hello Everyone,
Many of you are familiar with the New York State Bar Association's Empire State Counsel® Program which was launched in 2006 by then-President Mark Alcott as a means to recognize and honor Association members who volunteered 50 hours or more of direct legal services to people who could not afford to hire an attorney.
During its inaugural year more than 460 attorneys received the honorific title of "Empire State Counsel®". In 2007, under the leadership of Immediate Past President Kathryn Grant Madigan, the definition of pro bono was expanded to include lawyers who provide 50 hours or more of free legal services to not-for-profit, governmental or public services organizations whose services are designed primarily to address the legal and other basic needs of persons of limited financial means. Using the more expansive definition of Pro Bono, in 2007 the ranks of Empire State Counsel ® grew to over 600 individual practitioners, approximately 9 law firms with 10 or more lawyers who donated more than 50 hours of free legal services, and included attorneys who donated legal services in other states, Canada, India and Africa.
Our goal for 2008 is to be able to bestow this honor on no less than 1000 NYSBA members and to have the number of law firms represented exceed 20. Please encourage the attorneys at your firms who are NYSBA members and meet the pro bono service criteria to complete and submit the attached 2008 Empire State Counsel® Verification form. Additional copies of the form can be obtained from our website at www.nysba.org/empirestatecounsel.
If your firm has 10 lawyers or more who meet the criteria for this honorific title, please compile a list of the attorneys, noting their respective hours of pro bono service performed during 2008 and submit the collective list to the Department of Pro Bono Affairs, together with a Verification form executed by the Pro Bono Coordinator, attesting to the validity of the list. Verification forms will be accepted until December 31, 2008. The 2008 honorees will be recognized on January 29, 2009, at the Eighth Annual Justice for All luncheon at the New York Marriott Marquis located at 1535 Broadway, New York City.
If you have any questions, regarding the program please contact me at garthur@nysba.org or by telephone at 518.487.5641. Questions relating to how to become a member of the Association may be directed to www.nysba.org/membership.
Debra S. Harrington
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION |
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