A recent article, "Economy Prompts N.Y. Courts' New Program for Volunteer Attorneys" by
Joel Stashenko in the New York Law Journal highlights how one state is dealing with the current economy and need for legal services. Read below for highlights about the program.
Joel Stashenko in the New York Law Journal highlights how one state is dealing with the current economy and need for legal services. Read below for highlights about the program.
Administrators of New York courts rolled out a new program Thursday to enlist attorneys, many of whom may be laid off or on reduced work schedules due to the sour economy, to provide legal advice and expertise to pro se litigants.The initiative will differ from traditional pro bono work in that lawyers will not represent poor clients in court nor provide assistance throughout their cases. Rather, lawyers in the new Volunteer Attorney Program will make themselves available to multiple pro se litigants to help them prepare petitions and other court paperwork, advise them about what might happen in court and interpret orders from courts, Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau said. The program at first will focus on providing legal services in courts in New York City and in Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau counties.Pfau said the need for attorneys to help pro se litigants is particularly acute in cases that reflect the bad economy, such as foreclosures, tenant-landlord disputes, personal debt, child support and other matters in Family Court and small estate settlements in Surrogate's Court.Both employed and unemployed lawyers can participate, Pfau said."People still want to be lawyers," she said in an interview. "We are very happy to think that we could both marry the need for more lawyers and the opportunity for lawyers to provide this very direct service when families are in crisis. That's why they are in court, because ... to continue reading the full text of the article, click HERE.
