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PRO BONO

Pro Bono Opportunities for Attorneys

Volunteering pro bono at the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc, is a great way to make a difference in the lives of low-income people, seniors, victims of violence, and others who can’t afford legal help when they need it most.

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 Volunteer lawyers serve low-income clients from throughout our 13 county service area and help us to continue to meet our clients’ needs when funding for civil legal services is limited.

 

How Do Our Pro Bono Lawyers Serve the Public Good?

In 2019, volunteer private attorneys with our Private Attorney Involvement program completed 586 cases and accepted 674 new cases,

 

What Kinds of Pro Bono Opportunities are Available?

We are confident that we can match your area of interest with one of our many exciting pro bono opportunities. Here is a sampling:

  • Legal Helpline Telephone Counsel and Advice: Provide telephone counsel and advice on almost any civil legal matter of your choosing from the convenience of your home or office.

  • Attorney of the Day Programs: Provide counsel and advice in person at a pro bono clinic; Child Support, Consumer, Bankruptcy, Divorce, Elder Law, Housing, or Veterans clinics.

  • Pro Se Divorce Clinics: Instruct a pro se divorce clinic, assisting clients in filling out the uncontested divorce packet.

  • Simple Estate Planning: Draft simple wills, health care proxies, powers of attorney for clients who are ill or disabled.

  • Direct Representation: Represent clients in a variety of legal matters, including child support, bankruptcy, divorce, housing, public benefits, and more.

  • Mentoring Program: Serve as mentor or co-counsel on LASMNY cases.


NEW PROJECT ALERT

Binghamton City Court Eviction Project: Provide advice and/or representation to tenants in danger of eviction for nonpayment of rent at Binghamton City Court. Contact Arlene Sanders at (607) 231-5950 or asanders@wnylc.com

 

What Are The Benefits of Volunteering?

You will experience the personal reward of helping an individual in need. In addition, you will receive:

  • Malpractice Coverage through Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc.

  • Continuing Legal Education Credit

  • Pro Bono recognition at the local and state levels

  • Forms and Research

  • Training

  • Ongoing support from dedicated pro bono staff

  • Attorney Emeritus: Senior volunteers may also qualify for "Attorney Emeritus" status through the New York State Bar Association (see www.nycourts.gov/attorneys/volunteer/emeritus/)

Take Advantage of our Reverse Referral Program!

If you would like to assist one of your low-income clients pro bono through Legal Aid, we can do a phone intake and immediately tell you if they qualify. You will receive the same benefits as with a traditional referral.

 

How Do I Sign Up?

If you would like to provide pro bono work, please contact one of our dedicated staff members below. We will follow-up with you promptly to discuss opportunities that match your interest.

 

Arlene Sanders, Pro Bono Managing Attorney at (607) 231-5950 or Arlene.Sanders@LASMNY.org

 

We are here to support you and to ensure that your pro bono experience is positive and rewarding.

Privacy Policy

At the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc., we value your privacy and make every effort to respect your wishes and personal information. To further this commitment, we have established the following policy

for the use of our Text/SMS message service. Please read it carefully to understand how we collect, use, and manage your phone numbers.

COLLECTION OF PHONE NUMBERS

We collect your phone numbers only when you voluntarily provide them to us, for example, when you apply to be a client or submit an application for employment. You can opt in to receive Text/SMS messages

either by telling an intake worker that you consent to receiving them and consenting in writing during the intake or job application process.  We will not send you mass marketing solicitations.  We will only initiate

SMS messages regarding the application process or to remind you of court dates or about services your requested. Consenting to receiving Text/SMS messages is not required to receive services or to apply for

employment at the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc.

Mobile Subscriber Information

Your mobile information will NEVER be shared with other parties under any circumstances. We will not share your phone number with third parties, affiliates, or for marketing or promotional purposes.

We will only share your phone number with our Text/SMS provider, subject to their privacy policy. We use a telephone service provider to send Text/SMS communications to users who have opted in.

Text/SMS messaging charges may be applied by your carrier.

TEXT MESSAGES / OPTING IN OR OUT OF TEXT / SMS MESSAGES

You can choose to exchange text messages (OPT-IN) or stop exchanging text messages (OPT-OUT) with us at any time by providing us with notice as described herein:

To start receiving Text/SMS messages from us (OPT-IN), you must identify and consent to this preference in writing during the intake process with your caseworker or advocate.

To stop receiving Text/SMS messages from us (OPT-OUT), you must notify us through any one of the means below:

  • Texting STOP to our phone number which sent you a Text/SMS message

  • Texting UNSUBSCRIBE to our phone number which sent you a Text/SMS message

  • Calling the advocate handling your case and asking to opt-out of Text/SMS messaging

  • Sending an email to the advocate handling your case and asking to opt-out of Text/SMS messaging

Please note that the opt-out process may take up to 10 business days to become effective. During this period, you may still receive some messages from us.

 PRIVACY OF PHONE NUMBERS

Once you have opted out, we will not send you any more Text/SMS messages, nor will we sell or transfer your phone number to another party.

CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may periodically update this policy. We will notify you about significant changes in the way we treat your information by placing a prominent notice on our website.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, please call us at (315) 793-7000.

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