December 10, 2009
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Upcoming pro bono training course
Volunteer opportunities
Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership news
Pro Bono Rocks! raises over $6,400--thanks!
Local attorneys honored by Pennsylvania Bar Association
Contact the Pro Bono Center
Upcoming pro bono training course
Unemployment Compensation Volunteer opportunities Family Law and Debt Advice Clinics Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership news Custody Conciliation--A Partnership Project, January 14, 2010, 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Pro Bono Rocks! raises over $6,400--thanks! Local attorneys honored by Pennsylvania Bar Association Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Alan Hertzberg, five local attorneys, and the 2009 BLI class were presented with the Pennsylvania Bar Association's pro bono award at a special meeting of the Public Service Committee on November 16. The PBA's Pro Bono Coordinator, David Trevaskis, presented the awards along with PBA Legal Services to the Public Committee Vice Chair Iva Munk and PBA Zone Governor Hal Coffey. ACBF Board of Trustees President Vicki Beatty also attended the ceremony. See pictures from the presentation here. Contact the Pro Bono Center For more information on the Pro Bono Center please contact Barbara Griffin, Esq., Pro Bono Coordinator, at bgriffin@acba.org or 412-402-6677.
January 8, 2010, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
This course will train attorneys to represent claimants in unemployment compensation cases referred by Neighborhood Legal Services Association (NLSA). The law firm of Reed Smith will host the training at Reed Smith Centre, 225 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, on Friday, January 8, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (registration from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m.). A registration form and further details will be posted on NLSA's website when they become available.
Neighborhood Legal Services Association is in need of volunteer attorneys to assist at its two Wednesday evening clinics. Attorneys with experience in consumer and bankruptcy issues are needed for the Debt Advice Clinic, and attorneys practicing in the family law area are needed for the Family Law Clinic.
Each of the clinics meets twice a month on Wednesday evening. Attorneys at both clinics are needed between 5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Assisting at these clinics is an excellent way for attorneys to fulfill pro bono obligations. The volunteer time is limited to two hours; it involves giving advice only. No preparation or follow-up is required and it does not interfere with normal business hours. NLSA is asking that attorneys volunteer only twice a year.
Protection from Abuse program continues to need volunteers
Attorneys with family law experience or training in Protection from Abuse cases are needed on an ongoing basis to accept PFA referrals from NLSA. Assignments are being made now for dates beginning in January 2010. Please consider taking a case if you have not done so recently. To volunteer, contact Mary Ann Troper-Malley at 412-586-6134. Check NLSA's website in January for a training program for new volunteers in early 2010.
Spanish-speaking attorneys sought
The ACBA Hispanic Attorneys Committee is interested in hearing from attorneys who are fluent or proficient enough in Spanish to interview and give legal advice to Spanish-speaking clients. The Committee is exploring options for the creation of a pro bono program designed to serve the civil legal needs of the low-income Spanish-speaking community in Allegheny County and would like to identify a pool of potential volunteers. Attorneys are also needed currently to assist clients who contact Committee members for assistance in both pro bono and non-pro bono cases.
If you are interested in assisting Spanish-speaking clients, please contact Ximena Marinero at ximena.marinero@gmail.com or 631-312-6046.
Family Court Pro Se Assistance Program remains busy
For over ten years, the attorneys of the ACBA Family Law Section have been providing much-needed help with family law matters to low-income individuals through the Family Court's Pro Se Assistance Program. The program operates on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and serves 40-50 people per week. As economic times worsen, more and more people are turning to this program for assistance in preparing pleadings for presentation in motions court. The program is in need of more volunteers to help out in this very worthwhile and important pro bono opportunity. The time commitment would be one or two mornings a year and you do not need to be a practicing family law attorney to take part. If you are interested or would like more information please contact Barbara L. Clements, Family Division Pro Se Coordinator at 412-350-0237 or bclements@alleghenycourts.us.
A training program will be held for new volunteers for the Partnership's Custody Conciliation Project, which provides attorneys to help low-income parents settle custody cases, thereby avoiding further litigation and relieving children of the difficult experience of a protracted custody dispute. This project has been of immense value to the judges in the Family Division, helping to ease crowded dockets by settling cases before trial. The time commitment is very reasonable; attorneys enter an appearance in the case for the limited purpose of the conciliation only.
The law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC will host the training at One Oxford Centre, 20th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 on Thursday, January 14, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. New this year, the training will include a mock conciliation followed by a roundtable discussion of issues commonly encountered in custody conciliation cases. Existing volunteers are encouraged to attend for this part of the training, which will begin at 10:30 a.m.
Click here for a registration form or call Mary Ann Troper-Malley at 412-586-6134. To learn more about the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership or to find out if your firm or legal department is a member, contact Barbara Kern at kernb@nlsa.us or 412-586-6138.
The Allegheny County Bar Foundation thanks all of you who supported or attended Pro Bono Rocks! on November 6. It was a fun event that raised much-needed funds to maintain programs providing free legal services to low-income residents of our communities. Over 185 guests walked the red carpet past "screaming fans" to enjoy the music and moves of "Who's Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band."
Click here to read the Lawyers Journal article about the event.
Pictures from the event can be viewed here.
Special thanks to the members of the Pro Bono Rocks Steering Committee (Aaron Asher, Ellen Doyle, Ron Jones, Barbara Payne, Melaine Rothey, Jeff Weimer, Regina Wilson, Michelle Yarbrough) and to our sponsors: Reed Smith, LLP; USI Affinity; Dickie McCamey & Chilcote, PC; Goehring Rutter & Boehm; Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti; and Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP. You rock!
In addition to the Honorable Alan D. Hertzberg--who received the judge's award--the following attorneys and group were recognized for their outstanding commitments to providing legal services to the poor:
Become a volunteer by clicking here.
Visit the Allegheny County Bar Foundation website at www.acbf.org.
400 Koppers Building, 436 Seventh Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15219.