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Connecting Justice Communities

Top Takeaways from PBN’s EJC First Timers

By Karin Romans on Posted in Conferences, Courts, Legal Services, Pro Bono, Technology

Pro Bono Net staffers Mirenda Watkins and Adam Friedl share their top takeaways from the Equal Justice Conference, which they both attended (and presented at) for the first time this year.

  Mirenda Watkins

Mirenda Watkins, LawHelp Interactive Coordinator, attended EJC for the first time in 2013.

 

Since joining the Pro Bono Net team, I heard a lot of great things about the Equal Justice Conference (EJC), so I was really looking forward to attending.  The 2013 ABA/NLADA EJC took place May 8-12 in St. Louis, MO and had over 700 attendees. It was a busy, but fantastic time. I saw a number of new, as well as familiar faces, and came away inspired by the panels and updates on the work being done nationwide to increase access to justice. I learned so much by attending the panels and talking to conference participants. In this post, I’ll share just five of the many things I learned in St. Louis (in no order of importance):

 1)      50 Tech Tips is a popular conference session for a reason! I came away with great advice on  new tools, apps, and software that I can use at work and at home (With one visit to https://www.catalogchoice.org/, it’s sayonara Restoration Hardware Catalogues!).

 2)      Jeff Hogue is amazing. Well, I already knew this, but wanted to shout out Jeff and Legal Assistance of Western New York for winning the NLADA Innovations in Technology Award.  Jeff and I also co-presented on a panel entitled, Emerging Technology to Enhance Delivery of Services to LEP Communities: An Overview of Tools and Innovative Approaches. His presentation on translation methods and tools, including machine translations, as well as his ideas for the future really energized the crowd.

3)      I am the only person not on Twitter. My dad keeps telling me to get an account and I don’t listen. Check out #ejcstl to find out what was said in the twitterverse about this event.

4)      There were no construction-related deaths in building the St. Louis Gateway Arch. The conference took place in downtown St. Louis with stunning views of the arch and in close proximity to Old Courthouse, where the first two trials of the historically significant Dred Scott case were heard.

5)      Gamification can have valuable use in the access to justice community. Lisa Colpoys, Executive Director of Illinois Legal Aid Online, gave an informative presentation on gamification in the Self-Presented Litigants Pre-conference session. Games are a great way to convey legal information and can also be used as a learning tool to familiarize self-represented litigants with the legal process. She noted that 3 billion hours a week are spent gaming worldwide (which makes me think I may need to slow down on Words with Friends…).

 

 Adam Friedl

Adam Friedl, Pro Bono Coordinator, also attended EJC for the first time this year.

 

Mirenda is a tough act to follow (she should have warned me she was taking notes!). Trying to match her for quality of insight and observation is probably a lost cause for me, but I can win on quantity! Here are the six almost-as-thoughtful-as-Mirenda’s lessons I’m taking away from my first EJC conference:

1)      Non-traditional service delivery models are the way of the future. Numerous sessions focused on uses of technology, unbundled legal services, new ways to educate self-represented litigants… but even the talks I attended that nominally had nothing to do with these topics ended up discussing them in some form.

2)      Collaborative gatherings like EJC spread innovative ideas and create new ones. I frequently found myself explaining some new project I’m involved with, and the response was “we do something kind of like that, just different in way,” or “you know who you should talk to about that.” I learned so much from other folks there about different ways to tackle similar problems, and came home with entirely new (to me, at least!) ideas inspired by what I’d heard.

3)      The Arch is the world’s tallest stainless steel monument, and its width equals its height (630 feet). Perhaps the algebraically-inclined among you could deduce that latter fact by looking, but I never would have guessed.

4)      Important people are paying attention to the economic challenges faced by current and future legal services lawyers. For public interest lawyers like Mirenda and myself who went to law school, after it cost about $8 million, things can get a little disheartening. I was really impressed that the conference organizers invited national student loan expert Heather Jarvis, as well as Equal Justice Works, to hold a session on student loan strategies—and that so many program directors were there!

5)      The innovative work that Chief Judge Lippman and Judge Fisher are doing on Access to Justice in New York is being recognized and replicated across the country. It makes me even more excited to have a small part in those efforts.

6)      It’s important to pace yourself: the hundred-plus session offerings all look fantastic, but you have to accept that it’s not possible to take everything in. It reminds me of those all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants my grandparents took us to—just because they have 100 kinds of pie doesn’t mean that you should try to eat that many.

So Mirenda: EJC, Portland, 2014? I’ll tweet you about it.

Top Ten Tech Tips (Spring 2013)

By preynolds on Posted in Legal Services, Pro Bono, Technology

LSNTAP and Pro Bono Net kicked off their spring webinar series on Wednesday April 24th. First up in the Community Training Series was the ever popular 50 Tech Tips. The presenters included Anna Hineline, of Legal Assistance of Western New York,  Leah Peabbles of Colorado Legal Services, Kim Marshall of the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership, and Liz Keith of Pro Bono Net. Out of the 50 tips presented on the webinar, we’ve highlighted what we consider to be the Top Ten.  Those interested in discovering the other 40 tech tips will be able to find the webinar on lsntap.org, where it will be uploaded in several shorter videos over the course of the next few weeks. For those who are members of the SWEB support site, the power point slides used in the webinar are available here in the SWEB training section.

THE TOP TEN TECH TIPS

1. Online Training Resources

Several websites that provide free tech training were mentioned during the hour. These sites can be valuable tools in educating your staff about how to best utilize online resources.

  • http://www.howto.gov/training provides a number of useful tutorials and workshops, and while their newest workshops have a fee attached, there is enough free content in the archives to be a big help.
  • Teachparentstech.org is another site mentioned during the tech tips webinar, which provides a more basic set of tutorials for efficient computer use.

2. 7-Zip

7-Zip is a tool for compressing and uncompressing files with versions available for PC and Mac. It is comparable to WinRAR, but as the advantage of being free. 7-Zip is a reliable way to deal with all your file archiving needs.

3. ShareLaw.org

ShareLaw.org is an LSC funded website that provides access to a library of legal aid resources. Legal aid organizations, including Vermont Law Help and the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership, upload many resources to ShareLaw on over 50 topics and numerous sub-topics.

4. Chrome Remote Desktop.

For users of Google Chrome, the Chrome Remote Desktop feature allows others temporary access to remotely control your computer. It can be very helpful for tech support or quick collaboration on projects.

5. Ninite.com

Ninite.com is another useful site, as it lists some of the best and most useful free programs from across the web. If you are looking for a way to quickly and easily install a number of important programs, Ninite is one of the best ways to do so.  Ninite will also work to quickly and automatically install updates to any of the programs you have chosen, keeping you constantly equipped with the latest updates.

6. Password Tips

A number of tips were provided for improving your password strength and thus increasing security. While Microsoft provides some Tips for password creation, websites like PasswordSavvy.org  can be used to complicate existing passwords.

7. Google Apps

Google Apps can be a vital tool for modern businesses. Tools like Google Drive and Google Docs allow for easy collaboration and updates on group projects, while Gmail and Google Talk (gchat) help keep team members in touch. The Google Apps support pages are also very helpful for familiarizing yourself with the services offered by Google Apps and transitioning from Microsoft Office programs. Another tool provided by Google that got a specific mention was Google Keep, a note taking program similar to Evernote.

8. Ustream.tv

Ustream allows users to stream live video on their own channels. It is relatively easy to use and only requires a webcam and an internet connection. An account can be created and put into use within minutes.  This is an easy way to get around the participant restrictions imposed by programs like Skype and Google hangouts. Also, it is great for lectures, presentations, or other events.

9. Toggl Timekeeping

Toggl Timekeeping is a free tool that can be used to monitor the way you spend your time at work, and can give you valuable information which can be used to increase your efficiency. While the basic uses of Toggl Timekeeping are free, there are advanced features that can be unlocked with a small fee. Toggl can also be used with other programs such as Google calendar and can be used by multiple people to coordinate their timekeeping.

10. Songza

Songza is a free, online music website that allows you to listen to playlists made up by music experts that are recommended based on the time or day or your activity. With playlists such as “Boosting Your Energy” and “Working to Background Beats”, Songza is well suited to use at work and can help keep interest and enthusiasm up while working on time consuming projects.

Stay tuned for the next webinar in this series produced by Pro Bono Net, “Developing a Mobile Strategy to Reach Our Clients, which takes place on Wednesday, June 19th from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Pacific Time). Registration for that webinar will open soon, so be sure to sign up at the LSNTAP website.

 

Why Pro Bono? To Find Balance

By Karin Romans on Posted in Legal Services, Pro Bono

After the success of our post, Why Pro Bono? You Mean, Why Not?, we thought it would be interesting to pose the question “Why Pro Bono?” to members of the legal community to discuss the benefits of pro bono work.   We are very thankful to Harlene Katzman, Pro Bono Counsel at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, for being the first to answer our question: “Why Pro Bono?”

For Harlene Katzman, the Pro Bono Counsel at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, pro bono work and her job at the firm are about finding balance.

Harlene Katzman, the Pro Bono Counsel at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, says pro bono work helps achieve balance.

The firm takes on a wide variety of pro bono matters, from those that meet the urgent needs of people living in poverty to those that focus on building the skills of the Firm’s attorneys.  At Simpson Thacher we work to balance different types of cases, says Harlene.

When asked about why attorneys take pro bono cases, Harlene says, “Different people have different reasons for doing pro bono work, and recognizing those different needs is what enables me to do my job.  Attorneys are drawn to specific client communities and specific issues – some are deeply affected by the escalating rate of poverty, the prevalence of gender based violence, or the complexity of laws that need to be navigated to receive entitled benefits or immigration status.  Others simply want to work with disadvantaged clients whose lives are directly affected by their representation.  Whatever the motivation, our attorneys understand that being a lawyer gives them special privilege to access the legal system, and that this privilege should be shared with those who have no access to that system to ensure a just society.”

The growing number of individuals who need legal help amid ongoing cuts to legal services means that fewer and fewer of the legal needs of poor Americans are being met.  “There are a lot of legal services organizations that handle basic legal needs, especially in urban cities where the poverty rates are highest, but budget cuts have slashed their staff and resources substantially.  In New York, legal aid organizations have to turn away eight of every nine people they see,” says Harlene.   She adds that legal aid organizations leverage their expertise by training and mentoring law firm lawyers.

In addition to matters addressing the urgent needs of low -income individuals, attorneys at Simpson Thacher handle environmental matters, civil rights cases, corporate matters to assist entrepreneurs, international human rights projects, and provide counsel to nonprofit organizations.

Pro bono matters come to the firm in a variety of different ways.  “As the Firm’s Pro Bono Counsel, my job is to not only bring in a wide variety of matters, but also to ensure that they are a good fit for our attorneys, and are impactful,” says Harlene.  “We encourage our attorneys to bring matters they care about to the Firm. For example, a new associate brought in a case from her law school clinic to the Firm.”

At Simpson Thacher, attorneys strive to find a balance in representing institutional commercial clients with pro bono clients, who are often low-income individuals.  Representing clients with such different needs often enhances the satisfaction and meaning our attorneys find in their work.  Harlene feels that a strong pro bono culture is important for a law firm of Simpson Thacher’s size and reputation. “It’s hard to find someone at our Firm who hasn’t worked on a pro bono matter,” she adds. “As a result, most of our attorneys expect to participate in our pro bono program.”

Despite the variety of matters, some still are hesitant to take on a pro bono case. Harlene says that it can be daunting to take on a matter in an unfamiliar area of the law. “We work hard to train associates in the relevant area of law and create internal networks that associates can look to for advice,” says Harlene.  With the support network at Simpson Thacher, attorneys are more confident handling new types of cases.

Harlene also encourages attorneys to learn time management skills to balance their billable work with their pro bono work.   “Being a good associate involves good time management. Because we have a good balance in the types of pro bono matters we offer – from short term legal advice clinics to multi-year impact litigations – most attorneys can find a way to fit pro bono matters into their schedules.”

“Every day I think about balance, and I think the Firm does a good job of achieving it.”

Tackling Resource Access Together at 2013 Nonprofit Technology Conference

By Jillian Theil on Posted in Conferences, Legal Services, Libraries, Pro Bono, Technology

by Xander Karsten and Jillian Theil

As part of our work with Pro Bono Net, we frequently attend conferences, which offer us the opportunity to connect with colleagues as well as learn and share trending topics, information and new tools.  This year’s Nonprofit Technology Conference

From L-R: Michael Smolens, Matthew Burnett, Xander Karsten, and Teri Ross at NTC 2013

(NTC) in Minneapolis, Minnesota was no different. But what sets NTC apart is that it draws non-profit professionals from a number of fields – not just the legal sector. Meeting and learning from medical service providers, parent advocate associations, and more, provides us with invaluable insights as to how other nonprofits approach common problems, such as how to increase access to much needed services.

One of the trending topics at NTC was the digital divide, and how we close the inequality gap that exists between those who have access to technology and those who do not. Today, nonprofits are relying more and more on technology to efficiently and effectively achieve their goals and deliver services.

The digital divide was the main focus of a presentation by Elizabeth Pope, senior researcher at Idealware in her session called, From Digital Divide to Digital Inclusion: Technology as an Equalizing Force. In this session, strategies for closing the divide were discussed, such as identifying barriers to technology access (mobility barriers, language barriers, economic barriers, etc). Two organizations that have made progress on increasing technology access – the Pacer Center and the Skokie Public Library- were discussed as exemplary organizations working on how to create effective resources for clients who have a limited understanding of technology. At Pro Bono Net, this is a particularly important issue for us as we develop technology tools to increase access to justice, such as our LawHelp  and LawHelp Interactive platforms. Additionally, it is helpful in thinking through our partnerships with public libraries, important partners in closing justice and technology gaps.

Consequently, access to content via mobile was also a focus of discussions around the digital divide. With a growing number of low income and young users accessing websites and direct services organizations on mobile devices, this is yet another key topic for nonprofits. At Pro Bono Net, developing mobile optimized versions of our LawHelp site is a key priority in enabling access to legal services to a broader demographic, and CitizenshipWorks.org offers a mobile app that helps immigrants understand the naturalization process. SMS and Derek Olson, Vice President of Foraker Labs and Michele Zwiebel, Director of Programs and Content at Breastcancer.org provided exceptional insights into the process of translating a full site into a mobile accessible site in their presentation Designing a Mobile User Experience for Breast Cancer Survivors. Even though the mobile site is health oriented, there were many takeaways for non-health organizations, such as how to mobile optimize a content-heavy site and the importance of observing your audience’s needs when designing for mobile. The panel also reflected the growing sentiment that designing for mobile users should be a primary consideration in all platform development, allowing for maximum accessibility across all devices.

Echoing the mantra of accessibility, mobile platforms and multilingual content were also examined in a panel moderated by Pro Bono Net’s Xander Karsten, Breaking through Language Barriers with Technology with panelists Teri Ross, Program Director of Ayuda Legal Illinois; Michael Smolens, Founder of DotSub and Board Member of Translators without Borders; and Matthew Burnett, Director of Immigration Advocates Network. This breakout session highlighted the work and strategies of each organization in making their online presence meaningful to those with limited English proficiency, such as addressing how to translate a site that offers a large amount of content, how to approach translation projects in communities where multiple languages are spoken, translation of multimedia resources and much more. Interestingly, the session was particularly unique in that it was the only conference panel to directly focus on language access rights, something that we work towards at Pro Bono Net by offering the ability to translate our LawHelp sites into multiple languages.

In much of our day–to-day work we are often confronted with figuring out how to  provide meaningful access to those who face incredible barriers when trying to access resources and information. Within our own communities we talk about language access, mobile access, literacy access, economic access, physical access and more. Utilizing the principle of accessibility when designing sites and services can change the life of a disadvantaged individual facing legal challenges.  NTC is a great opportunity to look at these issues from outside the legal services perspective, see these common access issues in a different light, and bring back new and innovative solutions to the legal technology community.

 

Website for FEMA Appeals Goes Live (and makes TV news!)

By Adam Friedl on Posted in Legal Services, Pro Bono, Technology, Uncategorized, Website Launch

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our segment on NY1.

We are really excited to publicly launch femaappeals.org, a website that empowers those who do not have access to a lawyer to create their own concise and well-crafted appeals of FEMA denials. Over 500,000 households in New York and New Jersey applied for emergency assistance from FEMA following Superstorm Sandy – almost half of them have incomes of less than $30,000 per year. Many of these people have been improperly denied benefits they desperately need, but are unable to get a lawyer to guide them through the complicated appeals process.  With substantive help from numerous partners across New York City, and the support of the New York Community Trust, we’ve created a one-stop website for people to learn about the appeals process, create their own appeal, and find further resources.

Over the past months at Pro Bono Net, we’ve put together resources and information to aid pro bono attorneys engaged in helping those whose lives were turned upside down by Superstorm Sandy. We’ve done our best to foster collaboration in the legal relief effort, and it’s been an amazing experience to watch nonprofits, law firms, law schools, bar associations, and corporate counsel come together in unprecedented ways. But for all the resource assembling, conference call convening, webinar producing, live training webcasting, and more that we’ve done, we realize that the legal community simply does not have the capacity to address the needs of so many who are still struggling in Sandy’s wake.

We designed femaappeals.org to be straightforward and easy to navigate, getting users straight to the content they need. The front page contains a no fuss description of exactly what the site does – assists individuals to create a FEMA Appeal letter and request their FEMA file.  An FAQ page contains answers drafted by an expert to many common questions, demystifying the appeals process. A calendar of upcoming disaster-relief legal clinics, maintained by our partners at LawHelpNY, lists options for seeking further help across the area.

The heart of the site is the interactive A2J Author® interview that guides users, step-by-step and in everyday language, through assembling the information necessary for an appeal.

And through the magic of technology (i.e., the LawHelp Interactive national online document assembly server), this information is transformed into perfectly formatted Word documents that the user can submit to FEMA.  The whole interview can be completed in 10-15 minutes.

 

 

 

 

We’re now doing our best to widely promote this resource so that folks across the disaster area are aware. Our press release has gone out to online, print and television media in NY and NJ, and we are now sending it to area boroughs, municipalities, townships, public libraries, and direct social service providers as well. Last week, NY1 (New York City’s 24 hour newchannel) came by to film a segment:

Despite my clear onscreen charisma and talent for pointing at computer monitors, however, someone else got all the airtime.

But it’s all for the same cause, right? Executive Director, Mark O’Brien.

The piece began running April 12, and is available online now We really appreciate all the support we’ve received around this project, and we’re hopeful it will have a big impact. While the site and interview are currently tailored to Superstorm Sandy, they will be easily adaptable for use in future disasters.

After you link on your website, please drop us a line if you have ideas about further ways to get the word out! And thanks!

Wishing Our Friend and Colleague Well, Allison McDermott

By Karin Romans on Posted in Pro Bono, Staff News, Technology

Allison McDermott, Deputy Director, Pro Bono Net

We wanted to share the news that after twelve years at Pro Bono Net, our Deputy Director Allison McDermott is leaving at the end of this month. Allison has been appointed Executive Director of the Havens Relief Fund Society, a New York institution with a long and rich history of providing emergency financial assistance to needy individuals.

An announcement of the appointment ran recently in the New York Nonprofit Press.

This is terrific news for Allison, her family and certainly the New York philanthropic community.  She will be a fantastic leader at Havens, and we look forward to watching what she does there. While Pro Bono Net will miss her leadership, we take considerable comfort in what a terrific job she’s done over the past twelve years to build our capacity. Our programs are strong, our partnerships stable, and we have a terrific staff that brings a similar range of talent and commitment to our mission.

We are currently working through how best to fill the many roles Allison played at Pro Bono Net, and to take this opportunity to re-tool in order to ensure that we are best able to meet the needs of our many and diverse stakeholders going forward.  We hope you will join us in wishing Allison the very best going forward.

Launched on the New LawHelp Platform

By Xander Karsten on Posted in Legal Services, Pro Bono, Technology

LawHelp.org, originally developed by Pro Bono Net in 2001 with funding from the Legal Services Corporation, the Open Society Institute, and others, announced last year the rollout of a redesigned platform, dubbed LH3. LawHelp.org is a national, online network of consumer legal information websites that help low income people find timely and accurate legal aid referrals, information about legal rights, and self-help resources.

The new platform simplifies the search process for users who, on average, view over 8,000 know-your-rights resources per day and receive referral information for free and low-cost legal services across twenty five partner sites and the national portal page. Thanks to financial support from the Legal Services Corporation Technology Initiative Grant, and with significant input from the national LawHelp network and the redesign steering committee, the new LawHelp platform allows for expanded support for multilingual content, tools to spotlight important content such as online legal forms or videos, and improved searchability from external search engines like Google or Bing. You can read more about the history of LawHelp.org and the initial roll out of the new platform in the June 27th blog“Have You Seen LawHelp Lately?”

Since we initially announced the updated platform last year, twenty partners have launched their new LH3 sites, six of them in the last few months.  On February 5, 2013 sites using the LawHelp.org domain launched, including South Carolina, Washington DC, Hawaii and Guam.  Pennsylvania and Washington both launched their sites in January.

We are very excited about some of the content on these sites and hope you’ll take a moment to look over the changes.

On South Carolina’s LH3 page, take a look at their self-help videos content page and the video embedded on the top of their self-help forms page.  DC ‘s website highlights upcoming clinics and self-help court forms, as well as information on agencies working east of the Anacostia River throughout their homepage.  They also utilize a portal page to provide information on the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program Community Economic Development Project.  Hawaii uses a separate issue area to highlight legal research resources on their homepage, and sidebar to tell users how to access their intake program, and provides information about The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.  Guam uses images on the bottom of their page to highlight legal information and do it yourself forms.   PaLawHelp.org utilizes two sidebar editors to highlight not only news on their homepage, but also their greater legal network. They also use the two editors on the bottom of their page to highlight special initiatives with images to draw the viewer’s eye to their content.  Washingtonlawhelp.org highlights their extensive video and self-help form collections through two editors on their homepage, and features an online intake system using an editor on the right hand toolbar.

Other sites that have launched on this new platform include

Congratulations to all the project staff and stakeholders who made these launches possible.

Look for AlaskaLawHelp.org, NevadaLawHelp.org, NYLawHelp.org, OregonLawHelp.org, and the MicronesiaLawHelp to launch in the upcoming months!

Building a Partnership to Help Consumer Debt Victims

By Karin Romans on Posted in Legal Services, Pro Bono, Technology

We are really excited about the potential of our new consumer debt project that launched recently here in New York City in partnership with MFY Legal Services. MFY Legal Services (MFY) is an independent, not-for-profit law firm that provides community-based legal representation to low-income New Yorkers in the areas of housing, public benefits, consumer rights, foreclosure, employment, civil rights, disability rights, and family matters.  With a grant from the New York Community Trust, we are leveraging technology and legal expertise to help New Yorkers sued for consumer debt or harassed by credit agencies. While debt collection abuse is widespread, legal services organizations can only provide direct help to a fraction of those who need it.

Each year, tens of thousands of New York City residents go to court for a range of consumer problems – credit card debt, medical debt, identity theft, telemarketing and other financial scams – without an attorney. Without knowledge of the law or an attorney, they have very little recourse in these matters. Most are members of our city’s most vulnerable populations, including the elderly, recent immigrants and the working poor. For these populations, the results can devastate already strained incomes.

The new NYC Consumer Debt Defense Project puts information in the hands of low-income New Yorkers sued for consumer issues and increases the capabilities of the attorneys serving them.

Last month, we launched the new, automated legal forms for pro se litigants, giving low-income New Yorkers the tools to advocate for themselves. The information is available on LawHelpNY. The online forms for pro se litigants include:

  • Answer to a Complaint
  • Demand for Documents
  • Debt Verification Letter

The legal advocacy forms were launched in December 2012 and have been met with enthusiasm from consumer advocates. They allow legal services and volunteer attorneys to quickly and efficiently generate high-quality legal documents. Four online document assembly forms were developed as part of the project for use by pro bono attorneys, law students, and legal services advocates. Specifically, these templates produce:

  • Answers to a Complaint
  • Demands for Documents
  • Debt Verification Letters
  • Oppositions to Motions for Summary Judgment

The forms have been particularly effective in clinical settings where advocates often face an overwhelming demand for services with a limited window of time.

For example, the template for Opposition to a Motion for Summary Judgment revolutionizes the way cases are handled in New York. It allows an advocate to create, in a matter of minutes, a thoroughly researched and carefully drafted response that previously would have required hours to prepare. Litigants can then file those papers and effectively oppose the motion, thus robbing savvy plaintiffs’ attorneys of one of their favorite weapons for taking advantage of pro se individuals. Dora Galacatos of the Feerick Center calls this tool “a huge leap forward in practice.”

Legal aid and pro bono attorneys can find these forms in the new project website that also includes a library full of resources (including training materials, important case law, sample documents, and more), up-to-date news, an events and training calendar, recent case law, podcasts and webinars, and a listserv that is the primary discussion forum on consumer debt defense for consumer advocates in New York City.

In New York City, volunteer attorneys in the CLARO clinics are already using the new site and forms. CLARO is the leading consumer debt clinic providing limited legal advice to low-income New Yorkers sued by debt collectors.  Mark Weliky, Pro Bono Coordinator and Executive Director of the Queens Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc. told MFY and us that the forms are, “… an invaluable resource in dealing with the complex issues being faced by persons sued for an alleged credit card debt. The vast majority of these litigants cannot afford to hire legal counsel and this new program will help our CLARO clinics to provide free legal assistance to these individuals.”

This project is excellent example of the role Pro Bono Net plays in narrowing the justice gap, combining innovative technology with strong collaborations to benefit vulnerable and low-income individuals who go to court without an attorney and face potentially devastating situations.

Hone Your Pro Bono Skills with PLI This Spring

By Karin Romans on Posted in Immigration, Legal Services, Pro Bono

Since 2011, the Practising Law Institute (PLI) has helped us champion the necessity of pro bono as one of our Bronze Sponsors. PLI is dedicated to providing attorneys with information and techniques to develop a professional, competitive edge and recognizes the importance of pro bono in helping attorneys cultivate their skills, develop time management and give back to their communities.

This spring, PLI is offering several workshops that will be particularly beneficial to legal services organizations, pro bono attorneys, and those new to pro bono.  These workshops are in line with our mission, and we are very pleased that PBN staff member Liz Keith and board member Tiela Chalmers will join two of the panels.  Below are brief descriptions of upcoming workshops. For more information, please visit www.pli.edu. For more information on becoming a sponsor of Pro Bono Net, visit www.probono.net/sponsors.

 Basic Immigration Law 2013

New York, New York March 14, 2013   9:00 am – 12:30pm ET

 Why you should attend

This program explains the basic concepts of U.S. immigration law and procedure, and reflects current developments and trends.

What you will learn

  • Overview of U.S. immigration law
  • The difference between nonimmigrant (temporary) and immigrant (permanent/green card) visas
  • Employment-related visas and work authorization
  • Family-sponsored visas
  • Asylum and immigration benefits for crime victims
  • Removal proceedings against immigrants
  • Judicial review of immigration cases
  • Naturalization
  • Protecting an employer from sanctions
  • Unique ethical issues in immigration practice

Who should attend

Attorneys who are new to immigration practice and those who need a refresher on immigration law or immigration policy.

 

Social Media for Non-Profit and Public Interest Organizations Featuring Pro Bono Net staff member, Liz Keith

March 21, 2013 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PT

 Why You Should Attend

Learn how to stay on the forefront of new technology and harness the potential of social media to grow your donor and volunteer base and expand your organization’s footprint.

What You Will Learn

  • Entering the social media landscape
  • Efficiently and effectively integrate social media tools
  • Tools to recruit volunteers and promote cases
  • Introduction to social fundraising
  • Cutting edge technologies and what’s to come

Who Should Attend

Executive Directors, development and marketing managers, volunteer coordinators, managing and supervising attorneys, and staff from small and large non-profit and public interest organizations.

 

Working with Immigrants: The Intersection of Basic Immigration, Housing, and Domestic Violence Issues in California

May 14, 2013  9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

 Why You Should Attend:

Many immigrant clients require assistance with a constellation of related yet distinct issues.  This day-long program addresses these particular areas of overlap.  Experienced practitioners in the areas of immigration, family law, and housing share their expertise,providing insight into cultural issues that arise when working with immigrant clients.

What You Will Learn:

  • Cultural competency issues to be aware of
  • What is domestic violence and how does it impact immigrant communities.
  • How immigration status affects eligibility for federally subsidized housing.
  • Fair Housing laws that protect immigrants and domestic violence survivors.
  • Special housing protections for domestic violence survivors
  • What family law issues are implicated when working with immigrant survivors of domestic violence.
  • How to get your client legal immigration status based on domestic violence.

Who Should Attend:

Legal aid and private practitioners who work with immigrant clients or who would like to provide pro bono services to immigrant clients in the areas of immigration, housing, or domestic violence.

 

How to Find and Handle Your First Pro Bono Case Chaired by Pro Bono Net Board Member, Tiela Chalmers

May 29, 2013    9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

 Why You Should Attend

This program is a great opportunity to get a strong overview of the world of pro bono, how it can enrich and advance your professional development, and how to make it happen.

What You Will Learn

How to find the right case:

  • What types of cases are right to meet your goals
  • How to pick pro bono opportunities that fit in with your current employment situation
  • Where to find cases or matters
  • Options in types of volunteering commitments

Handling your first case:

  • Ensuring that you are or become competent
  • Handling your first client meeting
  • Understanding your client’s circumstances
  • Working with the court
  • Finishing up the case

Who Should Attend

People who have not yet handled their first pro bono case, or have just taken their first matter, and people who work with newer attorneys in professional development or pro bono.

Redesigned LawHelp.org Gateway Launches in English and Spanish

By Xander Karsten on Posted in Legal Services, Pro Bono, Technology

The past few months saw major changes for one of Pro Bono Net’s oldest programs, LawHelp.org. LawHelp.org helps people of low and moderate incomes find free legal aid programs in their communities, answers to questions about their legal rights and forms to help them with their legal problems.

Last year we rolled out a new LawHelp statewide website platform designed to improve users’ experience, and make legal information and resources more accessible.  You can read more about the new platform design in Liz Keith’s blog post Have You Seen LawHelp Lately?

Part of this initiative included a redesign and expansion of the LawHelp.org national portal, the national gateway to all 50 statewide websites. Highlights of the new national portal include:

Spanish Language Page

LawHelp Español, a mirror of LawHelp.org completely accessible to Spanish speaking users.  LawHelp Español was developed to improve access to the statewide website network for individuals searching for legal aid resources in Spanish. The entire LawHelp site is now translated, with the same content and design as LawHelp.org, including 10 plain language guides (described below), LiveHelp assistance as well as resources tailored to the needs of the Spanish-speaking community.

LiveHelp

Users of the Spanish language version of LawHelp.org now have an additional option for help. Through LiveHelp, they can access real-time assistance from trained volunteer navigators to help them find the resources they are searching for. This service is currently staffed by Spanish speaking volunteers across the county, who are dedicated to making Spanish language legal information and referrals accessible to users.  A LawHelp Español user can click on the “LiveHelp” button at the top of the page, where a chat box opens, allowing them to ask questions of the navigator and find the content they are looking for.

New Design

The entire LawHelp.org website was redesigned, allowing users to easily access the directory of statewide websites, as well as our new featured resources (described below).  The clean, highly intuitive design was created to maximize the ease with which users navigate our site, encouraging users to find sources of local legal information through our portal, as well as general legal information on the site.

We also highlight other websites and resources targeted at low income and vulnerable individuals seeking legal assistance.  Currently, LawHelp.org highlights Consumer.gov- assisting individuals facing financials issues; Stateside Legal- designed to assist military members, veterans and their families; as well as  Immigration LawHelp and CitizenshipWorks- two initiatives housed at Pro Bono Net that help individuals access information on immigration legal services and the naturalization process. These resources rotate on a regular basis.

Featured Resources

While LawHelp.org served as a portal page in the past, we are excited to announce the addition on 10 plain language guides to common legal issues and questions.  These guides are specifically designed to help low income and vulnerable users understand basic concepts that impact their ability to access legal aid, the courts and interpretation services in a legal context.  These guides include the following topics:

  • Legal Aid and Other Low-Cost Legal Help
  • Understanding Federal, State and Local Laws
  • The Differences Between Criminal and Civil Court
  • Preparing for Court
  • Court Fees and Getting Court Fees Paid
  • Overview of Legal Services State Websites
  • Getting Legal Assistance in your Language
  • Your Right to Assistance in your Language
  • Working with an Interpreter in a Legal Setting
  • Finding Immigration Help

These resources are available in both English and Spanish and will be available in three other languages in the upcoming months.

LawHelp Español, the Plain Language Guides, and the national LiveHelp initiative were developed through a partnership between the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Pro Bono Net and LawHelp New York, with funding from the Legal Services Corporation’s Technology Initiative Grant program.

We are very excited about the redesigned site, and the new offerings on LawHelp.org and LawHelp Español, and hope you will surf over to see all the improvements.