I am honored to have been selected to serve on the COVID-19 Recovery Task Force, which was created by the New York State Bar Association in partnership with the state court system to oversee the provision of pro bono services in New York State. Led by former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, the task force is comprised of a stellar group of individuals, including VOLS board member and Debevoise partner, John S. Kiernan. As executive director of a legal services organization who works closely with pro bono attorneys, their law firms and companies, I know how critical a role they play in supplementing the legal services community’s ability to provide the most comprehensive legal representation to low-income New Yorkers.
The first order of Task Force business will be to look at the provision of pro bono representation to those with unemployment insurance questions. It is critical that legal assistance is available to unemployed workers, and VOLS has recently re-launched its Unemployed Workers Project, first created after the 2008 financial crisis. Our hotline is up and running for those with questions about how to apply, and those with denials who will need representation. Our expert team has trained pro bono lawyers to answer these brief advice questions and will provide full representation as needed. For more information about representation or volunteering, click here.
VOLS was created 35 years ago by the NYC Bar Association, in response to cuts to legal services, and specifically to develop and utilize pro bono networks to multiply the number of low income New Yorkers who can be served. Our staff of 19 provides expert legal services to the unemployed, seniors, veterans, small business owners, immigrant youth, children and families, and incarcerated mothers. We proudly partner with over 210 community groups and 1000 pro bono lawyers from over 60 law firms. In response to COVID-19, we have launched the VOLS Unemployed Workers Project, a new COVID-19 Frontline and Healthcare Workers Initiative to provide life planning representation, and a Small Business Emergency Response.
I look forward to keeping you informed about the work of the Task Force, and VOLS’ work overall.
All the best,
Marcia Levy
Executive Director
Volunteers of Legal Service
Read the NYSBA Press release here (PDF).