Over the past year, you and your firms and companies have shown an extraordinary response to the legal challenges facing New Yorkers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And as New York City today confronts the triple crises of the pandemic – a public health emergency, an economic recession, and racial injustice –we have found great inspiration in seeing our volunteers, legal and community partners, supporters, and clients face these challenges together as part of the VOLS community. That response reflects the resilience, unity, and collaborative spirit that New Yorkers reliably demonstrate in difficult moments like these. On behalf of VOLS, I would like to thank you for working with us and facing these challenges together.
In this year end newsletter, we spotlight the Microenterprise Project’s Staff Attorney Imran Hossain, who recently joined VOLS after having worked with us as a pro bono lawyer at a partner law firm. We also take this opportunity to recognize the many contributions, large and small, made by firms and companies, their lawyers, legal assistants and administrative staff. By providing an array of pro bono services you support our programmatic and organizational goals, and most importantly the clients and communities we serve.
As we look to the new year with hope and renewal, please keep VOLS in mind as you plan for Pro Bono in 2021. We encourage you to reach out and let us know how we can continue to work together and to share your ideas on existing projects or potential new collaborations.
Wishing you and your families a happy and healthy new year.
Sara Effron
Director of Pro Bono & Strategic Initiatives
Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS)
Pro Bono: Supporting Our Team
Over the past year, firms and companies supported our work through projects including: translating documents, preparing client Know Your Rights Information and guides, researching country conditions, providing guidance on T & E issues related to remote notarization and execution of documents, preparing public comments on legislation affecting immigrants, seniors and veterans and small business owners, hosting webinars, preparing training, updating training materials, offering CLE to our volunteers, hosting DACA renewal clinics and preparing an Executive Summary on a survey on impact of Right to Counsel on housing lawyers and law students in New York. In addition, firms have provided legal counsel on administrative and organizational issues.
THANK YOU
AIG • Baker Botts • Cadwalader • Cravath • Debevoise • Hogan Lovells
Katten • Kelley Drye • McGuireWoods • Marsh & McClennan
McDermott, Will, & Emery • Morgan Stanley • Orrick • Patterson Belknap
Paul Weiss • Proskauer • Schulte Roth • Shearman & Sterling
Simpson Thacher • Societe Generale • Stroock • Thomson Reuters
Weil Gotshal • WilmerHale • Winston & Strawn
And thanks to the many firms who represented individual clients, through
these projects responding to COVID-19 pandemic:
Unemployed Workers Project:
Arnold & Porter • Akin Gump • Citi • Covington • Clifford Chance • Cravath
Debevoise • Dechert • Fried Frank • Kirkland & Ellis • Latham
One Zero Capital • Paul Weiss • Simpson Thacher • Skadden
Winston & Strawn
Frontline and Health Care Workers Initiative:
Akin Gump • Cadwalader • Covington • Davis Polk • Fried Franks
McGuireWoods • Morrison & Foerster • Orrick • Société Générale • Skadden
Stroock • Simpson Thacher • McDermott, Will, & Emery • Arnold & Porter
Kirkland & Ellis • Pfizer
And the Small Business Legal Relief Alliance (SBLRA).
A very special thanks to Thomson Reuters for hosting our June, Leadership
Summit on Pro Bono and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
Clients Thank Pro Bono Lawyers
“Thank you for educating me, guiding me and finally connecting me with the pro bono firm that will process and prepare my life planning documents. The knowledge that you have imparted to me; as well as your assistance with other legal matters, have been invaluable. I greatly appreciate all that you have done.”
“You and your organization gave me the opportunity to ‘put my house in order’ It was such a wonderful and comforting feeling. I am forever grateful to you and VOLS for making this happen. E.M. and her colleagues were so wonderful. [She]was so kind and patient. She answered every question with great incite and compassion.”
“This organization was a godsend. They used their network to locate representation for me, despite the challenges of the shutdown, the massive pile-up of unemployment cases, and a suspension of Dept. of Labor hearings. After several months’ delay, a truly wonderful team of lawyers signed on, and with minimal preparation time, they devised a remarkably effective legal strategy, helped shape my testimony and prepped me with patience and skill. Thanks to their guidance, insights and expertise, the Judge’s decision was a full victory for us on all the issues and I am entitled to receive the full Unemployment Benefits due to me.”
“My experience with VOLS far exceeded my expectations! The organization and people are professional, empathetic and generous with their time and expertise. They helped me negotiate a complex commercial lease and advised in many ways large and small. I’m very grateful for their help. They are a true resource!”
Attorney Spotlight: Imran Hossain
Last month, the VOLS Microenterprise Project welcomed a new Staff Attorney, Imran Hossain. Having formerly volunteered with the VOLS Microenterprise Project as a law firm pro bono lawyer, Imran brings a unique perspective to his work at VOLS. Kachun Leung, COVID Response Project AmeriCorps VISTA at VOLS, spoke to Imran about his decision to enter public interest law and how his corporate law background inspires his work today. Click here to read the article on the VOLS Website.
Pro Bono Information
Law firms and companies interested in joining the VOLS pro bono
network, please contact Sara Effron, Director of Pro Bono & Strategic
Initiatives, at seffron@volsprobono.org.
VOLS provides volunteers with substantive training and ongoing support from our expert legal team. When you partner with VOLS, you will:
- Provide needed legal services to under-resourced New Yorkers
- Gain confidence in taking on pro bono matters
- Learn a new area of law
- Receive matters that are pre-screened by our staff
- Respond to the COVID-19 crisis
Please visit the Pro Bono Page on our website, where we will be providing updates about our work.
Pro Bono Lawyer Testimonials
“Thank you for all your help over the last 18 months. G’s case has been the most rewarding pro bono matter I have worked on to date, and part of that is absolutely because your guidance has removed from the equation the uneasy feeling of being in an unfamiliar area of practice. Hopefully our paths will cross again in the future.”
“Honestly VOLS makes it easy, especially for people like me who don’t have experience in this specific field. It could be a little overwhelming and nerve wracking for somebody who doesn’t do this type of work regularly. VOLS makes this easier by assigning a staff attorney to each matter who is always available to answer questions and are very patient and happy to review the documents before execution. It gives me a sense of confidence that I’m not going to do anything incorrectly that will have a detrimental effect on the client.”
“In volunteering with VOLS and its amazing staff, it was apparent that my participation would actually, tangibly assist the intended beneficiary. It is insanely gratifying to donate my time to an organization that so wisely utilizes its volunteers so that their energy is efficiently channeled and ultimately assists the maximum number of individuals and businesses.”
As relayed by the Immigration Project Senior Staff attorney: “The pro bono lawyer said it was daunting at the start to work on a case that was so outside of her comfort zone, but we made it so easy for her, and it was such a rewarding experience. She said she wouldn’t hesitate to take on another case in the future.”