Pro Bono Month
At VOLS we celebrate our pro bono partnerships all year long – they are our founding principle and the backbone of our program that engages 80 law firms and corporations in delivering high-quality free civil legal services throughout the city. We get to make it a little more special in October, National Pro Bono Month, by honoring the VOLS 2023 Pro Bono Dean’s List.
“There isn’t a single client whom I have met who was not memorable.”
– Dean’s List Honoree Peter F. Olberg
This group of dedicated volunteers have made a tremendous impact: from creating an entirely new cybersecurity legal education initiative for small business owners to helping ensure a family’s home received much-needed mold remediation. In addition to our October news, below, please take a moment to meet our Dean’s List honorees and read what they have to say about the rewards and challenges of pro bono and working with VOLS. It has been a busy month celebrating our pro bono partnerships and putting them to work for the community! Thank you for your ongoing support.
Best,
Abja Midha
Executive Director, Volunteers of Legal Service
Congratulations to the VOLS 2023 Pro Bono Dean’s List
Read their interviews on our website.
Join Our Team
VOLS is seeking a full-time Office Manager to support the daily operations of the organization. Visit our website for more information.
Language Access and Justice
VOLS Executive Director will participate today in a panel discussion focused on language access obligations and language justice at the Practising Law Institute’s “Providing Trauma-Informed Language Services 2023: Best Practices and Ethics” CLE program. The program will benefit attorneys and allied professionals who work with linguistically diverse clients. Further information about the program can be found on the Practising Law Institute’s website.
Project Updates – Putting Pro Bono to Work
and Celebrating National Pro Bono Month!
VOLS Benefits Law Project (BLP) formed a pro bono unemployment insurance (UI) Rapid Responders group consisting of pro bono attorneys from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobsen LLP Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP and McDermott, Will & Emery. Our UI Rapid Responders are pro bono attorneys experienced in helping unemployed workers at UI hearings with expertise and efficiency.
VOLS Immigration Project (IP) conducted a virtual immigration relief screening clinic with the support of pro bono attorneys from Davis Polk & Wardwell and JP Morgan and worked alongside pro bono partners Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP and Wells Fargo to conduct a DACA renewal clinic, providing application renewal assistance to DACA recipients. Our young adult clients were thrilled to meet with the attorneys and receive personalized support.
VOLS Incarcerated Mothers Law Project (IMLP) conducted a legal clinic at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility alongside teams of pro bono attorneys from AIG, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobsen LLP, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, GenPact and JP Morgan to address family law matters and provide advocacy and counsel.
VOLS Microenterprise Project (MEP) conducted a virtual workshop focused on entity selection and tax tips for small business owners with pro bono attorneys from Debevoise & Plimpton and MetLife. The event was hosted by Bronx SBDC at Lehman College. MEP will also conduct an advice clinic on trademarks and other intellectual property with the Association for Corporate Counsel later this month.
VOLS Senior Law Project (SLP) conducted legal clinics assisting clients with essential life planning documents at partnering community-based organizations including, Covello Senior Program Greenwich House’s Our Lady Pompeii and Independence Plaza Older Adult Center, Riverstone Senior Life Services, and SAGE. VOLS SLP also held a life planning clinic in collaboration with pro bono partners Societe Generale Americas and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. In September, our team presented alongside a Mandarin-language translator at Garden of Hope for approximately 23 people and for 43 people at CPC Nan Shan Older Adult Center in Flushing.
VOLS Immigration Project staff at a DACA renewal clinic organized by Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP, Wells Fargo and VOLS
Team VOLS x TCS New York City Marathon
Team VOLS will take on the TCS New York City Marathon on November 5, 2023! As an official charity partner, our team is running to help close the access to justice gap for New Yorkers in need of civil legal services. Visit our fundraising page to make a gift and meet our team!
Support Us While You Shop
Enjoy 20% off Minted’s unique stationery, children’s art, and gifts when you shop using our exclusive discount code, and Minted will donate 15% back to us.
Join the VOLS Community
- If you are affiliated with a VOLS partner law firm or company and would like to volunteer, please contact your company’s pro bono counsel.
- Make a donation to support VOLS’ free civil legal services: Click here to donate.
- Forward this page and ask your friends to sign up for the VOLS e-newsletter at www.volsprobono.org/join.