VOLS Pro Bono Library

Immigration Project Resources

• After You File: DACA Renewal 
• Video: DACA Initial Training with Arnold and Porter
• PowerPoint: DACA Initial Training with Arnold and Porter
• SIJS Training Manual
• Video: SIJS Training – January 13, 2022
• PowerPoint: SIJS Training – January 13, 2022

Incarcerated Mothers Law Project Resource List

Basics of Family Law for Incarcerated Mothers and Parents

• Basics of Family Law Video Training 
  • Powerpoint slides 
• IMLP Presents: Kinship Guardianship in a Nutshell
• Family Law Overview (handbook)
• Termination of Parental Rights Primer 

Forms for Clients

• Release Form
• Record Request Template
• General Records Release Template (with HIPAA-Specific Language)
• Permission to Obtain Information
• Permission to Obtain Information with Notary 
• Family Court Record Request Guidelines (NYC)
• Family Court Record Request Form (Nassau County)
• New York State Family Court Form Templates (Petitions, etc.)
• OCFS Release Form for Subject of Abuse or Neglect Investigation
• Legal Call Request Template
• How to File a Petition in NYC Family Court 

• Setting Up Legal Calls

  • How to Schedule Legal Calls
  • Taconic Legal Call Template 
  • Bedford Hills Legal Call Template

• For Internal Attorney Use

  • Intake Form
  • IMLP Interview Roadmap
  • Client Interviewing Techniques

Other Links

Microenterprise Project Resources

• Best Practices Presentation

Senior Law Project

• Senior Law Project Spanish-English Glossary 2023 
• Life Planning Documents Training Video 2023
• Life Planning Document Templates
• Life Planning Documents Manual. Current as of February 2024.
• Pro Bono Practice: Serving Aging and Disabled Clients Video May 2022
• Execution Instructions 
• Checklist for Pro Bono
• Weekly Senior Law Project Office Hours:  1pm on Thursdays (Zoom Meeting ID: 851 3636 8444)

Benefits Law Project Resources

• Updated Unemployment Benefits Q&A
• How your weekly benefits are calculated (link to Calculation of Benefit Rate)
• Request for Alternate Base Period calculation DOL Form
• Request for Reconsideration of WBR_DOL Form
• Answers to frequently asked questions about Payroll Protection Program (link to PPP and PUA FAQ)
  

VOLS Pro Bono Opportunities

Below are the pro bono opportunities currently available from the Volunteers of Legal Service team. If you are interested in an opportunity below, please email Pro Bono Specialist, Adama Fonah, (afonah@volsprobono.org), and we will send you a review file. In order to provide timely representation, we kindly request that you clear conflicts and confirm placement within one week after you receive the review file.

Volunteers with the Immigration Project, Senior Law Project & Veteran’s Initiative, and Unemployed Workers Project are not expected to have substantive experience with those areas of law. VOLS provides all necessary training materials, model documents, and mentorship.

Updated as of 4/10/2024 

Benefits Law Project

LITIGATION OPPORTUNITY

Clients: Micheal and Audrey H.

Summary: The clients are an older adult couple who reside in the Bronx who were denied the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) benefit. The SCRIE benefit allows low-income older adults who live in rent regulated apartments to freeze their rental cost in place and any rent increases on their apartments are paid to the landlord in the form of a property tax abatement. The clients’ application for SCRIE was denied by the City because their lease improperly states that they are subletters in the subject apartment. Because only prime tenants qualify for SCRIE their application was denied. The couple has lived in the apartment since 1997 and our research indicates that they were rent stabilized tenants when they moved in despite language the initial lease which claimed they were subtenants.

There is also likely a rent overcharge because the landlord was not offering renewal leases in keeping with the Rent Guidelines Board percentage increases and the renewal leases were not offered in a timely manner.

Seeking: Pro bono co-counsel to file an action in Bronx County Supreme Court.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS HEARING

Client: Julio R.
Employer: Brookhaven Care Center
Issue: Terminated for Misconduct
Procedural Posture: Requested hearing week of 4/1/24.
Summary: Mr. Rodriguez worked as a facilities mechanic for this senior center. During his employment, he was switched to a different role – to work at the front desk. There were ongoing issues with residents buying, selling and using drugs as evidenced by overdoses that occurred in the facilities and Mr. Rodriguez overhearing phone calls about drugs since he worked at the desk where the phone was located. Mr. Rodriguez attempted to report these issues several times to management. Residents became aware that Mr. Rodriguez made reports and began to complain about him. When a resident was on the phone, allegedly discussing a drug-related drop off, Mr. Joseph grew upset with him and told him to “get off the f’n phone.” Mr. Joseph was terminated for “poor treatment” of residents.
Legal Needs: Representation for their virtual unemployment insurance benefits hearing.

Client: Marvin J.
Employer: Harvard Protection Services
Issue: Voluntary Quit / Misrepresentation
Procedural Posture: Requested hearing week of 4/1/24.
Summary: On 1/24, Mr. Joseph was locked in an elevator by another staff person and taunted with racial slurs as he was trapped. When he was released, he immediately reported to the police and spent the following day attempting to file reports with the police and informed management. On 1/26, management met with Mr. Joseph but not to discuss the incident, rather, to discuss his absence the day before. Mr. Joseph indicated he did not feel safe in the building anymore and wanted to be switched. Management informed him they did not have another location to switch him to and terminated his employment. Mr. Joseph applied for benefits and was denied based on the employer’s allegations that he didn’t appear for work on 1/25, 1/26 or 1/29.
Legal Needs: Representation for their virtual unemployment insurance benefits hearing.

TRANSLATION OPPORTUNITY
Background: Increases in rent are always challenging, but they’re particularly difficult for those on fixed incomes. Seniors and individuals living with disabilities may be eligible for Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)/Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE), programs that allow successful applicants to freeze their rent. But there’s little information available on these programs, so many might not know about them.
The Work: VOLS has created a guide on SCRIE and DRIE and is now looking for volunteers to help with translations. We have an immediate need for a Polish translation, but we are also looking for help with the following languages: Spanish, Haitian-Kreyol, Arabic.

Senior Law Project

WILLS MATTERS

Client: Albert H.
Summary: Albert is an 80-year-old single veteran with no children. He would like to leave his estate to one of his cousins and his nephew, and to appoint his cousins in pivotal roles. His income consists of Social Security and a pension, he has minimal resources, and he rents his rent stabilized apartment on the Upper West Side.
Seeking: Last Will & Testament, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Living Will, Control of Remains
Language: Albert is an English-speaking client.

Client: Arthur S. & Delores S.
Summary: Arthur and Delores are a married couple. Both are African American and in their seventies. One spouse is a US Veteran. They would like to assign their children to all pivotal roles.
Legal Needs: Last Will & Testament, Power of Attorney
Language: Arthur and Delores are both English-speaking clients.

Client: Pamela H.
Summary: Pamela is a 74-year-old woman who is informally separated from her estranged spouse and who has one child. She would like to leave her estate between her grandchild and her sister, and to appoint her sister, niece, and child in pivotal roles. Her income consists of Social security and a pension, she has minimal resources, and she rents her apartment in Harlem. She is currently in a nursing home in Harlem and will need a visit.
Legal Needs: Last Will & Testament, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Control of Remains
Language: Pamela is an English-speaking client.

Client: Sevinc Y.
Summary: Sevinc is an 86-year-old divorced woman with one child. She would like to leave her estate to her child and to appoint her child and daughter-in-law in pivotal roles. Her only income comes from a pension, and she rents her apartment in the Bronx.
Legal Needs: Last Will & Testament, Control of Remains
Language: Sevinc is a Turkish-speaking client and will need interpretation.

Client: Barbara Z.
Summary: 97-year-old widow with no children. She wishes to leave her estate to a photography institution and her consultants at the Aesthetic Realism Foundation and to appoint her friends in pivotal roles. Her income consists of Social Security and a small pension, she has a modest amount of resources, and she owns the Mitchell-Lama co-op in which she lives in Kips Bay.
Legal Needs: Last Will & Testament, Power of Attorney, Control of Remains
Language: Barbara is an English-speaking client.

Client: Helene P.
Summary: Helene is 89 years old. She is French-Canadian. She is single and does not have any children. She is seeking all life planning documents except for a living will. She would like to name her close friend and her niece as her agents in all pivotal roles. She has some savings. She does not own any property and she rents her apartment. Client speaks English and French. Client would like to prepare a document in French for her family who lives in Canada detailing her wishes. We are seeking a French speaking pro bono. Helene requires a home visit. She lives in Manhattan.
Legal Needs: power of attorney, health care proxy, last will and testament, and Control of Remains
Language: Although Helene speaks both English and French, we are seeking a French speaking attorney to assist her.

Client: Stephen K.
Summary: Stephen is an 84-year-old widower with two children. He would like to leave his estate to one of his children and his grandchild and to appoint that child in pivotal roles. His income consists of Social Security and royalties, he has minimal resources, and he rents his apartment in Lenox Hill.
Legal Needs: Last Will & Testament, Power of Attorney, Control of Remains
Language: Stephen is an English-speaking client.

Client: Kathleen T.
Summary: Kathleen is a 76-year-old single woman with no children. She would like to leave her estate between her sister and sister’s children, as well as her sister and nephew’s respective partners, and to name her sister and sister’s children in pivotal roles. Her income consists of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, she has minimal resources, and she rents her apartment in East Harlem. She is unable to travel and will need a home visit.
Legal Needs: Last Will & Testament, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Living Will, Control of Remains
Language: Kathleen is an English-speaking client.

Client: Laurel W.
Summary: Laurel is a 60-year-old divorced woman with one child. She would like to leave her estate to her daughter, sister, and niece, and to appoint her sister and niece in pivotal roles. Her sole source of income is Social Security Disability, she has minimal resources, and she owns the Mitchell-Lama in which she lives on the Upper West Side.
Legal Needs: Last Will & Testament, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Living Will, Control of Remains
Language: Laurel is an English-speaking client.

OFFICE HOURS
The Senior Law Project team hosts virtual office hours over Zoom every Thursday from 1-2PM. Our staff are always available to answer questions about your cases over email or on the phone, but we also wanted to set up this forum to make it as convenient as possible to ask any questions you may have and meet the VOLS staff. The office hours do not require pre-registration and you can join the meeting any time during the hour. Please find the Zoom link here.

Microenterprise Project

BANKRUPTCY

Client: Gingie M. / Saint Chic Inc.
Business Description: With an education in fashion and a passion for the industry, Gingie founded Saint Chic, a woman-owned online fashion business showcasing her own creative designs and those by others. Gingie has faced challenges in operating Saint Chic, resulting in an accumulation of unsecured debt.
Legal Needs: Gingie requests a legal consultation on the possibility of filing for bankruptcy to discharge the debt.

Client: Ismael C. / sole proprietor
Business Description: Ismael is an independent rideshare driver serving New York City. His rideshare business struggled during the pandemic, so he took out a Small Business Administration loan to stay afloat. He has since struggled to recover and pay off his debt.
Legal Needs: Ismael requests legal assistance with advising on how to address his SBA debt, including his options for filing for bankruptcy.

Client: Mark B.
Business Description: Mark has been the owner of a foam mattress and upholstery cushions manufacturing business since 2008. While he manages some online sales, the majority come from his brick-and-mortar store in Brooklyn. Mark has faced challenges in keeping up with sales even before the pandemic, resulting in an accumulation of unsecured debt. Mark is determined to rescue his business.
Legal Needs: Mark is seeking a consultation about what is involved in a commercial bankruptcy and assistance determining if he qualifies.

CONTRACTS

Client: Jennifer S. / Nasir and Idie LLC
Business Description: Jennifer and her sisters combined their business and design backgrounds to found Nasir and Idie, a company that will design and sell clothing for children with disabilities or sensory sensitivities, inspired by their nephew who has autism. Nasir and Idie is planning to launch their company website this spring and start selling their products nationwide.
Legal Needs: Jennifer requests assistance reviewing her website’s policies including: privacy policy, terms & conditions, and an accessibility statement.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Client: Dion C. / Your Vision Printing & Media Solutions
Business Description: Your Vision Printing & Media Solutions (“YVP”) is a multimember M/WBE certified LLC that offers social and digital marketing services. The LLC is facing financial distress, where the members are considering separating and restructuring.
Legal Needs: Dion requests legal assistance with: (1) advising on preparing YVP for dissolution, including advice on addressing outstanding business debt; and (2) dissolving the LLC.

Client: Caitlin M. / Friend of a Friend Collective
Business Description: Caitlin founded Friend of a Friend Collective to help facilitate meaningful connections between people and build community. Friend of a Friend Collective is a subscription-based, membership service that helps users meet new people by organizing small dinner parties at New York City restaurants.
Legal Needs: Caitlin requests legal assistance with transferring most of her interest in the business to a friend, who would take over operations of the business going forward.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Client: LaToya M. / Collective Food Works
Business Description: LaToya is a former chef with significant experience in providing food access for underserved communities. LoToya established Collective Food Works as a nonprofit whose mission is to create, collaborate and sustain equitable initiatives surrounding community food systems, food security, workforce development, and the necessary changes needed toward food sovereignty.
Legal Needs: LaToya requests legal assistance with: (1) advising on whether she should register certain trademarks for her nonprofit; and (2) if registration is advised, registering trademarks with the USPTO.

Client: Adriane M. / Miss Mack Enterprises, Inc.
Business Description: Adriane, a Black female entrepreneur, is the founder of Miss Mack Enterprises, a consulting business with a mission to “Bring Business Outcomes and Social Impact Together.” Adriane is creating an app to provide users with hospitality training, work opportunities, and a rewards program. She is seeking assistance with protecting her intellectual property.
Legal Needs: Adriane requests legal assistance with 1) filing a trademark for the name of the app and 2) advice on how else to protect her intellectual property regarding the app.

NON-PROFIT / TAX

Client: Esther L / Cultivated Community Foundation
Business Description: Esther has worked in the nonprofit sector for many years, mostly on the financial compliance side. Esther founded Cultivated Community Foundation as a nonprofit that provides health and drug safety education for children in New York City schools.
Legal Needs: Esther requests legal assistance with: (1) reviewing and drafting, as necessary, the Cultivated Community Foundation’s bylaws and conflict of interest policy; and (2) applying for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status on behalf of the New York nonprofit corporation.

 

Immigration Project

SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS (SIJS) 

Client: DR
Description: DR is an 18-year-old Guatemalan citizen who arrived in the U.S in January of 2019. Alongside his brother, they left Guatemala to seek a better life and reconnect with their mother. DB is eligible for guardianship proceedings and associated special findings for a special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS) predicate order in family court, to allow him to petition for SIJS based on his father’s abandonment. DB lives with his trusted mother in the U.S who he wishes to appoint as guardian. This is an affirmative case.
Language: DR is a Spanish speaking client. Spanish speaker or interpreter needed.
Legal Needs: DR is seeking assistance with obtaining Guardianship and SIJS predicate Order in Queens County Family Court and SIJS Petition.

OFFICE HOURS
The Immigration Project team hosts virtual office hours over Zoom every fourth Thursday of the month from 11AM-12PM.  The office hours do not require pre-registration and you can join the meeting any time during the hour. Please find the Zoom link here.