VOLS Monthly Newsletter

Connecting with our Community: September News

September is full of fresh starts and a calendar of clinics, training, and legal education presentations across our projects. We trained our pro bono partners, testified before the New York City Council, and traveled across the city to meet with our clients. In this issue, we’re sharing the many ways we supported and connected with our community this month.

Best,

Stephanie Taylor | She/Her
Pro Bono Director and IMLP Director


Get to Know Our Team

As part of the VOLS Spotlight Series, we spoke with John Holt, Director of the VOLS Senior Law Project. 

How does the VOLS Senior Law Project support older adults in NYC? 
The Senior Law Project (SLP) helps New York City residents age 60 and older ensure their wishes and preferences related to their medical care, legal needs, and property are known and respected for the remainder of their lives and beyond. The life planning documents offered through our program are vital supports that empower our clients to make informed decisions about their future and secure their legacy for the next generation. Many of our clients have not had meaningful access to information about the importance of life planning, let alone been offered attainable legal services to put a plan in place. SLP’s goal is to connect with audiences of these older adults, provide educational presentations and materials on the importance of life planning, and offer a clear and accessible pathway to receiving those services from our amazing pro bono volunteers.

Is there an experience and/or client that you found particularly memorable?  
I find a lot of joy in the small moments of advocacy and assistance we provide to the older adults who contact SLP. So many aging New Yorkers don’t receive the services they need because they are unable to access the systems and supports that provide them, or because those systems are not tailored to the needs of older adults and are therefore difficult to navigate without assistance. One of the best feelings I’ve had is when I speak with an older adult who is seeking assistance through our helpline, and they sincerely thank me merely because I was the first person to have called them back. We cannot truly support our older adult clients if we don’t take the time to listen to them and really understand their circumstances and wishes. That is what SLP is all about, taking the time to really hear what an older adult wants and needs, and providing them access to the life planning tools that are responsive to those goals.

Tell us about yourself. What makes a “good weekend” for you?  
I love to read, listen to and collect music, and watch just about any type of sport. As a father of an eleven-year-old and a nine-year-old, a lot of my free time is oriented around the kids’ activities. I am coaching my daughter’s flag football team, and I love having the chance to watch her compete and have fun with her friends. My son loves anime and Survivor, and it has been great to see him develop his own interests and share them with me. I would say I have had a good weekend if I have gotten out of the house to watch my kids engage in an activity, have had some time to relax on my couch and catch a Maryland Terrapins game, find a babysitter and try a new restaurant with my wife and friends, and have had at least one donut.


Testimony

VOLS Benefits Law Project Director Jean Stevens testified before the New York City Council’s Committees on Aging, Disabilities and Finance on legislative efforts to expand SCRIE and DRIE eligibility and streamline processes. A full copy of the testimony is available on our website. 

VOLS Benefits Law Project Director Jean Stevens also testified before the New York City Council’s Committee on General Welfare regarding CityFHEPS applications, urging the Council to explore other legislation to expedite and streamline the CityFHEPS process for applicants applying through Homebase providers. A full copy of the testimony is available on our website. 



September Project Highlights

VOLS Benefits Law Project (BLP) held a rent freeze clinic at Goddard Riverside supported by pro bono attorneys from Paul, Weiss, and at St Martin’s Naturally Occurring Retirement Community alongside pro bono attorneys from Debevoise & Plimpton. BLP continued our regular presence in Manhattan Housing Court with volunteers from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Goodwin. BLP also held a presentation on SCRIE/DRIE to residents of Co-op City.

VOLS BLP and pro bono volunteers from Paul, Weiss.

VOLS Immigration Project (IP) held screening clinics for immigrant young people alongside pro bono attorneys from Debevoise and King & Spalding. The team continues holding weekly briefings on changing immigration law, policy, and trends for volunteer attorneys. 

VOLS Incarcerated Mothers Law Project (IMLP) continues our monthly in-person clinics. We held a clinic at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility with pro bono attorneys from A&O Shearman, Dechert, Fried Frank, NCB Sports, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher and at Taconic Correctional Facility alongside pro bono attorneys from Akin, Con Edison, Davis Polk & Wardwell, and Freshfields. 

VOLS Microenterprise Project (MEP) organized a presentation for the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD) on formalizing merchant associations, presented by pro bono partner Cleary Gottlieb.

VOLS Senior Law Project (SLP) participated in an annual “Wills for Heroes” legal clinic alongside pro bono partners Bank of America, Hogan Lovells Cadwalader and O’Melveny & Myers. SLP held legal education presentations for older adults at SAGE Harlem, Greenwich House, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, Spring Creek Senior Partners, and Village View Naturally Occurring Retirement Community. 

VOLS SLP holds a presentation at Village View NORC.
VOLS SLP holds a future planning presentation at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House.



Team VOLS x TCS New York City Marathon

One month to go until Team VOLS takes on the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon! Our amazing team is running to help close the access to justice gap for New Yorkers in need of civil legal services. Visit our page to meet our team and make an impact.




Get Ready for Back to School and Support VOLS While You Shop

Looking for stationery, gifts, and essentials? Enjoy 20% off Minted’s stationery and gifts when you shop using our exclusive discount code and Minted will donate 10% back to us. Use code: FUNDRAISEVOLS

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