Pace Law School Initiative to Help Haitians In Westchester

On behalf of Pace Law School Public Interest Law Center (PILC), the Public Interest Law Center, the Immigration Justice Clinic of John Jay Legal Services and the Empire Justice Center are collaborating to create an organized pro bono/volunteer effort to respond to the legal needs of Haitians living in our community. Efforts will be focused around helping Haitian immigrants living in the US to obtain Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which may include outreach and community education, direct assistance in filling out applications, and other advocacy efforts.

A training session is schedule for Friday, February 26, 2010, at 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Pace Law School. For more information, please contact the Director of the Public Interest Law Center, Jennifer C. Friedman.

Law Firms' Duty to Supervise Pro Bono Attorneys

NY State Supreme Court Justice Ellen Gesmer voided a stipulation in a divorce case where the client was represented pro bono by a former Skadden Arps associate working for a non-profit legal group that represents women in family law and immigration cases. The NYLJ story says that

[i]n granting a woman's bid to void a settlement stipulation because her pro bono divorce attorney made serious errors and was inadequately supervised, a state judge has cautioned law firms and volunteer groups that in taking on pro bono cases, they should ensure that counsel "receive appropriate support and supervision, so that they can provide pro bono clients with the same careful legal representation that they provide to paying clients."