As economic pressures mount, more and more legal aid organizations are being forced to do more with less. In this short article and video, NY1 documents dwindling funds and the severe legal cases that The Legal Society of New York faces.
While much of the funding for Legal Aid comes from federal funds, there is a significant amount that comes from private sources and what is called the “interest on Lawyer Account Fund.” This fund is a pool of private funds from attorneys across the state who put money into it during certain “business transactions.” The interest paid on the account contributes to the Legal Aid Society and other organizations like it across NY state.
This fund is generating a significantly smaller portion than in years past. Legal Aid and other organizations like it are forced to battle over the money that still remains but continue to represent a low income client base that is growing.
July 31st, 2009
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The contentious battle of warrantless wiretaps continues, this time with a couple of HLS alums as key attorneys in the debate. Jameel Jaffer (’99), an attorney for the ACLU, and Serrin Turner (’00) an assistant attorney with the DOJ were arguing against each other in the ongoing debate over warrantless wiretapping. The case surrounded, specifically, amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) allowing warrantless eavesdropping abroad.
The ACLU argued that the wiretapping amounts to the “interception and taping of ‘thousands and possibly millions’ of phone calls, e-mails and other communications involving Americans without warrants or probable cause.” whereas the government’s believes the “statute has mechanisms to protect Americans who are “incidental” to communications with foreigners targeted out of concern for the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.”
To read the full article, click here.
July 28th, 2009
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One might think that with the declining profits of law firms, lawyers who are still employed would actually be dedicating more time to cases that are actually earning the firm money. According to some statistics quoted in this American Lawyer article, lawyers at some of the largest and even many small or mid-sized firms have greatly increased the amount of their pro bono hours over the years, particularly in times when firms are actually losing money. Quoting statistics that the journal has tracked over the years, the article states, “(B)y 2008, the average pro bono contribution by Am Law 100 lawyers had risen 87 percent, to 71.8. Lawyers at Second Hundred firms increased their average contributions from 29 hours in 1998 to 33.2 in 2008.” The article goes on to say that “(A)fter enjoying double-digit or near–double-digit growth through 2007, in 2008 Am Law 100 firms recorded their worst financial performance since the first Bush presidency. Second Hundred firms suffered as well. Yet the commitment to pro bono has increased substantially in the past five years.”
Why do you see this uptick? A lot of explanations are provided but law firms are seeing a new generation of lawyers, growing out of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, that are interested in doing public interest oriented work than in years past.
July 2nd, 2009
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