Comments on: Brooklyn self-help project leverages pro bono efforts http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/shlep/2006/12/28/brooklyn-self-help-project-leverages-pro-bono-efforts/ news, views and info on self-help law and pro se litigation Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:11:37 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: david giacalone http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/shlep/2006/12/28/brooklyn-self-help-project-leverages-pro-bono-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-484 david giacalone Sun, 31 Dec 2006 21:04:05 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/shlep/2006/12/28/brooklyn-self-help-project-leverages-pr#comment-484 You've asked some very important questions, Orijit. I'm going to try to contact attorneys who are participating in this project to ask if they can answer your questions and give us additional information about the project. You’ve asked some very important questions, Orijit. I’m going to try to contact attorneys who are participating in this project to ask if they can answer your questions and give us additional information about the project.

]]> By: Orijit http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/shlep/2006/12/28/brooklyn-self-help-project-leverages-pro-bono-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-470 Orijit Fri, 29 Dec 2006 17:59:03 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/shlep/2006/12/28/brooklyn-self-help-project-leverages-pr#comment-470 This sounds like an exciting development not only for Brooklyn families but for anyone who lives in a metropolitan area with large law firms. I couldn't help but notice that the workstation claims to offer 'legal advice', as opposed to most workstations which only offer 'legal information'. Is there an eligibility screening process at the station which allows the lawyers to dispense advice? Do the attorneys who volunteer their time receive malpratice coverage from the larger law firms? These are questions that many who are trying to implement workstations deal with, I was wondering how Brooklyn was able to successfully address these issues. This sounds like an exciting development not only for Brooklyn families but for anyone who lives in a metropolitan area with large law firms. I couldn’t help but notice that the workstation claims to offer ‘legal advice’, as opposed to most workstations which only offer ‘legal information’. Is there an eligibility screening process at the station which allows the lawyers to dispense advice? Do the attorneys who volunteer their time receive malpratice coverage from the larger law firms? These are questions that many who are trying to implement workstations deal with, I was wondering how Brooklyn was able to successfully address these issues.

]]> By: david giacalone http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/shlep/2006/12/28/brooklyn-self-help-project-leverages-pro-bono-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-468 david giacalone Fri, 29 Dec 2006 03:27:02 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/shlep/2006/12/28/brooklyn-self-help-project-leverages-pr#comment-468 Happy New Year to you, too, Carolyn. You are absolutely correct that programs need to be available for lawyers in small, medium or large firms, as well as those working in government or as corporate counsel. That's why I have <a href="http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/shlep/2006/09/08/a-guide-or-a-guild-where-does-your-bar-group-stand/" rel="nofollow">often suggested</a> that bar associations sponsor such programs. Solos and mini-firms make up the bulk of lawyers in practice in America, isn't it about time they make use of bar associations to create such self-help programs? Law schools might also provide the necessary organizational structure. Of course, courts can themselves structure programs accessible to all lawyers who want to work at a self-help center. For example, there are volunteer attorneys working in Minnesota courts, providing brief legal consults in self-help centers, (<em>e.g</em>., <a href="http://www.mncourts.gov/district/4/?page=1200" rel="nofollow">Hennepin County</a>'s (Minneapolis) Ask a Lawyer (Free Consults) Service, and <a href="http://www.mncourts.gov/district/1/?page=1600">Dakota County</a>'s Family Court Self-Help Center). <u><font color="#800080">Minnesota's </font></u><a href="http://www.volunteerlawyersnetwork.org">Volunteer Lawyers Network</a> offers services for lawyers who want to give their services. A number of NYC bar groups and organizations have joined together to create the <a href="http://www.probono.net/ny/nyc/index.cfm" rel="nofollow">NYC Pro Bono Center</a>, which makes volunteering easier than ever, and helps place, train, and mentor lawyers. The DC Bar offers free <a href="http://www.dcbar.org/for_the_public/programs_and_services/divorce.cfm" rel="nofollow">divorce and custody clinics</a> and a <a href="http://www.dcbar.org/for_the_public/programs_and_services/landlord_tenant.cfm" rel="nofollow">landlord-tenant resource center</a>, for persons wishing to represent themselves in such matters. There are many models -- and, as we describe in <a href="http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/shlep/2006/09/11/mentoring-project-started-for-self-representation-programs/" rel="nofollow">our prior post</a>, the SelfHelpSupport network provides mentoring to help set up and operate volunteer programs. Lots of models. Lots of need. Not a lot of excuses. Happy New Year to you, too, Carolyn. You are absolutely correct that programs need to be available for lawyers in small, medium or large firms, as well as those working in government or as corporate counsel. That’s why I have often suggested that bar associations sponsor such programs. Solos and mini-firms make up the bulk of lawyers in practice in America, isn’t it about time they make use of bar associations to create such self-help programs?

Law schools might also provide the necessary organizational structure. Of course, courts can themselves structure programs accessible to all lawyers who want to work at a self-help center. For example, there are volunteer attorneys working in Minnesota courts, providing brief legal consults in self-help centers, (e.g., Hennepin County’s (Minneapolis) Ask a Lawyer (Free Consults) Service, and Dakota County’s Family Court Self-Help Center). Minnesota’s
Volunteer Lawyers Network offers services for lawyers who want to give their services.

A number of NYC bar groups and organizations have joined together to create the NYC Pro Bono Center, which makes volunteering easier than ever, and helps place, train, and mentor lawyers. The DC Bar offers free divorce and custody clinics and a landlord-tenant resource center, for persons wishing to represent themselves in such matters.

There are many models — and, as we describe in our prior post, the SelfHelpSupport network provides mentoring to help set up and operate volunteer programs. Lots of models. Lots of need. Not a lot of excuses.

]]> By: Carolyn Elefant http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/shlep/2006/12/28/brooklyn-self-help-project-leverages-pro-bono-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-467 Carolyn Elefant Fri, 29 Dec 2006 01:49:59 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/shlep/2006/12/28/brooklyn-self-help-project-leverages-pr#comment-467 While I commend the effort of the large firms, it would also be nice if they could make room for solo and small firms to participate in the project. It would be a great way for members of all sectors of the bar to work together, a way for solo and small firm lawyers to use their skills and network and it would bring more people on board to help. Solo and small firm lawyers don't always have the time or infrastructure to organize these types of things, but if someone else sets them up, they can participate, if asked. Just my thoughts. Happy New Year! While I commend the effort of the large firms, it would also be nice if they could make room for solo and small firms to participate in the project. It would be a great way for members of all sectors of the bar to work together, a way for solo and small firm lawyers to use their skills and network and it would bring more people on board to help. Solo and small firm lawyers don’t always have the time or infrastructure to organize these types of things, but if someone else sets them up, they can participate, if asked. Just my thoughts. Happy New Year!

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