Pro Bono opportunity - choose one day in NYLAG Family Offense Petitions Clinic
Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:38 am
NYLAG’s Domestic Violence Law Unit empowers survivors of intimate partner violence to achieve safety and stability. COVID-19 has highlighted and exacerbated domestic violence. Closures of courthouses, mandated social distance, economic stability on top of systemic barriers based on racial injustice, has had a chilling effect on survivor's ability to access our courts, justice, and protection. When the courthouses shut down and began accepting petitions for orders of protection (Family Offense Petition) online only, NYLAG stepped up to help survivors seeking protection file and appear in court.
Volunteer attorneys/law students will virtually interview clients and gather the necessary information to help them fill out Family Offense Petitions and file them electronically. Firm attorneys will safety plan and prepare clients to advocate before the court for their order of protection. Volunteer attorneys/law students may also have the opportunity to make a limited appearance before the court to advocate on behalf of the client for the initial order of protection. Initial hearings generally last about 10 minutes and occur on the same day the application is filed. A NYLAG Attorney will always supervise volunteers. Time commitment ranges from 4-7 hours in one day.
Volunteers have to attend a MANDATORY NYLAG 90-minute CLE accredited training covering the basic legal framework of family offenses, how to draft a Family Offense Petition, and how to interview survivors.
Please fill out the forms (linked below) as soon as possible if you are interested in joining us at one or more of these clinics. https://forms.office.com/Pages/Response ... 1UTUdZSi4u
Due to the high volume of interested volunteers, only those who are confirmed for clinics will be contacted. NYLAG will confirm volunteers as soon as possible. All volunteers who are not confirmed will automatically be added to our wait list. 72 hours’ notice and a replacement staffer must be provided if you are no longer able to commit to the day you are confirmed for.
Anyone who has questions about volunteering may email Gila Glattstein - GGlattstein@nylag.org
Volunteer attorneys/law students will virtually interview clients and gather the necessary information to help them fill out Family Offense Petitions and file them electronically. Firm attorneys will safety plan and prepare clients to advocate before the court for their order of protection. Volunteer attorneys/law students may also have the opportunity to make a limited appearance before the court to advocate on behalf of the client for the initial order of protection. Initial hearings generally last about 10 minutes and occur on the same day the application is filed. A NYLAG Attorney will always supervise volunteers. Time commitment ranges from 4-7 hours in one day.
Volunteers have to attend a MANDATORY NYLAG 90-minute CLE accredited training covering the basic legal framework of family offenses, how to draft a Family Offense Petition, and how to interview survivors.
Please fill out the forms (linked below) as soon as possible if you are interested in joining us at one or more of these clinics. https://forms.office.com/Pages/Response ... 1UTUdZSi4u
Due to the high volume of interested volunteers, only those who are confirmed for clinics will be contacted. NYLAG will confirm volunteers as soon as possible. All volunteers who are not confirmed will automatically be added to our wait list. 72 hours’ notice and a replacement staffer must be provided if you are no longer able to commit to the day you are confirmed for.
Anyone who has questions about volunteering may email Gila Glattstein - GGlattstein@nylag.org