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T h e Qu a r t e r l y Ne w s l e t t e r o f L e g a l S e r v i c e s o f C e n t r a l N e w Y or k — F a l l / W i n t e r 2 0 1 8

LSCNY Sponsors Author Matthew Desmond’s Visit to Syracuse Matthew Desmond Visit

CLASP Re-Opens

Re-Entry Program

Loan Forgiveness Update

Cookout Photos

From the Archives

Welcome New Staff

Intern Insights

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LSCNY Brings Pulitzer Prize Winning Author Matthew Desmond, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, and More Than 800 People Together to Fight Housing Instability By Wendy Rhodes, Director of Development Eviction is a major challenge in our region. Over half of Syracuse residents rent their homes, and 58% of them have a housing cost burden. This means they spend more than 30% of their income on housing, leaving less money for food and healthcare and often putting them in the difficult position of having to choose which bills to pay each month. Upwards of 11,000 Syracuse residents face eviction each year, and throughout Central New York these numbers climb higher. Eviction is a significant contributor to housing instability and a challenge that we need to take on as a community. This July-October we challenged communities throughout Central New York to read and discuss the brilliant, eye opening, and heartbreaking book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Princeton University sociologist Matthew Desmond. The New York Times declared “…an exhaustively researched, vividly realized and, above all, unignorable book — after “Evicted,” it will no longer be possible to have a serious discussion about poverty without having a serious discussion about housing”. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the

“...decent, affordable housing should be a basic right for everybody in this country. The reason is simple: without stable shelter, everything else falls apart.” –Matthew Desmond

2 Approximately 800 people attended Mr. Desmond’s talk.

Mr. Desmond signing autographs

American City was recognized with a Pulitzer Prize and as one of the 10 Best Books of 2016 by the New York Times Book Review. City-Wide Book Club in partnership with the City of Syracuse LSCNY co-hosted a Summer Book Club in partnership with the City of Syracuse and Mayor Ben Walsh. The free Summer Book Club engaged people in neighborhoods across Syracuse and communities throughout our region with important conversations around housing stability. More than 320 people registered for the book club and received weekly wrap-up emails with discussion questions and thoughts from local leaders. Participants encouraged their existing book club to read and discuss the book together; formed new book clubs for the express purpose of reading and discussing "Evicted"; and/or read the book on their own and discussed it in our virtual book club on Facebook. More than 100 copies of Evicted were donated to the Onondaga County Public Library, and the 8 branches of the OCPL located within city limits also hosted a series of four book club discussions on “Evicted” with special guest Sally Santangelo, Executive Director, CNY Fair Housing. Free Community Event with Author Dr. Matthew Desmond LSCNY hosted a free community event on October 23, 2018 at 7:00 pm at Henninger High School as a culmination of the Summer Book Club. City of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh provided a welcome for the evening, and more than 800 people attended this landmark evening to meet and learn from author and MacArthur Genius Award recipient Dr. Matthew Desmond. Policy Discussion On October 24th, LSCNY brought together 40 community leaders in a miniretreat at Syracuse University College of Law to discuss potential substantive policy changes to help improve and expand stable housing in the City of Syracuse. This group will continue to meet in 2019 to work towards meaningful change. Special thanks to the following partners: City of Syracuse, Legal Services of Central New York, Syracuse University College of Law, Allyn Family Foundation, Syracuse University Falk School of Sport and Human Dynamics, Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, CNY Fair Housing, and Friends of the Central Library. Together we can create change! 

Matthew Desmond

Cancer Legal Advocacy and Services Project (CLASP) Re-opens to Help People in 16 Counties of Central New York By Elaine Amory, Staff Attorney “It’s a very human place being a lawyer. It’s not a science, it’s an art.” Hon. Eugene M. Fahey, NYS Court of Appeals. This quote rings true to me, especially through my work on the Cancer Legal Advocacy and Services Project. Founded in 2006, CLASP is a collaborative partnership between Legal Services of Central NY (LSCNY) and Hiscock Legal Aid Society (HLAS). This unique project provides free holistic legal services for low-income individuals and families affected by cancer throughout 16 counties of Central New York (Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Otsego, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Tioga, and Tompkins). When the Department of Health abruptly eliminated all funding for CLASP last year, we were not sure how it would be possible to continue providing this vital legal help for some of the most vulnerable people in our region. Thanks to generous support from the Allyn Family Foundation, Saint Agatha Foundation, Macy’s, Hematology-Oncology Associates of Central New York, and Dr. Jeffrey Kirshner, as well as numerous donors from HLAS’s Justice for All fundraising program, happily, we were able to reopen CLASP this year.

In collaboration with medical providers, our work highlights that dealing with non-medical issues is an important part of a person’s health and quality of life.

When I stepped into CLASP in 2009 I had no idea how important the work would become to me, both personally and professionally. My compassion for clients dealing with serious health issues continually drives me to be more effective in my work. I treasure being able to offer the care and convenience of meeting clients wherever they are, whether I’m kneeling at their bedside, sitting at their kitchen table, or meeting in one of our offices. The holistic nature of CLASP allows me to offer an array of services, which in turn has helped me to develop a broad knowledge base to better serve my clients.

While the work is often challenging, it is equally rewarding because it’s a special way for me to pay tribute to the memory of my father who we lost to cancer in 2007. I am so lucky to be able to combine my legal career with my personal purpose to make a difference in the lives of people affected by cancer. I would like to thank everyone at LSCNY and Hiscock Legal Aid Society for being supportive of CLASP. The project is again up and running, with great enthusiasm from our referral partners in the hospitals and in the community. The reopening of the cancer project has enabled me to help clients with many vital issues. Here are just a few examples of the clients we have helped through CLASP. I helped Estelle get her disability benefits reinstated after Social Security had erroneously suspended them for over 5 months. She is a 54 year old breast cancer survivor, and while she is no longer in cancer treatment, she suffers from severe complications from her treatment. She attempted to resolve the issue with Social Security on her own without success. She was struggling to keep up with her

house payments and other bills. We helped Estelle recieve a lump sum payment for the withheld benefits and showed she was entitled to ongoing benefits along with reinstatement of her Medicare coverage. I also assisted her with applying for Medicaid which will also cover the home care she desperately needs. Shannon, another new client, had been sued by a hospital for an old medical bill. She was sued despite having agreed to a repayment plan and making three timely payments, which was a financial hardship for her. We were able to successfully advocate for her rights, and convinced the hospital to pull her account back from collections in order to apply charity care to her account. She is now in the process of applying for Medicaid. Also, Crystal, a young mother recently diagnosed with breast cancer, is consulting with us on disability accommodations in order to return to work, as well as advice about receiving disability benefits. These cases are just a snapshot of the multifaceted legal needs of individuals dealing with cancer and recovery, and the technical advocacy required to help them overcome legal problems. During the time when they should be most focused on their health and family, our clients are often having to focus on food, shelter, childcare, and other essentials of life, as well as navigate dense government and health care policies. Through my work with CLASP, I am privileged to come alongside clients at their most vulnerable moments to advocate for their rights and help them receive justice. If you or someone you know needs help, call (315) 703-6599 or visit http://www.lscny.org/intake. ď‚š

Elaine Amory Advocates for Social Security Recipients

Elaine Amory with US Senator Charles Schumer

Elaine addresses local residents and media

During a July visit by Senator Charles Schumer to Central New York, Elaine Amory was given the opportunity to speak with residents and media about problems facing SSI recipients and applicants. She discussed the importance of providing timely services for those in need, and clarified for those in attendance the difference between social security and SSI. Mr. Schumer committed resources and support for diminishing the backlog of pending social security cases. The event was covered in local media stories which you can access by clicking the links below. ď‚š

Auburnpub.com (07/03/2018): Schumer wants to end backlog at Social Security office in Syracuse

Syracuse.com (07/03/2018): Extra funding could shorten nearly 2-year wait for Social Security hearings

New Re-Entry Program seeks to Reduce Civil Barriers from Criminal Convictions By Sam Young, Director of Advocacy The newest project at LSCNY has been open for just over two months, and is already having a major impact on the lives of many of its clients. The Re-Entry Project, funded by a grant from the Onondaga County Bar Association Assigned Counsel Program (ACP), functions at the intersection between criminal and civil law. The project has two goals. The first is to provide advice and consultation to ACP attorneys on the civil impact of their clients’ criminal cases, including any expected civil consequences of their criminal convictions. The second goal is to provide advice and support directly to people in Onondaga County who are seeking to overcome the consequences of their involvement with the criminal justice system. The project is staffed by LSCNY attorney Katie Krusey and advocacy specialist Jeff VanBuren. Both Katie and Jeff have a background in and passion for assisting people in overcoming the consequences of criminal convictions. Each of them worked for several years at the Center for Community Alternatives. Jeff worked at CCA for six years, first as a re -integration specialist, and later as operations manager for reintegration services. Katie worked for the agency for four years as an attorney and mitigation specialist. Both Katie and Jeff joined the staff of the Re-Entry project after a number of years assisting clients on the Helpline as a staff attorney and intake paralegal. On beginning his work with the project, Jeff said that he was looking forward to “being part of a team which would provide people with invaluable information, advocacy and counseling, and to open doors for clients who had thought them forever closed.” Being a part of the ReEntry Project “presents a tremendous opportunity to understand and implement legal remedies to barriers on behalf of clients who have had contact with the criminal justice system,” says Jeff.

The REP Project, “presents a tremendous opportunity to understand and implement legal remedies to barriers on behalf of clients who have had contact with the criminal justice system.”

Since LSCNY opened its doors on the Re-Entry Project, its staff have met several times with the leadership and members of the Assigned Counsel Program. The response from ACP attorneys has been quick and enthusiastic. A number of attorneys have called requesting advice on whether certain convictions would disqualify their clients for important benefits like public housing or cash assistance. “We are happy to help our colleagues in the criminal defense bar provide more holistic legal representation, by letting them know about possible civil impacts from their clients’ criminal cases”, said Katie Krusey. Most of the clients who have walked in the door or been referred to the Re-Entry Project are looking for help in finding good employment. Clients with certain criminal convictions on their records find it difficult to obtain competitive employment. Their challenge is made even more difficult by “employment bars” which certain state departments impose, blocking people with certain convictions from working in regulated industries like health care, education or human services. When new clients come into the office, the first step in assisting them is typically obtaining their RAP sheets from the state, and then carefully reviewing them with the client to determine if they accurately reflect the client’s criminal history. Jeff and Katie then work with the client to correct any inaccuracies in their criminal history. They will then work with the clients to prepare them to have conversations with potential employers about their criminal histories, how they have grown or changed since their involvement in the criminal justice system, and why they are good prospects

“We are happy to help our colleagues in the criminal defense bar provide more holistic legal representation, by letting them know about possible civil impacts from their clients’ criminal cases”

for employment, notwithstanding their past criminal justice involvement. The Re-Entry program has helped clients to apply for and obtain Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct. These certificates are available to some people after the completion of their criminal case, and signify that they have been rehabilitated and therefore should be restored most of the rights that have been lost as a result of their criminal convictions. These certificates do not result in a sealing of the criminal records, but they are evidence of rehabilitation, and provide the recipients with the opportunity to have a conversation with potential employers about how they have moved beyond their criminal history.

A relatively new sealing statute, which was added to the Criminal Procedure Law in 2017, does give clients the opportunity to seal the records for certain felonies and misdemeanors that occurred more than ten years in the past. For those people who can benefit from the new law, this sealing provision presents an opportunity for people to erase past mistakes, and have a “clean slate” moving forward. The Re-Entry Project has already been successful in securing one of the few sealing orders granted in Onondaga County. 

Naji’a: Goodbye, and Good Luck Naji’a Tameez said goodbye to LSCNY after nearly three years in our Utica office, in order to take a position at New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) in New York City. Naji’a is practicing health law for NYLAG, and anticipates helping clients in locations throughout several New York boroughs. On her last day at LSCNY, Naji’a had this to say: “The last few years have flown by, and I had no idea when I moved up here for this job, what a powerful experience it would be. Thank you to all of you that have contributed to my growth, that have broadened my horizons. Thank you for the opportunity to learn from the communities we serve, and the opportunity to contribute a little bit of myself.” Naji’a’s contributions to our office and the Utica community will certainly be missed, and we wish her all the best.

Update: Public Service Loan Forgiveness By Liz Conger, Staff Attorney Long before I applied for the position of Staff Attorney with Legal Services of Central New York, I determined that I wanted a meaningful and impactful career in public service, with potential for professional growth, in an environment where a healthy work-life balance was encouraged. I am lucky to have found such a position with LSCNY. However, I realized that making the move to a not-for-profit would involve a considerable financial trade-off. Nonetheless, the prospect of Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness (“PSLF”) helped allay many of my economic concerns. PLSF, implemented as part of the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007,1 played a critical role in my decision to work with LSCNY, as it undoubtedly has for other professionals considering jobs in public service. It’s no secret that law school tuition has far outpaced wages, and many professionals, (myself included), now leave law school with six-digit debt. By 2016-2017, the median tuition at private law schools was $46,055 in constant dollars,2 representing a 1,002% increase from tuition in 1956, a 303% increase in tuition since 1974, and 162% increase since 1986.3 The spike in tuition at public law schools is even more drastic with median tuition at $23,540 in 2016-2017, reflecting an 1,338% increase since 1956, 690% increase since 1974, and 492% increase since 1986.4 Unfettered tuition growth has led to unprecedented student loan debt, now totaling more than $1.52 trillion and second only to mortgages among consumer debts.5 Rising student loan debt has also impacted national trends during the past thirty years; for instance, student loan debt has been cited as a factor in the precipitous drop in home ownership among Americans in their 20’s and 30’s,6 as well as declining birthrates.7 For those unfamiliar with PSLF, the program provides loan forgiveness after 120 qualifying payments.8 Qualifying monthly payments are made while working full-time for a qualifying employer, and do not need to be consecutive. You cannot receive PSLF unless you enter an income-driven repayment plan. Income-driven repayment plans will cap a borrower’s monthly payment at an amount typically ranging between ten and twelve percent of the borrower’s discretionary income.9

Unfettered tuition growth has led to unprecedented student loan debt, now totaling more than $1.52 trillion and second only to mortgages among consumer debts.

Once the 120 payments are made, both the principal and interest on the loan are forgiven. PSLF is a tax-free event, differentiating it from the 20-25-year loan forgiveness options available under other income-driven repayment plans accessible to borrowers who are not employed with a PSLF qualified employer.10 Qualifying employers are government organizations at any level, not-for-profit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and other not-for-profit entities that are not tax-exempt yet provide certain types of qualifying public services. Serving as a full-time AmeriCorps or Peace Corps volunteer also counts as qualifying employment for the program. 1

COLLEGE COST REDUCTION AND ACCESS ACT, 110 P.L. 84, 121 Stat. 784, 110 P.L. 84, 2007 Enacted H.R. 2669, 110 Enacted H.R. 2669.

Constant or real dollars are terms describing income after adjustment for inflation. See “Current versus Constant (or Real) Dollars,” United States Census Bureau, 12 Sept. 2017, https://www.census.gov/topics/incomepoverty/income/guidance/current-vs-constant-dollars.html. Accessed 20 July 2018. 3

Campos, Paul F. “The Extraordinary Rise and Sudden Decline of Law School Tuition: A Case Study of Veblen Effects in Higher Education.” Seton Hall Law Review, 48:167 (2017): 171. Seton Hall University eRepository. Web. 20 July 2018. 4

Id.

Friedman, Zack, “Student Loan Debt Statistics in 2018: A $1.5 Trillion Crisis.” Forbes, 13 June 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2018/06/13/student-loan-debt-statistics-2018/#2e7b77a87310. Accessed 20 July 2018. 6

Kitroeff, Natalie. “How Student Debt Can Ruin Home Buying Dreams.” The New Y ork Times, 25 May 2018, https://nyti.ms/2LsVhUv. Accessed 20 July 2018.

Cain Miller, Claire. “Americans are Having Fewer Babies. They Told Us Why.” The New Y ork Times, 5 July 2018, https://nyti.ms/2KSrN1P. Accessed 20 July 2018.

“Public Service Loan Forgiveness,” Federal Student A id, https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service. Accessed 13 July 2018.

“Income Driven Plans,” Federal Student A id, https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/understand/plans/income-driven. Accessed 20 July 2018.

“Income Driven Plans,” Federal Student A id, https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/understand/plans/income-driven. Accessed 13 July 2018.

Participation in PSLF also involves the transfer of a borrower’s loans to FedLoans, which is the only provider designated to handle PSLF applications. The service that I have received since transferring my loans to FedLoans has been dismal, at best. 2017 marked the first opportunity whereby certain borrowers enrolled since the onset of the program could obtain loan forgiveness. The Department of Education advised that while 7,500 people applied to have their student loans discharged, fewer than 1,000 were expected to qualify this year.11 This is unsurprising in many ways; the copious regulations attached to the program are anything but clear, and FedLoans is notorious for communicating confusing and even incorrect information to borrowers. Consequently, numerous borrowers are suddenly finding out that they no longer qualify for PSLF despite having been initially advised otherwise.12 For instance, certain borrowers have learned, too late, that payment ahead will result in disqualification from the program.13 The future of the program is itself uncertain. PSLF has been repeatedly targeted by President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, with the administration again proposing that the program be axed in its 2019 budget.14 Many borrowers are wondering if the PSLF Program will still exist by the time that they have made 120 payments. It is generally believed that any elimination of the program would result in a “grandfathering” in of those who already are part of the program, but no official statement has been made with that assurance. As to the future of the program, the U.S. Department of Education states: “We can’t make any guarantees about the future availability of PSLF. The PSLF Program was created by Congress, and Congress could change or end the PSLF Program.”15 Loss of the program would strike a tremendous blow to government agencies and not-for-profit entities, making careers in public service unavailable to those professionals unable to afford the financial trade-off without PLSF.  11

Lobosco, Katie. “Is anyone actually getting public service loan forgiveness?” CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2018, https://money.cnn.com/2018/02/02/pf/college/public-service-student-loan-forgiveness/index.html. Accessed 20 July 2018. 12

Lieber, Ron. “Who Is a Public Servant? Borrowers Have a Lot Riding on the Answer.” The New Y ork Times, 13 Apr. 2018, https://nyti.ms/2JK0w15. Accessed 20 July 2018.

Lieber, Ron. “A $350 Million Fund Helps Many Public Servants. Meet the Ones Left Out.” The New Y ork Times, 6 Apr. 2018, https://nyti.ms/2GDxXVg. Accessed 20 July 2018.

Douglas-Gabriel, Danielle. “Trump and DeVos call for massive cuts to college student aid programs.” The W ashington Post, 13 Feb. 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2018/02/13/trumpand-devos-call-for-massive-cuts-to-college-student-aid-programs/?utm_term=.8e3e2fac64b3. Accessed 20 July 2018. 15

“Public Service Loan Forgiveness Questions and Answers,” Federal Student A id, https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service/questions#general-information. Accessed 29 June 2018.

Click Here to see the Photo Album from our Annual Cookout! Greenwood State Park, Broome County

By Susan Young, Staff Attorney A Court of Appeals case that originated in Legal Services’ Oswego County office in the 1990’s had far-reaching effects on indigent, non-custodial parents. Rose ex rel. Clancy v. Moody, 83 N.Y.3d 65 (1993), litigated by Heidi Siegfried and Fred Stanczak (with the assistance of Eric Tohtz), held unconstitutional a New York law requiring a minimum child support order of $25 per month even for non-custodial parents with no income. Kimberly Moody was the mother of three young children. At the time, her oldest child lived with the child’s grandmother. On behalf of the grandmother and child, the Oswego County Department of Social Services filed for child support against Ms. Moody. The Hearing Examiner found that Ms. Moody had no income, and declined to order her to pay the minimum obligation required at that time by New York Family Court Act 413(1)(g). The Hearing Examiner set Ms. Moody’s child support obligation at zero. Undeterred by losses at the Family Court and the Appellate Division, the County appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals. The Court, led by Judge Bellacosa, pointed out that the Federal Child Support Enforcement Act (which New York was bound to follow as a result of accepting federal funds) mandated that states were prohibited from requiring unrebuttable child support minimums and instead mandated a rebuttable presumption. Under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, federal law prevails when it clashes with a state law. The County argued in the course of the case that it would not have attempted to enforce the order due to Ms. Moody’s lack of income. However, the Legal Services attorneys pointed out to the Court that indigent parents would not realize that and might forego necessities to try to comply with such an order or would be subjected to periodic notices threatening jail if they did not pay. Heidi Siegfried is now the Director of Health Policy for the Center for Independence of the Disabled. Fred Stanczak is in private practice in Pennsylvania. Eric Tohtz, after decades as a managing attorney, is still with Legal Services of Central New York in our Oswego office. 

Fred Stanczak

Heidi Siegfried

Amanda Oppermann Michael DeBaise Sarah King Interview with Staff Attorneys Michael DeBaise and Amanda Oppermann Paul Ciavarri recently sat down with Michael and Amanda to welcome them to LSCNY and learn more about them. Paul: We’re very glad to have you on board. What brought you to Legal Services of Central New York?

Michael DeBaise

Amanda Opperman

Amanda: What attracted me was the opportunity to do day-do-day stuff helping clients while also being able to do bigger impact litigation work. I did a report in law school about Legal Services Corporation and the restrictions they have, so being able to be someplace where I wouldn’t have those restrictions

was very attractive to me. Michael: The job description was specifically for housing and housing was something I studied quite a bit in law school. The paper I wrote for professional responsibility dealt with Civil Gideon, and in particular with the right to an attorney for housing issues. The position was spot-on for me. What’s your job experience before coming to Legal Services? Michael: I lived in China for three years and taught English before working in international business. I also took a week during that time to visit Vietnam, including Hanoi, where I was one block from the “Hanoi Hilton,” where John McCain had spent five or six years. I saw his flight suit and parachute there and I thought it pretty remarkable to realize that 40 years prior Americans were being tortured a block down from me. A block down from the Hanoi Hilton was Ho Chi Minh’s body, in a compound where his home once was. Quite unique, and bizarre.

When I came back to the States, I worked in politics, with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and, later, on Congressman Dan Maffei’s re-election campaign. Amanda: I worked with Journey’s End, at a refugee shelter. And most of the clients living there were going to Canada, where they have a family member. Those who didn’t got our help to apply for asylum. There were a lot of people from Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Ethiopia, but also from the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. For a January bridge course during law school, I went to Puerto Rico, where we traveled to provide legal advice or help people filling out FEMA applications. On other days we did more humanitarian work such as giving out water. Can you tell us either what got you into law, or what hidden talents or interests do you have? Michael: Sculpting. That is, working with clay. It’s something I used to be quite good at and would like to get back to. Throwing is fun – making pots on a wheel. That’s one part of it, and the other is molding. Just creating whatever comes to mind. Amanda: For the law, I was more interested in politics first. In my young mind you had to, you know, do law in order to get to politics. Meantime, once I got involved in law and saw how it operated, I just decided to stay here! Michael if you were stranded on an island, any book or music you’d like to have with you? More than anything, a fishing pole. I would be more concerned with the survival aspect of it. And because I enjoy fishing. Amanda if you could go anywhere in the world for a concert, who would you want to see? Oh, I have a list! I really like European heavy-metal music. And there are a number of festivals in Europe during the summer I’d want to visit. Actually, there is this Caribbean-style cruise that happens during the winter called “70 thousand tons of metal” – it’s with a bunch of heavy metal bands – and I always thought it would be pretty cool to be on. Michael and Amanda, you work together in the Utica office. Is there a strength in the other person that you’ve noticed which you could comment on? Michael: I think that Amanda is very good at relating to the clients and putting them at ease, as well as explaining matters to the clients in a way that is very comprehensible. Amanda: From what I’ve seen, Michael really delves into the research. It seems like every time I walk by his desk, it’s covered in case law! And I’m asking myself “where is all this coming from?” It shows he definitely wants to doublecheck, even if something sounds familiar. He wants to be sure. And you’re less likely to be surprised, unpleasantly. It’s a really good trait. 

Welcome Sarah! Sam Young recently sat down to interview our newest attorney, Sarah King. Here is an excerpt from that interview: Sam Young: Sarah, your new colleagues at Legal Services of Central New York are very glad that you're here, and are happy to welcome you as one of our colleagues. Please tell us a little bit about where you're from and where you got your education. Sarah King: I’m from California. That’s where I grew up. I went to Claremont-McKenna College in Southern California. Then, after a stint in the Peace Corps, I went to law school at UC Berkeley. SY:

Where did you go in the Peace Corps?

SK:

I was in Benin, which is a small country in west Africa, between Togo and Nigeria.

SY:

What was that like for you?

SK Different. I was a health volunteer, so I did different health education projects, but the mission of what I was supposed to do was not particularly well defined, so I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to fill my days. Overall, it was a good experience, but definitely not structured. SY:

Did you always know you want to be a lawyer, and how did you arrive at that decision?

SK: I don't know that it was super straightforward. I guess I knew that I always wanted to do something generally to help people. I thought about being a doctor, but science is not really my strong suit. I am better at writing and arguing so I guess in that way the law was a good fit. SY:

What did you do in the law prior to moving to Syracuse?

SK: After I graduated from law school in 2009, I worked as a staff attorney at the Seventh Circuit in Chicago for 2 years, and then I worked at a small civil litigation firm in Oakland, California for about a year. Then I moved to DC and I worked at the Department of Human Services, first for the Departmental Appeals Board, and then in the Office of General Counsel for HHS. SY:

It must have been an exciting time to work at HHS, with everything that was happening with Obama Care?

SK: It was definitely an interesting time. Sadly my tenure spanned multiple administrations. So yes, it was a time of change and upheaval in the organization, with things that I was excited about, and then some that I was not necessarily super excited about. SY:

What made you want to trade in DC for our tropical paradise here in central New York?

SK: I have to admit that Syracuse was not my choice, exactly. My husband got a job teaching in the Economics Department at S.U. SY:

What are some of your interests outside of the law? What do you like to do with your free time?

SK: Well I have a two year old daughter, so I don’t have a lot of free time on my own. I spend a lot of time with her, and I'm still trying to figure out all the places to take her in the area. When she is asleep or otherwise occupied, besides sleeping myself I like to read, I like movies, I used to exercise, I like doing stuff outdoors. Theoretically I like going to concerts, but I haven't been to one in a while. SY: I'm sure your new colleagues will have some good suggestions for ways to spend your time in terms of being outdoors, but we won’t be able to help you with that for a few months now. You been volunteering with us for a few months, and then working with us as an employee for a few weeks. What are some of your first impressions of Legal Services of Central New York? SK: Everyone seems very nice and genuinely passionate about what they're doing. That’s nice to see. I’ve also been impressed by the breadth of work that the office does. It just seems like people are doing so many different, great things for the community.

Jeff VanBuren met with William Wolf to discuss his summer internship at LSCNY. J:

What was the best part of your experience this summer at LSCNY?

W: Learning more about the City of Syracuse and the surrounding area that the SUCOL brochure forgot to include. But also, learning that there are organizations out there like LSCNY that use their legal skill and knowledge to help those who may not have adequate access to justice. J:

When friends ask you, “How was your summer?,” how will you explain your internship to them?

W: Well, I usually start with "Did you know 600 kids per year are diagnosed with childhood lead poisoning in the city of Syracuse?!" (Haha shout out to Community Counsel [Paul, specifically]) Then I go on to tell them about LSCNY and all the wonderful work you do, but more specifically Community Counsel Project and TAG (I worked more closely with these departments). J: how?

Has your internship informed your decision making on the type of work you hope to do in the future, and if so,

W: In all honesty, I am not 100% sure what I want to do. I worked at Ulmer & Berne, LLP (Corporate firm with multiple offices) in Chicago seasonally throughout part of high school and all of college. Though they make a lot of money, no one really seemed.....happy. I do get joy out of helping those less fortunate and if I am able to do so with the legal knowledge I have obtained after law school, that would be great! However, I do have a strong interest in criminal law and am looking into possible careers in that field. So the short answer: yes, it informed me of more options, but unfortunately made it even harder to decide... thanks for making life harder. haha kidding. J:

Where was your favorite place, if you have one, to go out for lunch in downtown Syracuse?

W: Being from Chicago I tend to like "hole in the wall" eateries. City Hall Cafe has AMAZING breakfast sandwiches and the chicken philly is a good lunch option. When I'm feeling fancy I go to Liehs & Steigerwald. Wednesday's you get an open face steak (Strip Steak on top of a slice of garlic bread) and fries for $9.00! J: What was the most interesting client issue/project you worked on this summer? What about it makes it your favorite? W: My favorite thing was when Mary took me to the Faith & Hope Center to meet the two gentlemen who ran the gym. Melanie mentioned to Mary that I talked about one day having a non-profit organization that would teach conflict resolution to children in urban communities. I would want former boxers to teach the children how to not only try and use words, but if that fails, to resort to fists instead of guns. I was born and raised on the west side of Chicago in the Austin Neighborhood. Unfortunately, my neighborhood has had the highest number of people killed (with almost 100% of those deaths being due to gun violence) and the highest number of people shot for numerous years. Turns out, the Faith & Hope Center had the same idea and it was great hearing their story. J: How did your experience at LSCNY compare to what your expectations were? Was it what you expected? If not, how did it differ? W: After working at a corporate firm for so long that is what I grew accustomed to. I was not sure if a Legal Services office would be similar, but I am too happy to say it was not. It was a more relaxed atmosphere, but more importantly, everyone seemed to be really passionate about their work... which was great! J:

Well we’re glad you had a good experience, William. Best of luck to you, and thanks for your time.