Pro Bono Legal Program Brochure

Call on us.

Refer clients to us.

Volunteer for us.

Support us.

Our Mission: to pursue justice for victims and prevent abuse through quality legal services, community partnerships, education, and awareness.

Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University 27 Crane Avenue White Plains, NY 10603 www.law.pace.edu/wjc www.facebook.com/pacewjc Multi-language services available For more information, call: 914-422-4069 (Main Office) 914-287-0739 (Helpline)

2017 Š PWJC

Artwork by Edel Rodriguez

Pro Bono Legal Program

Pro Bono Legal Program PWJC has a robust program to recruit, train, and supervise volunteers. Our dedicated team of volunteers include those who have some legal training (lawyers, paralegals, and law students) and those who bring other skills to our programs (community members, college, and high school students).

Volunteer Opportunities Pro Bono Attorneys Family Court Legal Program (FCLP) provides free, emergency walk-in legal assistance at PWJC’s two satellite offices in the Family Courts in White Plains and Yonkers. Volunteers conduct client interviews, review case histories, draft legal documents, prepare clients for oral testimony, and represent clients at court proceedings for orders of protection.

Attorneys commit to several full-day shifts each month.

Elder Justice Unit provides free legal services to victims of abuse aged 60 and over who are Westchester residents.

Volunteers provide legal services to lowincome seniors seeking wills, powers of attorney, or healthcare proxies, conduct client interviews, review case histories, and draft legal documents. Commitment varies between three to six hours per case.

Legal Helpline is a free telephone helpline through which volunteers provide information, guidance, and referrals to callers regarding a myriad of legal issues, including family law, divorce, housing, consumer debt, elder law, public benefits, wills, and immigration. Attorneys commit to several two-hour shifts each month.

Family Law Unit provides free legal services to low-income victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, including protective orders, custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, and divorce. Volunteers provide legal services to domestic violence survivors in uncontested divorce cases and name change actions by conducting client interviews, drafting legal documents, arranging for service of papers on the defendant, and filing documents with the court. Attorneys commit between six to ten hours per case.

Paralegals Family Law Unit: Paralegals provide support to PWJC attorneys in family law and matrimonial cases. Paralegals commit between six to ten hours per case.

Student Interns Law School Students: Throughout the fall and spring, Pace Law students attend weekly classes taught by the Director of FCLP and commit one full day of fieldwork each week to either the White Plains or Yonkers Family Court. Summer interns: Law students from all over the US compete for a placement at FCLP. Students commit to 40 hours of fieldwork each week.

High School & College Students: At the main office, students assist in a variety of tasks to support our legal team, including maintaining PWJC’s case management system, case files, and legal resources databases. Students commit to a minimum of six hours each week.

How Can I Get Involved?

If you are interested in these or other volunteer opportunities, including office work, outreach, or fundraising, Contact Natalie J. Sobchak: nsobchak@law.pace.edu

Pro Bono Legal Program PWJC has a robust program to recruit, train, and supervise volunteers. Our dedicated team of volunteers include those who have some legal training (lawyers, paralegals, and law students) and those who bring other skills to our programs (community members, college, and high school students).

Volunteer Opportunities Pro Bono Attorneys Family Court Legal Program (FCLP) provides free, emergency walk-in legal assistance at PWJC’s two satellite offices in the Family Courts in White Plains and Yonkers. Volunteers conduct client interviews, review case histories, draft legal documents, prepare clients for oral testimony, and represent clients at court proceedings for orders of protection.

Attorneys commit to several full-day shifts each month.

Elder Justice Unit provides free legal services to victims of abuse aged 60 and over who are Westchester residents.

Volunteers provide legal services to lowincome seniors seeking wills, powers of attorney, or healthcare proxies, conduct client interviews, review case histories, and draft legal documents. Commitment varies between three to six hours per case.

Legal Helpline is a free telephone helpline through which volunteers provide information, guidance, and referrals to callers regarding a myriad of legal issues, including family law, divorce, housing, consumer debt, elder law, public benefits, wills, and immigration. Attorneys commit to several two-hour shifts each month.

Family Law Unit provides free legal services to low-income victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, including protective orders, custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, and divorce. Volunteers provide legal services to domestic violence survivors in uncontested divorce cases and name change actions by conducting client interviews, drafting legal documents, arranging for service of papers on the defendant, and filing documents with the court. Attorneys commit between six to ten hours per case.

Paralegals Family Law Unit: Paralegals provide support to PWJC attorneys in family law and matrimonial cases. Paralegals commit between six to ten hours per case.

Student Interns Law School Students: Throughout the fall and spring, Pace Law students attend weekly classes taught by the Director of FCLP and commit one full day of fieldwork each week to either the White Plains or Yonkers Family Court. Summer interns: Law students from all over the US compete for a placement at FCLP. Students commit to 40 hours of fieldwork each week.

High School & College Students: At the main office, students assist in a variety of tasks to support our legal team, including maintaining PWJC’s case management system, case files, and legal resources databases. Students commit to a minimum of six hours each week.

How Can I Get Involved?

If you are interested in these or other volunteer opportunities, including office work, outreach, or fundraising, Contact Natalie J. Sobchak: nsobchak@law.pace.edu

Call on us.

Refer clients to us.

Volunteer for us.

Support us.

Our Mission: to pursue justice for victims and prevent abuse through quality legal services, community partnerships, education, and awareness.

Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University 78 North Broadway White Plains, NY 10603 law.pace.edu/wjc www.facebook.com/pacewjc Multi-language services available For more information, call: 914-422-4069 (Main Office) 914-287-0739 (Helpline)

2018 Š PWJC

Artwork by Edel Rodriguez

Pro Bono Legal Program