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For Release: Immediate
September 11 , 2012
Contact: Mark Mahoney
Associate Director, Media Services
mmahoney@nysba.org
518-487-5532
Media Advisory
STATE BAR PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 12-14 TO FOCUS ON
LEGAL AID, ACCESS TO JUSTICE, CIVIL RIGHTS, PRO BONO
State Bar Partnership Conference September 12-14
to Focus on Legal Aid, Access to Justice, Civil Rights, Pro
Bono
The New York State Bar Association is sponsoring a three-day
conference in Albany September 12-14 to discuss how low-income and
disadvantaged individuals can receive improved access to justice in the
wake of economic instability and financial cutbacks to legal
services.
The 2012 Legal Assistance Partnership Conference will feature
presentations on diverse topics relating to the legal needs of
vulnerable populations, including the poor, domestic violence victims,
immigrants and veterans. More than 400 attorneys are expected to attend.
It is sponsored by the Bar Association’s Committee on Legal
Aid.
Among the 20-plus presentations scheduled for the conference are:
• How to Use the Law to Help Clients with Disabilities
Access Public Benefits
• An Introduction to Veteran Specific Benefits and Models for
Providing Services
• Using Litigation to Reform Public Housing Authorities
• How Bankruptcy Laws Can Help Your Client Survive Consumer
Debt
• Technology and Law Practice Management
• Achieving a Civil Right to Counsel in New York State
“Especially during economic hard times, when more people need
help than ever before, it is vitally important that we reach out to
serve those citizens who cannot afford legal services,” said State
Bar Association President Seymour W. James, Jr. (The Legal Aid Society
in New York City). “This conference will provide attorneys with
the knowledge and tools to help them better serve vulnerable New
Yorkers.”
Several noted legal experts in the field are scheduled to address the
conference:
• Steven Scudder and Cheryl Zalenski of the American Bar
Association’s Center for Pro Bono Exchange in Chicago will present
workshops on pro bono service.
• Ray Brescia, an assistant professor at Albany Law School,
will speak at a workshop entitled, “The Thoughtful Practitioner:
Ethics for Legal Services Advocates.”
• Andrew Scherer of New York City (Andrew Scherer
Consulting), a consultant and expert witness on access to justice,
housing, property and economic rights issues, will join Vincent Warren
of New York City, executive director of the Center for Constitutional
Rights, in discussing “Legal Services for the 99%.”
• John Pollack of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to
Counsel will speak at the closing plenary session on “A Civil
Right to Counsel.”
On Thursday evening, the Committee on Legal Aid will present its
annual Denison Ray Awards, which recognize attorneys who demonstrate a
strong commitment to serving disadvantaged and low-income clients. The
awards are named for the late Denison Ray, a longtime Albany-area civil
rights attorney and executive director of the Legal Aid Society of
Northeastern New York.
DETAILS
When: Wednesday, September 12, through Friday,
September 14.
Where: Albany Marriott, 189 Wolf
Road, Albany, N.Y.
Denison Ray Awards Reception and Dinner: Thursday,
September 13, 6 to 9 p.m.
Speakers: New York State
Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, State Bar Association President Seymour W.
James, Jr. (The Legal Aid Society in New York City).
Schedule of events: www.nysba.org/partnershipagenda
The New York State Bar Association, with 77,000 members, is the
largest voluntary state bar association in the country. It was founded
in 1876.
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