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STATE BAR APPLAUDS HIGH COURT FOR ALLOWING
OUT-OF-STATE ATTORNEYS TO SERVE SANDY VICTIMS

New York State Bar Association President Seymour W. James, Jr. today commended the state Court of Appeals for allowing out-of-state attorneys to volunteer their legal services to New Yorkers affected by Superstorm Sandy.
 
The Court authorized out-of-state attorneys—those who are not licensed in New York—to provide pro bono services in designated counties in New York. The attorneys cannot represent clients in court, but can assist with clinics and other services for storm victims under the supervision of an established New York bar association or other eligible legal service provider.
 
In explaining its decision, the Court said it “determined that an emergency exists that affects the justice system and that certain New York residents affected by the storm may benefit from the provision of pro bono services from outside New York.” The measure is limited to New York City and Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties. 
(Link: http://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/news/nottobar/NottoBar111412.pdf.)
 
“With thousands of New Yorkers suffering, we welcome pro bono help from out-of-state attorneys. Many New York attorneys who might otherwise volunteer have themselves been displaced by the storm,” said James (The Legal Aid Society in New York City). “We encourage attorneys upstate, downstate and out-of-state to volunteer to assist storm victims.”
 
More than 1,600 attorneys have registered to participate in the State Bar Association’s webcast today from 4 to 7 p.m. on “Providing Legal Assistance to Persons Affected by Superstorm Sandy.”The free program will be webcast statewide from the State Bar Center in Albany. It also will be archived on the State Bar website for future viewing.