Pro Bono Net Announces “Virtual Open House” for NYC Pro Bono Attorneys on Oct. 27

Oct. 20, 2010 - PRLog -- Pro Bono Net, a nonprofit leader in increasing access to justice, will host an Oct. 27 “virtual open house” to introduce New York City-area attorneys to pro bono opportunities with some of the area’s premier legal aid programs.  This webinar coincides with National Pro Bono Celebration Week, which takes place October 24-30.

The virtual open house is part of Pro Bono Net’s Pro Bono in New York webinar series, which makes it easier for attorneys to get involved in pro bono by introducing them to local opportunities and providing the training they need to get started.  Each hour-long webinar allows participants to hear from experts from Pro Bono Net’s legal aid partners who specialize in working with, and providing support to, pro bono attorneys.

Participants in the 3 pm webinar on Oct 27 will hear about a wide range of opportunities available for attorneys looking to get involved in pro bono work throughout the five boroughs and seven counties of the Hudson Valley. Featured organizations provide assistance to income-eligible clients in areas of housing, family law, public benefits and employment law, and offer attorneys opportunities to practice in venues ranging from state administrative hearings to federal courts.  They include:
•   MFY Legal Services, Inc.
•   The Urban Justice Center
•   Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
•   The Legal Aid Society

Participants will also receive an overview of the many resources available on probono.net/ny, including libraries of resources created and maintained by experts, trainings and events calendars, and up-to-date news about pro bono service.
The Pro Bono in New York series will continue November 17 with a presentation by the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer's Project on Article 17A guardianship proceedings for individuals with disabilities.

Past webinars, which are available to view online in the NYC Pro Bono Center on Probono.net/ny, have covered topics including matrimonial law, adoption, consumer debt, asylum law, custody and guardianship and ethical issues in representing nonprofits.

To register for webinars or get more information, or to find recordings and materials from past webinars, visit http://www.probono.net/ny/nyc/webinar.  Law firms interested in how their lawyers can best use these and other resources can contact Tony Lu, Pro Bono and Special Initiatives Coordinator, at tlu@probono.net.

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About Pro Bono Net:
Pro Bono Net (www.probono.net) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to justice through innovative uses of technology and increased volunteer lawyer participation. Founded in 1998 with support from the Open Society Institute, Pro Bono Net has created a broad and powerful network of nonprofit legal organizations, courts and bar associations across the United States. This network uses three Web-based platforms—www.probono.net, www.lawhelp.org and www.lawhelpinteractive.org—to recruit and manage volunteers, and to provide legal information and tools for low-income communities and the organizations that serve them. For more information, please visit www.probono.net.