BigLaw boosts Brooklyn pro se project
shlep Tips its Hat to a group of New York City law firms and corporations, led by Greenberg Traurig, LLP, which are playing a central role in a new pilot Self-Represented Legal Services Project, at Brooklyn Family Court. Here are excerpts from a NYS Unified Court System press release, titled “Needy Families Get Free Legal Advice from Law Firm Attorneys,” dated October 16, 2006:“With the opening of the Self-Represented Legal Services Project at Brooklyn Family Court, for the first time in New York State, low-income litigants in Family Court who do not have an attorney will be able to obtain free legal advice from pro bono attorneys right in the courthouse. Attorneys from local New York City law firms and corporations, who have completed special training provided by the court system, will conduct free on-the-spot consultations with families in need of legal services who cannot afford to pay for them. This is an initiative of the Hon. Joseph M. Lauria, Administrative Judge of the New York City Family Court, in collaboration with the Honorable Juanita Bing Newton, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives. The project furthers the goal of Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye of providing valuable legal services to court users who are unable to afford attorneys by partnering with the city’s major law firms and corporations. . . .
It goes without saying (again), but we’re saying it nonetheless: Helping pro se litigants is an especially effective way to use the legal profession’s scarce pro bono resources. Most Family Court litigants do not need a lawyer through every step of the process (in fact, lawyers often complicate, aggravate and prolong the process) — but, they can often use well-focused legal assistance. Pro bono projects, like the one at the Brooklyn Family Court, greatly leverage pro bono efforts. 
Susan A.
October 24, 2006 @ 1:58 pm
i have a case in brooklyn family court. my court apointted attorney didn’t appear without any notice on sep 19, 2006. we suppose to go over forensic psychology report. the judge gave me next court date to January 18, 2006!!!
My lawyer disappeared and i don’t know what to do.
The judge order visitations but i didn’t see my son from January 31, 2006 when father of my son removed him from school withut jurisdiction or court order and brought him to brooklyn family court with advice of his lawyer.
My lawyer never filed motion for me to reinforce my visitations rights.
i don’t know what to do. please, i need any advise how to handle my case.
shlep: the Self-Help Law ExPress » Blog Archive » Brooklyn self-help project leverages pro bono efforts
December 28, 2006 @ 11:26 am
[…] Two months after its opening (covered in our prior post), the Self-Represented Legal Services Project, at the Brooklyn Family Court, is receiving high grades. A New York Daily News article ”Family Court offers free legal advice” (Dec. 28, 2006) explains that an “unprecedented partnership between private lawyers and state courts” has placed volunteer attorneys from some of the largest NYC law firms on site Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., since November 2nd. The project is “Led by the Greenberg Traurig law firm, attorneys from Citigroup, Strook & Strook & Lavan; Reed Smith; Dechert and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.” […]