Author: blog_admin

Posted on

AUSTIN SO – CATALYST SPOTLIGHT

AUSTIN SO – CATALYST SPOTLIGHT

Our very own In-Hounse Counsel Committee Co-Chair Austin So has been profiled by the Council of Urban Professionals in their Catalyst Spotlight. Austin’s commitment to diversity and inclusion has made us all proud. You can read more about what Austin has to say by clicking the link in the title.

Among other things, he shares his practical advice for young people who want their careers to make an impact:

Network constantly in all directions – up, down, sideways, in and out.  And find a way to help someone else in some small way, every day.

Austin also shared that same advice when recently spoke at AABANY’s Getting-on-Track: Networking for Lawyers panel. To read more of Austin’s candid advice, check out the highlight for that event here. 

If you’re looking for more of what Austin has done in general – talks, awards, articles – visit our blog.

Posted on

New York State Office of Court Administration, Advisory Committee on Court Interpreters and Language Access Seeks Comment on Language Access Card

The New York State Office of Court Administration, Advisory Committee led by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks, seeks to find ways to serve more effectively the pro se and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) litigant community.

The New York State courts provide interpreters for approximately 110 different languages for LEP litigants who have limited resources.  Of those 110 languages, the seven most recurring are Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Korean, and Polish.

In December 2015, the NYS courts started circulating a new public information tool.  It is a Language Access Card that concisely explains the services that are available.  As a part of the rollout, the NYS courts have prepared the cards in the seven most recurring languages, including Spanish.

We would be interested in any feedback you have on the cards, including likes, dislikes, and suggested improvements. We are also interested in your views and suggestions regarding the services provided by the NYS courts to the LEP litigant community.

Please send your comments to the Chair of the Advisory Committee, Jeffrey Winn at Jeffrey.Winn@acegroup.com. To review the card Click here.

Posted on

Appealing a social security decision? Check out Social Security’s improved online appeal process.

Social Security listened to customer feedback and made the online appeals process even better. Now, people who disagree with our disability decision can complete their appeal using our improved online appeals process.

More than 90,000 people use our online appeals application each month. We’ve certainly come a long way since introducing the online appeal option in September 2007. Throughout the nation, applicants, their representatives, third parties, groups, and organizations use the online appeal process to request review of disability decisions.

Responding to feedback from our employees and the public, the new online appeals process is easier to use and improves the speed and quality of our disability and non-disability decisions. People can now submit both the appeal form and the medical report in just one online session and electronically submit supporting documents with the appeal request. The screen messages are clear and concise, the navigation has been improved, and we’ve beefed up our on-screen help. Additionally, users who live outside of the United States are now able to file appeals online.

As a reminder, representatives who request, and are eligible for, direct fee payments must electronically file reconsiderations or request for hearings on medically denied Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability or blindness claims.

The next time you need to file an appeal, be sure to complete it online at www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityssi/appeal.html.

The above information has been provided by the Social Security Administration. Thank you to the Metropolitan Black Bar Association for sharing.

Posted on

Special Insider Offer for George Takei’s Allegiance on Broadway

The insider discount from the producers of Allegiance has been extended until February 7th. This Broadway musical, inspired by the childhood experiences of star and AALDEF friend George Takei, closes on February 14th. Allegiance, also starring Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga and Telly Leung, tells the story of a Japanese American family incarcerated in camps during World War II as they struggle to define patriotism in the face of hatred. Their story is very relevant today, as our nation’s policies on immigration and refugees have become a heated topic of debate.

Look for tickets at TelechargeOffers.com, or call 212-947-8844 and use the code ALBWFAN109.

image

Thank you AALDEF for sharing this announcement with us. Take advantage of this insider discount – the show closes on February 14th!

Posted on

PALS Mentoring Reception: Building Effective Mentoring Relationships

Date: Thursday, February 4, 2016

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Chadbourne & Parke LLP, 1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 

This networking reception will provide students and lawyers, presently participating in the PALS Mentoring Program, an opportunity to meet.

We also encourage all New York City area law students of color and attorneys interested in future participation to come and learn about PALS and our Mentoring Program.

A New Open Enrollment Period Will Commence
on Friday, February 5th!

Mentoring relationships are rewarding to both parties and are essential in the professional world.  We encourage all attorneys to share their own experiences on the giving and receiving end of mentoring relationships.

Please spread the word about this reception to attorneys who may be interested in volunteering as a mentor to a law student of color.  We continue to have a tremendous demand from students interested in obtaining a mentor.

REGISTER HERE and invite your fellow colleagues/classmates. Deadline to register is Monday, February 1st.

Proudly powered by WordPress