Asian American Bar Association of New York and Legal Services NYC Launch Pilot Program to Increase Free Legal Services to Low-Income Asian Americans
June 19, 2014, New York, NY— The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) is partnering with Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) to expand pro bono legal services to low-income Asian Americans in NYC. The collaboration will begin with a pilot program offering AABANY members a CLE training on immigration remedies available to victims of domestic violence. Training participants will represent clients pro bono to obtain U Nonimmigrant Status, commonly known as “U-Visas.” U-Visas are available to crime victims who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and have cooperated with law enforcement. Pro bono attorneys will prepare U-Visas for LSNYC clients under the supervision of LSNYC attorneys. The first training will take place on June 25, 2014.
The program launches at a time when Asian Americans in New York City have become the poorest New Yorkers, who face special challenges in accessing public services due to limited English proficiency. The Asian American community is the fastest growing ethnic group in New York City, doubling in size from 1990 to 2010. Nearly one in six New Yorkers is an Asian American.
The collaboration will expand services to a population that is desperately in need of assistance, while enabling prospective and active attorneys to engage in meaningful pro bono work. AABANY and LSNYC hope to expand this project to offer opportunities and continued support for pro bono service for low-income Asian Americans in various practice areas.
For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].
The Asian American Bar Association of New York is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community. Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole. AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).
Legal Services NYC fights poverty and seeks justice for low-income New Yorkers. For more than 45 years, we have challenged systemic injustice and helped clients meet basic needs for housing, income and economic security, family and immigration stability, education, and health care. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country, with deep roots in all of the communities we serve. Our staff of almost 300 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps more than 70,500 New Yorkers annually.
This Land is Your Land, Too: Working Together for Immigrant New Yorkers
The inaugural conference of the New York Immigrant Assistance Consortium
June 9th, 2014
8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by New York Law School
New York, New York
Sponsored by NYIC, ONA, DYCD, AILA-NY
Don’t miss our special plenary, moderated by NY1’s Pat Kiernan!
Lunch Plenary: Where are we today? City, State, and Federal Perspectives.
Panelists:
New York Secretary Of State Cesar Perales
NYC Commissioner for Immigrant Affairs Nisha Agarwal
US Executive Office for Immigration Review Director Juan Osuna
USCIS NY District Director Phyllis Coven
Click here to register.
Other panels include:
Anti-Immigration Fraud Efforts & Capacity
Moderated by: JoJo Annobil of the Legal Aid Society
Outreach and Organizing with Community Partners
Moderated by:Marika Dias of Make the Road New York
Ethical Challenges of Direct Services and Representation
Moderated by: C. Mario Russell of Catholic Charities of New York
Innovations in Outreach and Service Delivery through Technology
Moderated by: Mark O’Brien of ProBono Net
Moderated by: Mark O’Brien of ProBono Net
Communications, Media, Branding
Moderated by: Laz Benitez of the New York State Office for New Americans
Coordination of Pro Bono and Volunteer Efforts
Moderated by: Miriam Buhl of Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP
National Perspectives on Legalization Planning and Implementation
Moderated by: Matthew Burnett of the Immigration Advocates Network
Private and Public Funding Partnerships
Moderated by: Christopher O’Malley of the IOLA Fund
Strategic Partnerships with Traditional and Non-Traditional Partners
Moderated by: Betsy Plum of the New York Immigration Coalition
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The purpose of this one-day conference is to advance the capacity of immigrant assistance provider organizations in New York that serve clients in an efficient, effective and coordinated manner. The conference will bring members of the Immigration community together to share their best practices and learn from current and prior experiences in immigration assistance efforts like DACA, as well as other mass assistance efforts like those following Hurricane Sandy and 9/11.
The registration fee of $55 covers admission to the conference. Admission includes a light breakfast, lunch, and an invitation to a cocktail reception following the final panel.
Please note that CLE credits will be provided.
Pro Bono Opportunity: Assist Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence?
Pro Bono Opportunity: Assist Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence?
Immigrant victims of domestic violence face several obstacles to safety. In addition to cultural and language barriers, abusers may use immigration status or threat of deportation to assert power and control. Immigrant victims are also less likely to call the police out of fear of deportation. The Government Service & Public Interest Committee and Pro Bono & Community Service Committee of AABANY are launching a pilot pro bono project with Legal Services NYC.
Dear members,
Please take our survey! We’re trying to do some good for victims of domestic violence undergoing the immigration complications. You can help. The survey is available by following the link in the title. It should take only a moment of your time. Thank you!
From NYIC: IMMIGRANTS’ DAY OF ACTION
*SAVE THE DATE*
IMMIGRANTS’ DAY OF ACTION
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014
April 10th is an historic day for our movement. This year, we will be joining groups around the country for a nationwide mobilization demonstrating the power of our movement and calling on lawmakers at the city, state and federal level to enact policies that promote immigrant rights. Please join the New York Immigration Coalition and New Yorkers for Real Immigration Reform together with our allies across New York City for a rally to demand fairness and equality for immigrants in New York and across the country.
We hope you can also join the New York Immigration Coalition in the morning for legislative meetings with our City Council and our new Mayoral Administration to push the NYIC’s City Policy & Budget Priorities, which, if enacted, would strengthen New York City as a national leader on immigrant rights.
Join us and help raise the voice of immigrants in New York City!
To RSVP click here
PRESS RELEASE: Accepting Applications for Second Circuit’s Pro Bono Panel
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse
40 Centre Street
New York, New York 10007
ROBERT A. KATZMANN
CHIEF JUDGE
CATHERINE O’HAGAN WOLFE SALLY PRITCHARD
CLERK OF COURT DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF LEGAL AFFAIRS
March 3, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Criminal Justice Act/Pro Bono Committee is accepting applications for the Second Circuit’s Pro Bono Panel. The deadline is Friday, May 2, 2014.
Pro Bono Panel members will, at the Court’s invitation or on an appellant’s motion for appointment of counsel, represent pro se litigants in civil appeals that present issues of first impression, complex issues of law or fact, or raise potentially meritorious claims warranting further briefing and oral argument. Pro bono representation will be provided to litigants who would otherwise be unable to pay for counsel and are ineligible for the appointment of counsel pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act.
Cases in which pro bono counsel will be appointed cover a broad range of legal issues. A significant percentage of the cases are prisoner civil rights appeals; others may involve labor and employment, discrimination, social security, immigration and tax law.
Applicants must be admitted to and members in good standing of the Bar of the Second Circuit, or have an application pending before this Court, and have at least three years of appellate experience. Pro Bono Panel members will serve for a term not to exceed three years.
Pro Bono Panel Members who were appointed by the Court in 2011 for a three-year term must submit a new application if they wish to remain on the Panel. A completed application package contains a resume, a written application (available on the Court’s website at http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov) and three writing samples, preferably appellate briefs on which the applicant was the primary author. These materials must be submitted to Sally Pritchard, Director of Legal Affairs, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 40 Foley Square, New York, NY 10007, by Friday, May 2, 2014.
From NYIC: Annual Immigrants’ Day of Action in Albany
Save the Date
Annual Immigrants’ Day of Action in Albany
Wednesday, March 5th, 2014
There is too much at stake for us not to stand united!
Pass the New York State DREAM Act
Provide access to driver’s licenses for all New Yorkers
Increase funding for immigrant services across New York State
To RSVP for the Immigrants’ Day of Action in Albany,
email Juan Ramirez at [email protected] for more information.
To support this exciting event with a donation, please click here.