BAEC Bulletin | May/June 2022 | 23
You can help.
personal safety, your relationship with your children, or your financial security is at risk. Parties come to Family Court for help with these matters. It is an emotionally stressful experience for all litigants, but especially for low-income parties who may not have the resources to navigate the legal process. Further complicating the issue is the fact that low-income parties in Family Court are often forced to handle the initial portion of their cases without counsel. Assigned counsel is not available until the client is referred by the Court at their first appearance. VLP is assisting these unrepresented clients by offering attorney consultations through the remote Family Court Help Desk. When Family Court closed to in-person proceedings in March 2020, VLP transitioned the then in-person Erie County Family Court Help Desk to a remote phone line model serving the whole Eighth Judicial District. VLP has now offered over 3,000 phone consultations to low-income clients. The phone line is a valued resource for the courts during the pandemic, with the majority of callers referred directly by the courts. Initial calls are intaked by VLP staff and student interns and then assigned for a call back with an experienced pro bono family law attorney. Volunteer attorneys can make call backs according to their schedule and without leaving their office. VLP stays in close contact with the courts in order to inform clients of the latest Covid related changes to the court process. VLP attorneys and volunteers advise clients as to how to obtain emergency relief, when and when not to file a petition, how to properly plead their case, and how to obtain both legal and social services. The clients are extremely grateful for the advice, as are the Courts for reducing poorly drafted pleadings and unnecessary litigation. VLP welcomes experienced Family Court attorneys to earn pro bono CLE credit by volunteering to offer limited scope consultations to help line clients. Specifically, volunteer attorneys are given the contact information and brief summary of the legal issue for four clients. Attorneys call and offer the consultation as their schedule permits the following day. All consultations are covered under VLP’s malpractice insurance. Attorneys may sign up by emailing Lori Roman Genovese, Family Law Senior Staff Attorney, at LGenovese@ecbavlp.com or by calling her at 716-847-0662 x305. “Nothing could be more stressful than believing your personal safety, your relationship with your children, or your financial security is at risk.”
Donating just two to three hours of your time in either of these programs greatly improves outcomes for those who don’t have the means to hire their own attorney. It’s easy to get started and new volunteers are always welcome. For information on these and other pro bono opportunities contact Maria Valeri, Pro Bono Administrator, at (716) 847- 0662 x321. •
CHRISTINE MCMENAMIN Senior Staff Housing Attorney, ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project LORI ROMAN GENOVESE Senior Staff Family Law Attorney, ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project
BAR ASSOCIATION OF ERIE COUNTY
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