Extraordinary dedication demonstrated by McKnight awardees

The William E. McKnight Award for Pro Bono Service includes a long list of deserving honorees and for 2017 two more names join the prestigious list:   Alissa Fortuna-Valentine and Derrick Spatorico. 

Derrick Spatorico & Laura Smalley on Law Day

Here's what you need to know: Spatorico, a partner at Pheterson, Spatorico, Neilans LLP, is not new to taking VLSP cases.  He’s been very generous with his time. But his dedication to a mortgage foreclosure lawsuit spanned three calendar years and involved 1,125 pro bono hours.  The case culminated in a trial in January 2017 with Spatorico getting a judgment for his client to keep the home. 

Alissa Fortuna-Valentine

Fortuna-Valentine, an associate at Phillips Lytle LLP, accepted a family law matter for VLSP after another Phillips Lytle attorney helped the client obtain access to the court.  Because of the urgency of the custody matter, she needed to devote more than 126 hours in a short period of time.  It was a difficult and complex case – outside of her primary field, but she embraced the challenge and made a difference.   Her zealous representation of a father in a custody matter put her on this year’s list of McKnight awardees.

The VLSP award is named in honor tof the first African-American partner at Nixon Peabody LLP, who was dedicated to equal justice. He was a member of the VLSP board in its formative years and a key volunteer in handing difficult and complex immigration cases for people with no means to pay. 

In recent years, the following individuals have also been recognized with the McKnight award, each with their own stories of making a difference. 

2016: Matthew Fero, Andrew Martin, and Gary Van Graafeiland

2015: Sandra Williams

2014: Sanjeev Devabhakthuni, John Garrett, and Marla Pilaoscia

2013: Michael Schnittman, Karen Smith Callahan, Steven Carling

Written by Nora A. Jones

Paralegals gain client exposure via Help Center

The Paralegal Studies Certificate Program at Monroe Community College requires work-related experience, including some pro bono work, so a partnership with Volunteer Legal Services Project, Inc. has worked well for many years.

More recently paralegal students have helped to staff the Seventh Judicial District and
Rochester Central Library Help Centers, assisting VLSP staff attorney Scott MacPherson and VLSP paralegal Danielle Sharp with filling the 22.5 hours-per- week schedule.

The ABA approved paralegal studies program at MCC is headed by Michael Martella. The
curriculum was developed in partnership with the Monroe County Bar Association and the Paralegal Association of Rochester.

Judi Bogart, MCC paralegal at Help Center

“Since 2015, we’ve had about 40 paralegals gain experience at the Help Center,” MacPherson, who oversees the Help Centers for VLSP, said. “Paralegals tend to be very good with procedures and can provide assistance with forms.”

MCC’s Martella explained: “The students need internship experience and we ask that at least 10% of that experience is pro bono. The students get excellent paralegal experience under the supervision of VLSP’s staff attorneys while those in our community who vitally need civil legal services have access to help.”

In its fifth year of operation, the number of people seeking Help Center guidance has grown year after year. In 2016, the Help Centers served 2,831, compared to 2,305 in 2015.

“MCC Paralegal Program graduates have also landed jobs at VLSP, and students have come back to the classroom with experiences that are not only practical but impactful,” Martella continued.

To qualify for the approximately 15-month paralegal program, students must already have an Associates or Bachelors Degree. MCC students have gained pro bono experience through VLSP clinics and office work for a number of years, but the Help Center experience provides a new array of work-related experience.

Written by Nora A. Jones