For many of us, the holidays encompass visits with extended families and it can feel good to get back to a schedule with only nuclear family in our daily lives. However, for some Rochester children family gets very complicated.
Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC is partnering with Volunteer Legal Services Project on an initiative that focuses on Grandparent Kinship cases. BS&K attorneys have already accepted five cases where drug addiction/overdose, alcoholism, prison, and similar circumstances have made the birth parents inappropriate caregivers, and family members step up to officially take the reins.
Curtis Johnson recently spent 30+ hours helping a client (maternal grandmother) and her husband who had been taking care of two pre-school children after the children’s mother passed away from a heroin overdose. The heartbreak in reviewing the facts reminds us just how difficult 2016 was for some people, including an innocent two-year-old and four-year-old.
Earlier this year, the client was asked by the parents to take care of the children for a while because they were unable to provide for them – as both were on heroin. Child Protective Services was involved, finding the father was not providing adequate care.
With the assistance of Mr. Johnson, the court proceedings took place and the father entered a treatment program and moved in with his parents. He obtained primary custody of the children, and Mr. Johnson was able to get his client visitation for a full weekend each month.
See what I mean about complicated?
Four more custody issues have been assigned to BS&K attorneys Franz Wright, Ed Hourihan, Theresa Rusnak, and Mary Moore. Although the firm typically has few Family Court interactions, the Grandparent Kinship Pro Bono Signature Project is allowing firm attorneys to make a difference and support each other as they help fulfill a significant community need.
All of the pending custody issues involve a grandmother (often maternal) who has already been involved in raising the children. Some of them involve drug addicted parents, potential kidnappings, violence in the home setting, and even murder of a custodial parent.
Thank you Bond Schoeneck & King for taking on these tough cases.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
It takes a village...
Campaign for Justice Cabinet hard at work to meet $280,000 goal
The morning this photo was taken, about a dozen CFJ Cabinet members were missing or left early. See what I mean about a village? The saying, “it takes a village to raise a child” reflects the beliefs of some African tribes.
The CFJ Cabinet includes many experienced and loyal volunteers who have been helping Volunteer Legal Services Project, Rochester Legal Aid Society, and Legal Assistance of Western New York raise funds to meet critical legal needs of the underserved Rochester community for over 30 years. And their commitment to legal justice helps these agencies meet about 20% of the legal needs of the city’s population who live in poverty.
The CFJ Cabinet are in effect the caregivers who are ensuring equal justice in matters of housing, child custody, consumer fraud, etc. that threaten the safety and security of many underserved folks.
Since this photo was taken in November, this year’s campaign was launched and pledges totaling $180,395 have been tallied just a few days shy of Christmas.
With a little over $180k committed, the remaining balance drops to five digits as volunteers continue to spread the word about the campaign’s importance in our community.
The Law Firm Challenge is off to a great start with 51 attorneys under age 40 contributing so far. Early in the new year, we will learn more about the firms and attorneys who make up the younger tiers of the legal community.
Written by Nora A. Jones
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| Seated, from left: Dan O’Brien, Thomas Durkin, T. Andrew Brown, Megan Dorritie, and Franz Wright. Standing: David Tennant, Sheila Gaddis, Brittany Belknap, Carolyn Nussbaum, Maureen Mulholland, Barbara LaVerdi, Bill Lowe, Aileen Shinaman, Michael Schnittman, Frank Novak, Lori O’Brien, Steve Tranelli, Kelly Ross Brown, and Bryan Babcock. |
The morning this photo was taken, about a dozen CFJ Cabinet members were missing or left early. See what I mean about a village? The saying, “it takes a village to raise a child” reflects the beliefs of some African tribes.
The CFJ Cabinet includes many experienced and loyal volunteers who have been helping Volunteer Legal Services Project, Rochester Legal Aid Society, and Legal Assistance of Western New York raise funds to meet critical legal needs of the underserved Rochester community for over 30 years. And their commitment to legal justice helps these agencies meet about 20% of the legal needs of the city’s population who live in poverty.
The CFJ Cabinet are in effect the caregivers who are ensuring equal justice in matters of housing, child custody, consumer fraud, etc. that threaten the safety and security of many underserved folks.
Since this photo was taken in November, this year’s campaign was launched and pledges totaling $180,395 have been tallied just a few days shy of Christmas.
With a little over $180k committed, the remaining balance drops to five digits as volunteers continue to spread the word about the campaign’s importance in our community.
The Law Firm Challenge is off to a great start with 51 attorneys under age 40 contributing so far. Early in the new year, we will learn more about the firms and attorneys who make up the younger tiers of the legal community.
Written by Nora A. Jones
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Paying it forward where it is needed most...
Most of us reading this rarely worry about how to get somewhere. Our transportation options are reliable day to day, and we may grumble about the cost of parking but it doesn’t keep us from eating dinner.
There are many in the Rochester area who don’t have a reliable vehicle, can’t afford $8 a pop in the Civic Center garage, or may not even have money for a bus pass.
BING! Light bulb moment!
Barbara Anne Zinker was talking with her friend Sheila Gaddis about how many visits to Family Court it takes to resolve custody issues. Earlier in 2016, Zinker, a retired City of Rochester employee (1973-2013) was supporting a friend through a child custody matter and made several observations about the Hall of Justice.
She recognized that the cost of parking was steep, but in talking to Sheila learned that many VLSP clients use public transportation.
VLSP staff members Danielle Sharp and Scott MacPherson joined the conversation and through their collaboration a transportation program was started in conjunction with the Seventh Judicial District Help Center.
“In these first months, at least one person per week visiting the Help Center has used a bus pass,” Barbara noted in a recent conversation. “There may be a seasonal increase as winter arrives. And even helping one person a week is rewarding.”
Retired from a life-time of civil service, Barbara feels blessed to be able to help others and sets a great example for how someone not even involved in the day-to-day legal community can make a difference with even a small donation.
Barbara noted that copy expenses can also be a factor for someone involved in the civil legal services. Maybe there should be a parking fund for special vouchers. Maybe….
Just an observant citizen, speaking up and stepping up where there is a need.
Written by Nora A. Jones
There are many in the Rochester area who don’t have a reliable vehicle, can’t afford $8 a pop in the Civic Center garage, or may not even have money for a bus pass.
BING! Light bulb moment!
Barbara Anne Zinker was talking with her friend Sheila Gaddis about how many visits to Family Court it takes to resolve custody issues. Earlier in 2016, Zinker, a retired City of Rochester employee (1973-2013) was supporting a friend through a child custody matter and made several observations about the Hall of Justice.
VLSP staff members Danielle Sharp and Scott MacPherson joined the conversation and through their collaboration a transportation program was started in conjunction with the Seventh Judicial District Help Center.
A willingness to donate $250 coupled with a bright idea launched a program that has been in place since last July.
“In these first months, at least one person per week visiting the Help Center has used a bus pass,” Barbara noted in a recent conversation. “There may be a seasonal increase as winter arrives. And even helping one person a week is rewarding.”
Retired from a life-time of civil service, Barbara feels blessed to be able to help others and sets a great example for how someone not even involved in the day-to-day legal community can make a difference with even a small donation.
Barbara noted that copy expenses can also be a factor for someone involved in the civil legal services. Maybe there should be a parking fund for special vouchers. Maybe….
Just an observant citizen, speaking up and stepping up where there is a need.
Written by Nora A. Jones
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
"Change can be a good thing" say Campaign for Justice fundraisers
The 2016 Campaign for Justice had $70,030 in pledges by the end of the day November 16 – the first day of the phone-a-thon effort by approximately 50 volunteers in about 50 different locations.
That’s what changed: LOCATION. It used to be that volunteers gathered at one location after work to use a bank of telephones to call potential donors, working from stacks of printed donor cards. This year calls were made by volunteers all day and evening, from whatever phone was handiest, while volunteers used an online database of potential donor names. Reams of paper were spared and the effort surpassed the 2015 first-day tally of $69,148.
Legal Assistance of Western New York (LawNY) put together a team to focus on the one thousand plus attorneys who have never donated to the Campaign for Justice, so they were willing to gather for a lunch hour photo in the Telesca Center for Justice with LawNY Executive Director Ken Perri participating via video conference from the Geneva office.
In the photo, LawNY’s Marlene Attardo and Robin Marable use cell phones to demonstrate calling efforts while Harter Secrest & Emery LLP attorney and LawNY Board Member Iskra Bonanno (center) joins the effort. Far right is Lori O’Brien, LawNY managing attorney. Contributing to the $280,000 campaign goal, several of those “cold calls” resulted in donations.
When the Campaign for Justice started in 1986, I personally was working on a Wang system at Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co. at 50 E. Broad St., and talk of the paperless office was a pipe dream. Personal computers were making their way into more and more businesses, but we had not yet come to rely on cell phones, or e-mail, or handheld devices. We did not know what an electronic tablet was.
So that very first Campaign for Justice fundraiser relied on paper files, and paper donor cards created from that accumulation of data that we so freely call a database today. Our file cabinets and file folders held the recorded information we manually looked up.
We’ve come a long way in 30 years, with the 2016 Campaign for Justice eliminating reams of paper allowing volunteers to work from and update a special donor database. And, if you are pulling names and phone numbers from cyberspace via electronic device, you can probably be anywhere to make and receive phone calls.
Using the CFJ online database of names and phone numbers saved an initial printing of some 2500 pledge cards/donor sheets. Those paper sheets needed to be sorted, alphabetized, updated, and handled by multiple people over the course of the campaign.
“We still believe in the value of the personal outreach. It is a once-a-year opportunity to help level the playing field where low income residents need guidance on debt, foreclosure, custody, tenant evictions, unemployment insurance, and similar daily-living concerns,” VLSP Executive Director Sheila Gaddis noted.
Written by Nora A. Jones
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Barclay Damon attorneys staff Rundel Help Center
The Rundel Memorial Building of the Rochester Central Library at 115 South Ave. lends space to Volunteer Legal Services Project for a special program dubbed “Help Center Lawyers in the Library” which operates on Friday afternoons. This is similar to the Seventh Judicial District Help Center located in the Hall of Justice, but may provide resources to a wider range of people.
VLSP attorney Scott MacPherson is responsible for ensuring forms available at the Hall of Justice Help Center are also available at the library, and for making sure the Rundel Help Center is staffed on Fridays from 1:00-4:00, as well as overseeing the Court’s Help Center.
“For some individuals, the Central Library may seem more accessible than the Hall of Justice,” MacPherson explained. “It is an important community link where many people are already seeking information. Our office in the Rundel Building is easy to get to and familiar for many in the community, without the intensity of the Hall of Justice, which requires metal detector screening.”
The Library Resource Outreach Center helps make library patrons aware of the services available at the library, including hours for Help Center Lawyers in the Library and other programs offered by other social service providers.
Although the Rundel Help Center started offering services in October 2015, scheduling became a bit easier in recent weeks when attorneys from Barclay Damon committed to keeping that site staffed.
As part of the firm’s commitment to pro bono work, Barclay Damon agreed to send Rochester office attorneys to the library every Friday between 1 and 2:30pm. VLSP paralegal Danielle Sharp and/or MacPherson himself are often on hand to assist with whatever questions walk through the door.
Barclay Damon attorneys who have participated to date include: Brittany Aungier, Gabriel Bouvet-Boischair, Sanjeev Devabhakthuni, Edwin Larkin, Danielle Mettler-LaFier, Paul Sanders, Tara Sciortino, Robert Shaddock, Tom Walsh, Mark Whitford and summer associate, Kaylan Porter.
When asked about his commitment to the Help Center project, Sanders said: “First and foremost, it’s the right thing to do. We believe there is an ethical obligation to give back to the community and help those who may not have the resources to hire lawyers like us.”
“While we don’t give people legal advice at the Help Center, we can provide the tools and guidance necessary to help them resolve legal problems they were feeling hopeless about, or refer them to someone who can help them, ” said MacPherson.
“We only see about 15 individuals per month at Rundel due to the limited hours we are there,” MacPherson added. “But every week we help someone new. We are happy to know that word is getting out about our programs!”
Written by Nora A. Jones
VLSP attorney Scott MacPherson is responsible for ensuring forms available at the Hall of Justice Help Center are also available at the library, and for making sure the Rundel Help Center is staffed on Fridays from 1:00-4:00, as well as overseeing the Court’s Help Center.
“For some individuals, the Central Library may seem more accessible than the Hall of Justice,” MacPherson explained. “It is an important community link where many people are already seeking information. Our office in the Rundel Building is easy to get to and familiar for many in the community, without the intensity of the Hall of Justice, which requires metal detector screening.”
The Library Resource Outreach Center helps make library patrons aware of the services available at the library, including hours for Help Center Lawyers in the Library and other programs offered by other social service providers.
Although the Rundel Help Center started offering services in October 2015, scheduling became a bit easier in recent weeks when attorneys from Barclay Damon committed to keeping that site staffed.
As part of the firm’s commitment to pro bono work, Barclay Damon agreed to send Rochester office attorneys to the library every Friday between 1 and 2:30pm. VLSP paralegal Danielle Sharp and/or MacPherson himself are often on hand to assist with whatever questions walk through the door.
Barclay Damon attorneys who have participated to date include: Brittany Aungier, Gabriel Bouvet-Boischair, Sanjeev Devabhakthuni, Edwin Larkin, Danielle Mettler-LaFier, Paul Sanders, Tara Sciortino, Robert Shaddock, Tom Walsh, Mark Whitford and summer associate, Kaylan Porter.
When asked about his commitment to the Help Center project, Sanders said: “First and foremost, it’s the right thing to do. We believe there is an ethical obligation to give back to the community and help those who may not have the resources to hire lawyers like us.”
“While we don’t give people legal advice at the Help Center, we can provide the tools and guidance necessary to help them resolve legal problems they were feeling hopeless about, or refer them to someone who can help them, ” said MacPherson.
“We only see about 15 individuals per month at Rundel due to the limited hours we are there,” MacPherson added. “But every week we help someone new. We are happy to know that word is getting out about our programs!”
Written by Nora A. Jones
Thursday, October 20, 2016
How is your heart today?
Isn’t that what is really meant when someone asks “How are you today?” How are YOU?
So I ask you to take a moment and think about that. Are you happy, sad, grateful, overwhelmed? Don’t tell me what’s on your schedule or where you have to be in 10 minutes -- tell me how you feel.
Do you recognize the many advantages you have in your life that keep you from worrying about food, shelter, and clothing? Are you grateful that your life has provided a fulfilling career and opportunities to pursue travel, leisure, and entertainment?
Sometimes it is important to remind ourselves why we are doing what we are doing, and offer up a big dose of generosity to help our legal service providers do their best to ensure safety, shelter, and sustenance.
Here are three opportunities to fill your heart with gratitude:
The CLE is offered in exchange for a valued donation (at the door) of $100 to the Campaign for Justice 2016. This one-time donation does not constitute a pledge to the Campaign, but would be a way to increase your contribution to the three legal service providers who benefit from the annual fundraiser.
Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County, Inc., the Legal Aid Society of Rochester, and Legal Assistance of Western New York (LawNY) count on the generosity of those who can help so those who need help may receive guidance in housing, consumer, and custody matters.
2. Volunteer to make calls: Sign up to be among the first team of volunteers to use the electronic donor database for this year’s Campaign for Justice phone-a-thon. No more stacks of alphabetized papers to locate donor contact information. It’s all in the database, and you will electronically record your results.
If you’ve participated in prior CFJ phone-a-thon events, you are already familiar with the fantastic results achieved by volunteers reaching out to friends and colleagues seeking CFJ pledges.
The problem has become “timing.” When can you reach someone? Morning may be better than evening, or cell number may be more direct than office line. For 30 years volunteers have been using a list of attorneys printed out with contact information to contact colleagues and friends about contributing to the Campaign for Justice.
Starting November 16, volunteer callers will work with an electronic list of attorneys, allowing them the freedom to make calls any time of day from whatever location is convenient to seek pledges for this year’s Campaign for Justice.
The goal is $280,000, and past history shows that over 35% of that comes from individual donors, contacted by colleagues. Contact Sheila Gaddis at 585-295-5702 or sgaddis@vlsprochester.org to become one of this year’s CFJ volunteer-callers … and fit it into your schedule as available.
3. Celebrate CFJ: The CFJ leadership is planning a kickoff celebration on Monday, November 14 at 6 p.m. at the Telesca Center for Justice, 5th floor. Yet another great way to confirm your commitment to the campaign and to rally enthusiasm among colleagues.
Typically the first call-night of the phone-a-thon includes a brief training about the Campaign for Justice, script suggestions for those new to making calls and the excitement and encouragement from other volunteer callers. Join this year’s Celebrate CFJ by signing up as a volunteer caller.
Written by Nora A. Jones
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| Megan K. Dorritie |
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Planning for end-of-life matters whether rich or poor
“Everyone should have a will, a health care proxy, and Power of Attorney in place as they get older,” advises David Ferris of Harter Secrest & Emery LLP in discussing the new HELP-U program launched by the firm and the University of Rochester General Counsel Office.
Volunteer Legal Services Project has offered Wills Clinics in the past, but the HELP-U commitment by two legal departments provides a strategy and resources that will reach more of the underserved older population by focusing on residents in Rochester Housing Authority buildings.
VLSP attorney Ann Williams helped to identify community needs, with the first two programs held at Hudson Ridge Towers and Danforth Towers.
The third clinic was held September 29th at Keeler Park Apartments with the return visit on October 13, 2016.
“When we [volunteer pro bono attorneys] meet with clients at their residence, we explain the purpose of a health care proxy and Power of Attorney, in addition to gathering facts for a Will,” Ferris said. “We need to establish trust and understand their family make up to carry out their wishes. We prepare the documents and go back to meet with the clients for review and signing.”
Jon O. Webster is the pro bono coordinator at Harter Secrest & Emery, and he is delighted to embrace this elder law outreach program.
“The overall firm survey results corresponded to VLSP’s identification of elder law as presenting a community opportunity for a pro bono wills clinic,” Webster explained. “We had partnered with Gail Norris at the University of Rochester the year she was Campaign for Justice Chair. We coordinated and presented an Ethics CLE in 2014 and plan to present their third Ethics CLE this fall for the 2016 Campaign for Justice.”
Aileen Shinaman and Mark Wright from the UR Office of Counsel have participated in the first two wills clinics. Norris is pleased to have another collaboration with Harter Secrest & Emery.
From HS&E, Andrew Anderson, Candance Curran Espinosa, Jeffrey Donigan, Amanda Dwyer, Lucrecia Knapp, and Glenn Schiek have joined Ferris and Webster at the clinics thus far.
Written by Nora A. Jones
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