RWU Pro Bono Collaborative Update
The Pro Bono Collaborative (PBC) connects attorneys in leading RI firms, law faculty, RWU law students, and community- based organizations that serve low-income, at-risk Rhode Islanders, in a concerted effort to increase free legal assistance to the poor. So it is with great pride that I can report that the PBC is beginning its fourth year stronger than ever.
The PBC now has projects with eight firms, secured another year of Rhode Island Foundation funding, developed nine new projects, and has put itself on the national map by presenting an article describing the PBC model at an NYU School of Law Conference on Access to Civil Justice.
Most recently, Nixon Peabody LLP came on board and eight of their attorneys will be working on three PBC projects: (1) the Family Life Center, to assist in getting criminal records expunged; (2) the International Institute, to assist undocumented immigrant survivors of domestic violence in their petitions to get legal residency; and (3) Youth Pride, to research and provide counsel regarding national initiatives aimed at enforcing non-discrimination laws that include prohibitions against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender, as experienced by transgender youth attending public schools.
In December, the Rhode Island Foundation announced that it would continue its supports of the PBC with another generous grant of $60,000 for 2009. To date, the Foundation has invested over $250,000 in the PBC. We are thrilled to have the support of the Rhode Island Foundation.
In November, the PBC and Feinstein Institute staff made a presentation based on a draft article entitled: “The Pro Bono Collaborative: Building Bridges Between Law Firms, Low-Income Communities, and Law Students” at the Dwight D. Opperman Institute of Judicial Administration conference on Access to Justice at New York University School of Law. The conference was attended by legal scholars and advocates from all over the country.
Following are some photos from PBC projects.
PBC Women’s Center Project team (Kristie Passalacqua, Esq. of Hinckley Allen Snyder; Tamare Piersaint of Women’s Center, RI; Catherine Lemery RWUSOL ‘09; Jennifer Mota RWUSOL ‘09 and Hans Bremer RWUSOL 12/08)
Foreclosure/Tenants’ Rights Project meeting (State Housing Action Coalition staff member, Evan Trowbridge RWUSOL ‘10, Ben Gworek RWUSOL’09, Brenda Clement, Executive Director State Housing Action Coalition, and Bob McConnell, Esq. Motley Rice.
