DKW Law Group Finds Creative Way to Help Neighborhood Legal Services Association
By Barbara Kern
The DKW Law Group, which is a leader in the development of ancillary practices to serve clients' legal and business needs, has also become an innovator in ways to assist the poor and needy in Allegheny County.
DKW Law Group's Pro Bono Arbitration Program is the first program in which all moneys that a firm is paid for serving as arbitrators in the Arbitration Division of Allegheny County Common Pleas Court each year are sent directly to NLSA. Many firms require their attorneys to pay the $150 arbitration fee over to the firm because the lawyers serve as arbitrators during normal business hours. However, DKW Law Group, in conjunction with the court, has set up a system that enables those fees to be paid directly to Neighborhood Legal Services Association.
In its first seven month's of operation, DKW Law Group's program provided $2,000 to NLSA. Given the number of arbitrators who are needed in the Arbitration Division each year, such programs could generate a substantial source of funding for NLSA if more firms were to get involved in them.
Judge R. Stanton Wettick, who supervises compulsory arbitration and approved the plan, states, "This program enables attorneys to fulfill their responsibilities under the Rules of Professional Conduct to render public interest legal services." Robert V. Racunas, Executive Director of NLSA, adds, "We are hopeful other law firms will want to participate in such a beneficial program."
Roberta R. Wilson, a member of DKW Law Group, developed the program and says it has been well received by the firm's Pittsburgh-based attorneys.
NLSA wishes to thank DKW Law Group for its continuing support of our work, and we hope that other firms will join in this creative program. If you would like further information, please contact Barbara Kern at 412-255-6700 extension 449.
In this issue:
NLSA Helpline Continues to Grow
Help Needed for Helpline Handbook
Hard Winter Hits Poor The Hardest
A Man of Many Talents - An Employee Spotlight on Edward Van Stevenson
Legal Services and Pro Bono Success Story
DKW Law Group Finds Creative Way to Help Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Main Office: 928 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3799
Telephone: (412) 255-6700
Toll-Free: 1-866-761-6572
Fax: (412) 355-0168
