The Pro Bono Corner
Last September Attorney Lorraine Bittner from the Women's Center and Shelter contacted us about how a new program which they had started might be able to help NLSA's PFA clients. The Shelter has received a grant establishing the Civil Law Project to provide comprehensive services for abused women.
Because of staff limitations, NLSA can only help clients who have applied for representation to obtain protection from abuse orders with the PFA itself. If there are additional custody, support and divorce issues, NLSA has usually not been able to represent the clients on these matters. The Women's Shelter, under its Civil Law Project grant, has now been able to take many of those cases at some point in the process and provide continuing legal and counseling assistance to the client.
We want to thank Attorney Lorraine Bittner for setting up this opportunity and Mary Causey for working with NLSA paralegal Mary Ann Troper-Malley to make sure that the transfer of each of these cases is carried out so efficiently.
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The Aliquippa office would like to recognize and thank two attorneys who have been assisting us for several years and who have been particularly helpful with referrals in the past year. Robert A. Banks, Esquire, 664 Merchant Street, Ambridge, PA 15003 has taken unemployment compensation and landlord tenant referrals this year; Hilary Kinal, Esquire, 683 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009, has been especially helpful with PFA referrals in the past year. We thank both of these men for their ongoing support of our program.
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The Pittsburgh office would like to recognize and thank Attorney Rudy Fabian for his outstanding assistance to us in cases involving municipal tax claims and their sale to GLS and Capital Assets. He has provided a variety of help - from researching and writing briefs to appearing in bankruptcy court to challenge claims. The work that NLSA has done in these cases has helped many clients save their homes and it is work that we could not have done without the unfailing efforts of Mr. Fabian.
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The Pittsburgh office would also like to recognize the many contributions made by Attorney Robert G. Boyle of the firm Boyle & Miller. Mr. Boyle accepts referrals from NLSA in numerous types of cases including landlord tenant and our PFA referral program. He is also a frequent volunteer at our Wednesday evening Family Law Clinic. This program is set up to provide a short general presentation on family law issues by an NLSA attorney or student intern, followed by individual consultations with the NLSA attorney and two private volunteer attorneys.
In addition to the help he provides NLSA, Mr. Boyle volunteers his time and talents for other organizations such as the Aids Task Force and CASA
If you know of a retired or semi-retired attorney or a stay-at-home parent who would like to keep their hands in the practice of law, please notify them of our great need for volunteers. Malpractice insurance is provided by the Allegheny County Bar Foundation for all referrals. Please contact Barbara Kern at (412) 255-6700 extension 449 for more information.
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
