Pro Bono Opportunities

Mobilization for Justice offers myriad opportunities for members of the private bar and retired attorneys to make important contributions to our mission. We provide training and ongoing mentoring to all pro bono attorneys.

Attorneys interested in volunteering their time should fill out and submit a Volunteer Inquiry Form.  For more information on pro bono opportunities, please contact Pro Bono Coordinator Jacqueline Adorno at jadorno@mfjlegal.org.

PRO BONO PROJECTS

Access-A-Ride: represent low-income people with disabilities denied access to MTA’s paratransit services. Attorneys representing clients at MTA administrative hearings can expect to spend 5 to 10 hours on the matter over two to three days. Co-counseling with MFJ on an Article 78 proceeding in state court involves a more substantial time commitment and enhanced opportunities for litigation skills building. Tasks: interview clients; prepare papers; staff clinics; conduct administrative hearings.

Adoption/Kinship Caregivers: represent grandparents and other family or friends caring for non-biological children outside the foster care system, in adoption proceedings. These cases are most commonly filed in the Family Courts of Bronx and Brooklyn. The representation generally requires 7 to 10 hours of work per month; an adoption can be finalized within a year.
Tasks: ­in­­terview clients; prepare petitions; conduct family court hearings.

Children’s Rights/Special Education: represent parents of students with disabilities seeking appropriate education placement and services for their child. Pro bono opportunities include participating in a clinic to counsel parents on a discrete special education topic (3-5 hours training plus 2-5 hour commitment for clinic), representation of a parent at an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting (training plus 8 hours+ time commitment), and representing parents in an administrative due process hearing (training plus 40 hours+  time commitment). Tasks: interview clients and potential witnesses; document review; analyze legal issues; draft due process complaints; negotiate with the DOE; conduct administrative hearings.

Low-Income Bankruptcy Filings: represent low-income Chapter 7 bankruptcy petitioners discharge debts and get a fresh start. Attorneys working on these cases need not have bankruptcy or litigation expertise. Participants should expect to commit approximately 20 to 25 hours to the matter over a six-month period. Tasks: interview clients; prepare petitions.

Low-Income Tax Clinic: represent low-income taxpayers in controversies before the IRS and New York State Department of Finance to bring the client into tax compliance. These cases generally require 15 to 25 hours to complete. Tasks: interview clients; negotiate collection alternatives; staff clinics.

OATH Clinic: represent low-income immigrant taxi drivers facing thousands of dollars in civil penalties and loss of their licenses threatening their livelihood. These cases require staffing MFJ’s OATH clinic, which occurs every Thursday from 9-5 at 31-00 47th Avenue, 3rd Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101. Tasks: interview clients; review and explain summonses; staff clinics; negotiate settlements; conduct administrative hearings.

Re-Entry to the Workforce:  represent people with past criminal records who need employment licenses or face discimination in re-entering the workforce. Tasks: interview clients; assist clients to document rehabilitation; oral advocacy; conduct administrative hearings.

Supplemental Security Income Hearings: represent clients with a mental health diagnosis in disability benefit appeals before the Social Security Administration. Pro bono attorneys can expect to spend about 30-40 hours on each case. Tasks: interview clients; review records; draft pre-hearing memoranda; conduct ­administrative hearings.

Co-Counsel: Assist MFJ attorneys working on impact and class action litigation by serving as co-counsel or conducting case-related research.

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