NYL PB Matters 06 Spg2 4/21/06 6:28 PM Page 1 PRO BONO MATTERS SPRING 2006 NYLPI and Kasowitz Benson Win Compensation for Young Person with Learning Disabilities NYLPI and Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Department of Education (DOE) to listen to Friedman LLP won a significant compen- her pleas. Her son was struggling with his satory award from the New York City disability and failing in school. His negative Department of Education on experiences had taught him to fear academic behalf of Alexander James, a NYLPI environments, further impairing his educa- young man with learning dis- SPECIAL tion. The DOE’s specialists diagnosed him abilities. He will now be able ED as mentally retarded, claiming Alexander to obtain the educational sup- was not capable of advancing in an academ- port he needs to graduate with a high school ic setting. Ms. James knew otherwise, but diploma. could not convince the bureaucracy. Cheryl James, Alexander’s mother, spent “Nobody believed me,” she recalled. “I just four frustrating years trying to get the went running around in circles…running to the school, on the phone, going to meetings.” After years of frustration, Ms. James finally connected with Pamela Hux-Singh, a special education advocate, and Kim Sweet, NYLPI Associate General Counsel and Coordinator of the Education Program. Sweet and Hux- Singh helped Ms. James build a case that Alexander could succeed academically with the intensive support of a residential school. They had him evaluated by a group of inde- pendent experts who agreed with that assessment. ALEXANDER AND CHERYL JAMES AT THE KOLBOURNE SCHOOL (CONTINUED ON PAGE 4) Inside: Pro Bono Models: Bingham McCutchen Partners with Law & Society Award Luncheon 3 Say Yes to Education to Support Harlem Families Associate Matters 4 Pro Bono Models will be a regular series school. Say Yes also provides students who NCRCR Book Launch 5 highlighting the innovative pro bono efforts graduate with full college tuition at the insti- 9-11 Project Book Launch 7 Clearinghouse Matters 8 of our member law firms. tution of their choice. Associates Committee Event 13 Bingham McCutchen LLP has made a In New York, Say Yes is working with 425 In-House Update 14 commitment virtually unheard-of in the pro students from five Harlem schools, and bono field: they have agreed to provide over Bingham has committed to providing them 425 families with free legal services for the and their families with pro bono legal ser- next fifteen years. The firm has partnered with Say Yes to Education, a nonprofit academic interven- tion program for students who are facing educational and social challenges. The organization, which was founded in 1987 by Hartford financial manager George A. Weiss, adopts entire classes of children and provides them and their families with sup- port to help the students graduate from high A BINGHAM STAFF PERSON TUTORS SAY YES STUDENTS (CONTINUED ON PAGE 2) NEW YORK LAWYERS FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST NEW YORK LAWYERS 1 NYL PB Matters 06 Spg2 4/21/06 6:28 PM Page 2 NYLPI (“PRO BONO MODELS: BINGHAM McCUTCHEN ...” PRO BONO MATTERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) vices for the next 15 years. These services eviction of a mother with two children whose SPRING 2006 are comprehensive, including assistance landlord wanted to increase their rent ille- Editor: Stephen Kang with housing and financial issues, educa- gally to aiding twenty families in their quest tional needs, immigration questions, crimi- to legalize their immigration status in the NEW YORK LAWYERS FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST nal matters, and estate planning. United States. 151 West 30 Street, 11th Floor Twice a week, Bingham attorneys travel to “This is a rare instance where a law firm can New York, NY 10001-4017 Harlem for open “office hours” at the work with a significant client to improve the Tel: (212) 244-4664 schools. Clients are welcome to drop in and lives of hundreds of people, while bringing a Fax: (212) 244-4570 discuss their issues with the attorneys pre- lot of joy to the individual lawyers and staff TDD: (212) 244-3692 sent, who either work directly to resolve the who are participating in the project,” stated Website: www.nylpi.org problem or refer them to other attorneys if Ed Maluf, Bingham partner. NYLPI STAFF necessary. In addition, the program oper- The firm’s interest in the families extends ates a 24-hour message line, where clients beyond the provision of legal services. Last Michael Rothenberg, Executive Director Marianne Engelman Lado, General Counsel can leave voicemails for urgent situations. summer, a group of non-legal staff from “By providing comprehensive legal services Bingham worked at a summer camp program Jaclyn Okin Barney, Staff Attorney to some of the City’s most indigent residents, run by Say Yes. The experience was enor- Eddie Bautista, Director of Community Planning we are allowing hundreds of children and mously rewarding for all the participants, Marnie Berk, Director of Pro Bono Programs Paola Martínez Boone, Community Organizer and further affirmed Bingham’s commitment their families to remain focused on the Dennis Boyd, Senior Staff Attorney child’s education,” said Jaimie Dockray, to the students and families. Ajamu Brown, Community Organizer Gabriel Dusenbury, Program Associate Managing Director of Bingham’s Say Yes to “They’re as committed [to the families] as Education Program. Veronica Eady, Senior Staff Attorney we are,” commented Rachel Flax, Say Yes’ Margaret Fequiere, Executive Assistant Since November 2004, when the program Regional Director. “Bingham is setting an Genevieve Gazón, Executive Assistant kicked off, Bingham has provided services example for law firms everywhere.” Shakima Grant, Office Assistant John Gresham, Senior Litigation Counsel on a range of matters, from preventing the Rafael Gutierrez, IT Administrator Chris Johnson, Campaign Coordinator Stephen Kang, Program Associate New Staff and Interns Gavin Kearney, Staff Attorney Michelle Kraus, Disability Rights Advocate NYLPI welcomes two new Jin Hee Lee, Staff Attorney members of our staff: Amanda Masters, Senior Staff Attorney Amanda Matteis, Legal Assistant Shakima Grant, Office Assistant Suhali Mendez, Legal Assistant Jin Hee Lee, Staff Attorney, Roberta Mueller, Senior Staff Attorney Access to Health Care Robin Naismith, Assistant Director of Development Isabel Ochoa, Director of Development Rebecca Price, Staff Attorney We also welcome the following Jaime Rivera, Community Organizer interns and volunteers: Lourdes Rivera-Putz, Advocacy Specialist Jessica Rosero, Intake Coordinator Anthony Allen, IT Assistant Daryl Samuel, Office Administrator Susan Hannigan, Intake Michael Scherz, Senior Staff Attorney Volunteer, Disability Tanya Silas, Development Associate Law Center Kimberly Sweet, Associate General Counsel Matthew Larson, Volunteer, Aprill Turner, Media Coordinator National Campaign to Nancy Vazquez, Receptionist/Administrative Assistant Restore Civil Rights Pauline Yoo, Senior Staff Attorney Kevin Olson, Volunteer Attorney Edie Ringel, Volunteer Attorney Camille Zentner, Legal Intern, Brooklyn Law School NYLPI JAIMIE DOCKRAY, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BINGHAM’S SAY YES PROGRAM, WITH A SAY YES STUDENT. 2 NYL PB Matters 06 Spg2 4/21/06 6:28 PM Page 3 Zachary W. Carter, Esq, Honored at Law & Society Award Luncheon On February 28, 2006, NYLPI hosted the Law & Society Award Luncheon, which hon- ors attorneys who are true exemplars of the highest ideals of our legal profession. This year, we honored Zachary W. Carter, partner at Dorsey & Whitney LLP. The event was held at Cipriani’s and was attended by 700 attorneys. Prior to joining his current firm, Mr. Carter served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York for six years. He was responsible for numerous prosecutions of national significance, including the success- (L TO R) NYLPI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MICHAEL ROTHENBERG, HONOREE ZACHARY W. CARTER, COUNSEL TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY, EASTERN DISTRICT ful prosecution of New York City police offi- BARBARA UNDERWOOD, NYLPI BOARD CHAIR SHARON BOWEN. cers for the torture of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima. Mr. Carter was also a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys, where he significantly contributed to the development of Department of Justice policies. He has held numerous prominent positions during his career, including U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York, Criminal Court Judge for the City of New York, and Executive Assistant District Attorney for Kings County. Mr. Carter serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Hale House, a position to which he was appointed by the New York State (L TO R) EPSTEIN BECKER PARTNER BARRY COZIER, NYC DEPUTY MAYOR CAROL ROBLES-ROMAN, US DISTRICT JUDGE OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT GEORGE DANIELS, Attorney General. AND US COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE JUDGE NICHOLAS TSOUCALAS. (L TO R) MICHAEL ROTHENBERG, FORMER BOARD CHAIR DAVID BRODSKY, BARBARA UNDERWOOD, ZACHARY CARTER, SHARON BOWEN, NYLPI BOARD MEMBER LORETTA LYNCH, CHAIR-ELECT JOHN SIFFERT. OVER 700 FRIENDS OF NYLPI ATTENDED THE EVENT. 3 NYL PB Matters 06 Spg2 4/21/06 6:28 PM Page 4 Associate Matters cases in the last two years and looks for- NYLPI Associate General Counsel and ward to more. Coordinator of the Education Program. “I Amy Impellizzeri Impellizzeri enjoys many parts of her spe- knew from the moment I met her that she Skadden, Arps, Slate, cial education work, but one of its most would do wonderful work for our clients.” Meagher & Flom LLP inspiring aspects has been working direct- On her end, Impellizzeri greatly appreci- Amy Impellizzeri, an associate at ly with parents. “The parents I’ve dealt ates the support she has received from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & with are incredible,” she said. “They’re so NYLPI’s in- Flom LLP, was looking for a pro bono involved, they sincerely want to navigate house staff. opportunity to sink her the system, and they just need someone to “The cooper- NYLPI teeth into when she help them do it.