For the past 17 years, the Volunteer Lawyers Project has been the pride and joy of the Brooklyn Bar Association. Through it, millions of dollars in legal time and expertise have gone to the benefit of thousands of those in need of competent legal advice and service.

Now, it seems, the demand for what the VLP does for its "clients" is outstripping what can be done. Putting her case directly, VLP Executive Director Jeannie Costello wrote as follows in the recent Brooklyn Barrister: "This is a plea for help!"

Noting that "Since 1990, the ... [VLP] ... has provided pro bono legal services to the largest indigent population in New York State, "Ms. Costello said that "As Brooklyn gentrifies and ages, indigent families and the elderly urgently require legal representation and assistance to obtain and protect essential rights."

"Yet," she continues, "barely 20 percent of those who need civil legal assistance receive help. As a result, the need for volunteers has reached a critical stage." She adds that "our waiting lists are growing longer as our panels of available volunteer attorneys remain short and overworked." To deal with the burgeoning "crisis," Ms. Costello is posting "an urgent call for volunteers from the Brooklyn Bar."

Lawyers who offer pro bono services can work in a number of areas, she says, such as "Family Law (including the Uncontested Divorce Panel), Consumer Law, the Home and Hospital Panel, and the Elder Law Panel, which includes the VLP's successful and well-respected Senior Legal Education and Assistance Program."

In addition, she said, there is "an ongoing need for volunteers for the CLARO Project in Kings County Civil Court, a once-a-week advice and resource program for pro se litigants being sued by creditors." The BBP VLP is also "seeking to re-establish the Landlord-Tenant Panel because of the increased call for assistance and the dwindling of legal resources in this area. Recent statistics show that evictions rose nearly 10 percent in New York City last year," Costello points out.

The VLP has training materials for each area of practice and, says its executive director, "will provide mentors for new attorneys who take on a case, staff the CLARO project or make a [Senior] LEAP presentation." In addition, attorneys who take part will receive one CLE credit for six hours of pro bono work up to a maximum of six hours in a calendar year.

Barristers who want to take part in this vital program can visit Costello on the second floor of BBA headquarters at 123 Remsen St., call (718) 624 5446 or e-mail her at jcostello@brooklyn ynvlp.org.

« « « Justice Dabiri's Israel Venture Pleases Eagle Readers
The recently completed excellent three-part series titled "Judges Mission To Israel," written by Justice Gloria Dabiri, received rave reviews in and around Court Street. Complete with photos by Justice Joseph S. Levine, who also went on the trip, the articles told of a tour of Israel by a select group comprised mainly of jurists that related the history of the nation and deftly reported on current conditions.

"This was one of the best reports on Israel I've read,' said a colleague who's been there twice. "Justice Dabiri covered the gamut - the historical, the religious, the political - and the Eagle also did a service with these thoughtful in-depth stories. And, as usual, Justice Levine took some great photos."

Justice Dabiri was in Israel with a select group arranged in coordination with the American-Israel Friendship League. Others from Brooklyn taking part included former Appellate Division Judge William Thompson and Justice Carolyn Demarest.

There were no lawyers, since participation was essentially limited to justices. "Maybe next time a Brooklyn group goes on an AIFL tour we can get some lawyers to join in," said our colleague. Meantime, those who still haven't seen the series can view it by accessing the Brooklyn Eagle's web site at www.brooklyneagle.com.

« « « Right-Wing Think Tanker Attacks Chief Judge Kaye
As part of her determined effort to secure raises for the New York State Judiciary - following the regrettable failure of the NYS legislature to act on this vital measure - Chief Judge Judith Kaye recently told a meeting of business leaders that "We are prepared for full-scale litigation against the state of New York if nothing happens by the time the Legislature adjourns." Makes sense to us.

Why can't judges sue the state in this sad situation where some legislators are unwisely trying to get a raise for their part-time service by holding hostage the salaries of these full-time public servants who haven't had a raise in a decade? Doesn't "equal protection" protect those who ultimately determine what "equal protection" means?

Apparently not, according to Jim Copland, the director of the far-right Center for Legal Policy at the Manhattan Institute. One of the plethora of "think tanks" created by insurance companies and other anti-litigation lobbyists in recent times, the Center for Legal Policy isn't there to champion the integrity and independence of the judiciary. It exists with the goal of extinguishing the right heretofore enjoyed by everyone to his or her "day in court."

So it's no surprise that Copland - who grudgingly has to agree that judges here do deserve a raise - nevertheless had the gall to label the suggestion of possible legal action by Judge Kaye as "frivolous"! He sees her "threats to sue the state" in this situation as "disappointing."

Typical of the "tort reform" bloc, Copland, writing in the New York Post (where else?!?) argues that the very fact that Judge Kaye is considering litigation "shows just how skewed our jurists' views on litigation and the separation of powers have become."

"New York's judicial salaries are plainly too low," Copland admits. "The disparity in pay between judicial service and private practice means that it is harder and harder to attract qualified candidates with business acumen to the bench."

Before we leave the topic of "skewed" views, Copland twists the truth painfully by trying to link possible judicial litigation with "the Bronx jury effect," i.e. "runaway juries," both pet phrases of the insurance lobbies. "The Empire State is one of the very worst in commercial and product-liability litigation costs as a share of the economy," he rants. "And the worst in medical-malpractice liability costs."

So, Copland concludes, "Chief Judge Kaye's suggested lawsuit is indicative of the flawed mind-set of our legislators-in-robes..."

We understand that there's already one lawsuit moving ahead that deals with judicial raises. If the NYS legislature - aka Messrs. Silver, Bruno & Spitzer - doesn't show some gumption and increase the salaries of those who run and oversee our judicial system soon, many barristers hope that Judge Kaye moves ahead with her lawsuit.

Contrary to Copland and others of his ilk, even judges deserve their "day in court."

PRO BONO BARRISTER is a weekly column dedicated to telling about the good that lawyers do. Send your comments or suggestions to this writer care of this newspaper or to COTEYESQ@aol.com.

Notice: Readers seeking legal representation on a Pro Bono Publico basis should not contact this columnist. Rather, they should seek out the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project at (718) 624-3894.

© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
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