"Judges' Best Practices" CLE/Pro Bono Program
Rural Law Center of New York - 030093
Abstract Number: 30093
May 2003
The Rural Law Center of New York, Inc. (RLC) created the "Judges' Best Practices" CLE/Pro Bono Program to deliver continuing legal education (CLE) programs to attorneys working in rural areas while simultaneously increasing pro bono involvement. Recognizing that satisfying mandatory CLE requirements can be a logistically difficult task for attorneys in rural areas, the RLC of New York, an accredited CLE provider in New York State, travels to rural counties throughout the state to deliver CLE presentations in partnership with the local judiciary, the local bar associations, and the regional legal services programs. Instead of paying registration fees for the CLE sessions, each participating attorney agrees to accept one pro bono case in the next year, which is assigned through the pro bono coordinator at the local legal services program or bar association.
CLE curriculum is designed and taught by local judges and this provides judges with the opportunity to provide local attorneys with guidance and explanations on the court's expectations. In offering these sessions, this program contributes toward satisfying an attorney's mandatory CLE requirements while also strengthening pro bono participation in rural areas. The RLC has hosted CLE programs in 26 of New York's 44 counties. The RLC works with local bar associations to locate an appropriate facility for the training as well as to publicize the event through mailings and newsletters sent to members of the local bar association.
Since the program's inception in 1998, the RLC has provided training to over 1000 attorneys who have made pro bono commitments which the RLC estimates to be worth approximately $1,500,000 in donated legal services. The sample documents below include a program overview, an agenda, an evaluation form, a handout explaining the division of tasks for setting up a program, and more. Visit the Rural Law Center of New York's website at: http://www.rurallawcenter.org/.
Contact Information:
Julie Davies
Project Coordinator
Rural Law Center of New York
56 Cornelia Street
Plattsburgh, New York 12901
Phone: (518) 561-5460
Fax: (518) 561-5468
Email
Additional Information:
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