Lay Professional Training

Bronx Legal Services - 020019

Abstract Number: 020019

June 2002

Bronx Legal Services (BLS) developed their Lay Professional Trainings to educate lay advocates in the Bronx community. BLS utilizes Lay Advocates to extend service delivery beyond the realm of their office and into the hands of non-lawyer advocates and citizens. To accomplish this, lawyers from BLS hold lay trainings for the public to educate social workers, counselors, caseworkers/managers, paralegals, teachers, and other community advocates. These trainings are intended to give practical advice to advocates and help them remain abreast of changes in the law in order to provide a network of knowledgeable Lay Advocates within the Bronx community. In doing so, Lay Advocates can identify and resolve many problems faced by low-income persons, leaving valuable BLS intake appointments for issues requiring the services of an attorney. The Lay Professional Trainings include topics such as Housing Law, Family Law, Public Benefits Law, Disability Law, Elder Law, and Education Law. BLS' website provides a schedule of Lay Professional Trainings. To access the website, see: http://www.bronxlegalservices.org/--see "Schedule of Events."

Contact Information:

George Edwards
Director
Lay Professional Training Unit and
Development and Liaison Activities
Bronx Legal Services
579 Courtlandt Avenue
Bronx, New York 10451
718.993.6250, Ext. 3013
Gedwards@bronxlegalservices.org

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