The following is a press release from the New York State Bar Association:
ALBANY, NY (11/06/2012)(readMedia)– New Yorkers with legal problems related to Superstorm Sandy can receive free advice from volunteer lawyers through a program sponsored by the New York State Bar Association, President Seymour W. James, Jr. announced today.
“We know there will be a great need for legal assistance in the coming weeks,” said James (The Legal Aid Society in New York City). “We are grateful to attorneys who go above and beyond to serve their communities.”
Volunteer attorneys will answer storm-related questions about insurance, real estate issues (landlord-tenant and other property disputes) and general legal matters, such as replacing missing wills and other documents.
Storm victims seeking legal advice can call a toll-free hotline: 1-800-699-5636. They will receive the name and phone number of a volunteer attorney. Callers will be eligible for a free legal consultation of up to 30 minutes, either by phone or in person.
Individuals whose applications for emergency assistance are rejected by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be able to speak with an attorney about how to appeal the decision.
The Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) is coordinating the program in partnership with the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. They are working closely with local bar associations, legal assistance providers, community programs and local officials in storm-battered areas of the state.
Attorneys wishing to volunteer can visit www.nysba.org/DisasterVolunteerSandy or call 518-463-3200.
Another law center is located inside Touro Law School.
“Touro Law Center will open a center next week to provide referrals, assistance and legal advice for residents and small businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy. The Touro Law Center – Hurricane Emergency Assistance and Referral Team (TLC-HEART) will be staffed by volunteer lawyers and law students. Beginning on Monday, November 5, those affected by the storm will be able to call the center at (631) 761-7198 and emailtlcheart(at)tourolaw(dotted)edu to receive assistance from disaster relief trained students and attorneys who will match resident concerns with referrals to federal, state and local government agencies and private groups offering storm-related assistance. The telephone hotline will be answered live Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and on Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Voicemail messages can be left 24/7.
“Touro Law Center was founded on the values of academic excellence, social justice and community service. We have always been there when people needed help, and now we are preparing once again to respond to a crisis in our community,” said Dean Patricia Salkin. She continued, “We know that based on the experiences from other natural disasters in the State and across the country, the immediate pro bono assistance of trained lawyers and supervised law students is in immediate demand and will be a necessary component of rebuilding for many months to come.” The Center will offer:
- assistance in assessing eligibility and completing application forms for the wide range of emergency assistance available to storm victims, both individuals and small businesses (e.g., food stamps, government loans and grants);
- referrals for free legal consultation and advice on storm-related legal issues (e.g., insurance, landlord-tenant, consumer complaints, unemployment);
- assistance to members of the entire Touro community, including students and staff members, who are in need.
Touro Law is coordinating with the New York State Bar Association and local bar associations, and with federal, state and local officials in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Touro Law Center’s Public Advocacy Center (PAC), Student Disaster Relief Network and Student Bar Association are also joining in the effort.
The Student Disaster Relief Network was created in 2005 as part of the Hurricane Relief Network, which was established at law schools throughout the country in response to the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Touro Law and the SDRN have remained committed to disaster relief since the group formed. The group has traditionally traveled twice annually to the Gulf Coast to provide free legal assistance to those who were and are still affected by Hurricane Katrina. SDRN President Matthew Rubino, a third year law student at Touro Law stated, “We are now ready to apply our training to benefit the residents of the Tri-State region, determined to aid in the recovery effort in any way we can. This year, our organization will focus our efforts exclusively in our local communities.”
Dean Salkin also stated, “We will work on outreach to let the community know what we have to offer, and we will draw upon the rich diversity of our student body – who collectively speak more than 25 languages fluently – to help us more effectively communicate with all who may need our help. As soon as it is safe, we will work with government officials and nonprofit organizations to send teams on-site to disaster ravaged areas where can provide in person support to help people rebuild their lives, homes and businesses.”