Community Law Center’s Post

In April 2016, Frank Stevenson, then president-elect of the State Bar of Texas, announced, “Over the next year, your State Bar will establish the first legal incubator in Texas.” He indicated that the goals of the initiative were to “match our citizens’ need for justice with our profession’s need for opportunity.” This dual mission is what still drives most of today’s #LegalIncubator programs. In October, I posted a round-up of the upcoming program deadlines, and today, I am sharing some more with you. Most of these opportunities are limited to #Lawyers licensed in California, Louisiana, Texas, and Nevada. If you have questions about programs for lawyers licensed in other states, please don't hesitate to contact me! Without further ado, I have for you here the legal incubator programs currently accepting applications for their next cohorts (most starting in early 2024). Check out the programs, deadlines, and links below! And again, if you know a lawyer who is looking to launch a new law firm, please share this post and these AMAZING opportunities with them! Los Angeles Incubator Consortium, managed by the inspirational Maria E. Hall, accepts applications through midnight THIS Friday, December 15, at https://lnkd.in/gppYhjzN (must be a CA attorney). Legal Innovators for Tomorrow, a Louisiana State Bar Association program led by the incredible Amy Duncan, accepts applications on a rolling basis for its various projects. Currently, they are accepting applications for the LIFT Rural Justice Incubator Project and the LIFT Domestic Violence Project at https://www.lsba.org/LIFT/ (must be an LA attorney). State Bar of Texas sponsored Texas Opportunity & Justice Incubator (TOJI), marshaled by the multi-talented Joshua Weaver, accepts applications through January 4, 2024, at https://lnkd.in/gebS_ruK (must be a TX attorney). Orange County Legal Consortium, sponsored by the Elder Law and Disability Rights Center and guided by the masterful Jordana Furman, accepts applications through January 12, 2024, at https://lnkd.in/gqMMumd8 (must be a CA attorney). State Bar of Nevada Handle|BAR Incubator Program accepts applications through March 1, 2024, at https://lnkd.in/gswsscST (must be an NV attorney). BALI │ Bay Area Legal Incubator, a program of the Alameda County Bar Association, directed by the skillful Natalia "Natasha" Ventsko, Esq., MSW, accepts applications on a rolling basis at https://lnkd.in/gH-9Ta6x (must be a CA attorney) And finally… California Western School of Law's Access to Law Initiative, steered by the accomplished Matthew A. Lab, accepts applications on a rolling basis at https://lnkd.in/g626mdFr (CA attorneys and California Western graduates preferred) Learn more at the links above, and PLEASE SHARE!

There are several legal incubator programs that are currently accepting applications for upcoming classes. Please scroll down to learn more and share this info with anyone you know who might be interested!

Crowdsourcing ask: Looking for legal assistance (pro bono) preferably in eastern Massachusetts (Essex county). So far, at least 6 orgs have been contacted. Everyone of them should have been able to help, but they are all punting and giving this person yet another number to call. We need someone familiar with disability law, children, and public services. This is NOT a family or domestic abuse issue. We’ve already contacted the Special Needs Advocacy Network Disability Law Center in MA. Children's Law Center Massachusetts Advocates for Children Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN) and several others. How can it be not one of these organizations can help with this case?! Seeking justice for a child should not be this hard, and not when parents and caregivers across the country are already struggling so much. Please DM me asap with leads or offers of support and I can provide more details. Thanks in advance to my network of rad humans. Let’s do this. #DisabilityJustice #MutualAid #LegalAid #ProbonoCounsel #DisabilityRights

The winter edition of the ABA Litigation Section Children's Rights Litigation Committee newsletter is out today! One of the articles is the concrete, tips-based article "Practical Considerations in Advocating for High-Needs Foster Youth" by Kimberly Abbott. As Kimberly says in the article, "Cases involving youth in foster care with high-needs can be some of the most challenging, time-consuming, and frustrating cases a children’s attorney can handle. They often require intense advocacy and perseverance, and sometimes creativity. This article is designed to give children’s advocates practical tips and possible strategies to consider when undertaking such cases." Be sure to check it out and feel free to share! https://lnkd.in/dkEE8sZf

Every $1 assisting people of limited means with civil legal issues returns $8.40 to the economy, according to a recent study from Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF). Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gEEzFrfD. #wisconsinlawyer #wisconsinlaw #wistaf #accesstojustice #legalaid

🌟 Big News for Florida! 🌟 On Friday, June 14, 2024, the Governor of Florida signed the Supported Decision-Making (SDM) law, empowering individuals by offering alternatives to guardianship. ⠀ 🎥 To learn more about this groundbreaking law, check out this friendly video from Disability Rights Florida: https://lnkd.in/eHmZx_a9 ⠀ 📄 For further details, visit their website: Disability Rights Florida https://lnkd.in/ekQbHe53 ⠀ If you or a loved one could benefit from SDM, contact Deere Law Firm to speak with an Elder Law attorney who can discuss all your options. Let's navigate this new law together! ⠀ #SupportedDecisionMaking #ElderLaw #FloridaLaw #DeereLawFirm #DisabilityRights

Make human rights education mandatory for the legal profession. Ensuring lawyers understand how new approaches to EDI impact communities will strengthen our profession, writes Lorin MacDonald, JD, LSM, a human rights lawyer and disability/accessibility advocate. https://hubs.ly/Q022HDz-0 #legalopinion #legalinsights #humanrights #legaleducation

Make human rights education mandatory for the legal profession. Ensuring lawyers understand how new approaches to EDI impact communities will strengthen our profession, writes Lorin MacDonald, JD, LSM, a human rights lawyer and disability/accessibility advocate. https://hubs.la/Q022SWg50 #legalopinion #legalinsights #humanrights #legaleducation

When Alumnus Dan Ruben was a 2L he read an article in The New York Times about a program at another law school where students were raising money to fund summer public interest jobs. A self-starter, committed to public interest, he thought this program was a great idea and decided to start a similar one at Haub Law, which today, we know as PILSO (Public Interest Law Student Organization). “The issue driving it—the lack of adequate legal representation for so many Americans—is so compelling, the need is so great, that I imagined such an organization could be successful on a national scale. I realized almost right away what I’d be doing when I graduated.” In 1993, Dan launched Equal Justice America. His goal upon founding EJA was “to put as many law students and graduates as possible to work on behalf of people in need.” Dan wanted to help law students committed to public interest get hands-on experience that would help them achieve their career goals and thereby the greater good. In 2000, Equal Justice America partnered with the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University to establish its Disability Rights Clinic. Over the years, the EJA Disability Rights Clinic has helped develop so many students into public interest attorneys and as a result helped so many low-income individuals with disabilities. Read more about Dan's exemplary contributions to Haub Law and the practice of Public Interest Law: https://brnw.ch/21wFPMw #lawschool #lawalumni #equaljustice #disabilityrights #paceproud

We are continuing our #SocialWorkMonth celebration by uplifting the stories of the dedicated efforts of professionals like Kathleen McIlraith, LMSW, SIFI, a forensic social worker in LAS’s Juvenile Rights Practice. Kathleen’s approach to supporting young people during legal proceedings and her experience with providing consistent support for her clients emphasize the real difference social work can make in the lives of low-income New Yorkers needing legal assistance. Read more about Kathleen’s experience at the Legal Aid Society: Q: Why did you decide to become a social worker?   A: I thought for a long time that I wanted to be a special education teacher, and when I finally got into a classroom, I learned it wasn’t for me. Through college, I was introduced to the idea of interdisciplinary work, specifically, lawyers and social workers working together. And thus, here I am. To answer the question generally, social work is a fascinating field where you can work in and with many different disciplines.    Q: What strategies do you employ to address juveniles' emotional and psychological needs during legal proceedings?   A: To me, humility and empathy are two basic tenets of any social work practice. I think it’s important to acknowledge early on that I have not, nor will I ever experience, what my clients have. Ultimately, my clients are the experts in their lives, and we [their legal team], are not.   Also, as time goes on in my social work career at The Legal Aid Society Juvenile Rights Practice, I have begun to emphasize our clients’ families as a whole: treating all parties with the respect and dignity they deserve through the family court process. Whenever possible, I partner with parent-defender social workers to work through the complexities of cases. Providing dignity and respect to all parties throughout the family court proceedings is just one simple way to support our client’s individual needs and the needs of their whole family.   Q: Can you share a specific case where your role as a social worker at the Legal Aid Society Juvenile Rights Practice significantly impacted a young person’s life?   A: One case that stands out to me is one of the first I was assigned to at The Legal Aid Society Juvenile Rights Practice, which I am still working on. My role has been most impactful simply because I am one of the only constants in my client’s life. My client has had to deal with multiple foster homes and foster parents, various case planners, and a few different lawyers. I take solace in the fact that through all the turmoil she has experienced and through her continued traumatization, I have and will continue to be someone she can call and provide support to the best of my ability. I am grateful that even though I am working with my client during one of the most difficult times in her life, she will still pick up the phone for me when I call to check in.   Join us as we celebrate Kathleen and all of our social workers this month.