PRO BONO PROMOTING New York’s Attorney Emeritus Program Expands Access to
Since the creation of the AEP in 2010, Emeritus Attorneys have logged thousands of pro bono hours assisting individuals and families in resolving legal challenges that involve housing, estate planning and distribution, education issues, domestic matters, consumer debt, immigration, and access to benefits for health care, employment, subsistence income and veterans benefits. Emeritus Attorneys, whether serving in the offices of legal services organizations or in courthouses, are on the forefront of ensuring access to justice to New Yorkers in need. The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened the need for civil legal assistance; millions of New Yorkers are confronting urgent health, education, employment, housing, estate, and domestic issues. Emeritus Attorneys are among the legions of volunteers who have stepped up to provide remote civil legal services to individuals who would not otherwise have access to a lawyer.
Justice for New Yorkers In Need In 2019, New York’s Attorney Emeritus Program (AEP) marked its Tenth Anniversary. The AEP, a signature access-to-justice initiative of the New York State Unified Court System, is administered by the Feerick Center in close partnership with court leaders. The Program engages experienced, seasoned lawyers to provide pro bono civil legal assistance to New Yorkers in need. Over the course of the decade, the center has cultivated relationships with the courts, legal services providers, bar associations and law firm partners to help establish a statewide network of volunteer opportunities for Emeritus Attorneys.
6 | Feerick Center for Social Justice Biennial Report 2018–2020
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