Monthly Archives: October 2023

Celebrate Pro Bono Week!

Pro Bono Week takes place every year in October and celebrates the pro bono ethic of the thousands of professionals who volunteer their skills and expertise to support nonprofits all around the world!

In joining the festivities, Access Justice Brooklyn thanks our wonderful, dedicated volunteers who provide critical legal services to our clients year round. Your generosity allows us to continue our efforts to ensure a more accessible legal system for our neighbors in need. We look forward to continuing to work together in creating a more equitable Brooklyn where everyone knows their rights and has access to legal support!

Access Justice Brooklyn provides opportunities for volunteers from various legal backgrounds and range from recent law school graduates to seasoned attorneys, to give back to the Brooklyn community and to develop experience in new practice areas. Volunteers outside the legal profession engage with us through various prevention-oriented services including “know your rights” trainings, financial counseling, and community education forums.

Join us in celebrating Pro Bono Week and learn more about our amazing volunteers including Steven Zelkowitz, Sophia K. Barclay, James A. Maleady, and Jennifer L. Colyer who were honored at our Volunteer Recognition Event held earlier this year; view our list of impactful law firm and corporate pro bono partners; attend our upcoming virtual trainings (see below), and start volunteering today!

Please contact Anne O’Grady, Pro Bono Director at anne@accessjusticebk.org to learn more about our pro bono model and volunteer opportunities for individuals, law firms and companies, and other business professionals. 

Upcoming Trainings:

Capital Region and Central New York Bankruptcy Bar Associations’ 27th Annual Bankruptcy Conference, November 3-4, 2023
Cooperstown, New York On Friday November 3, 2023, from 4:15 PM to 5:05 PM, Access Justice Brooklyn’s Director of Legal Services, Sidney Cherubin, will be presenting a special CLE on Understanding Implicit Bias and Ways to Mitigate It alongside Ramona Morel, Project Director at Consumer Bankruptcy Project and Advisor for DEI Initiatives at City Bar Justice Center.

Introduction to Drafting a Will, Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 3:00–5:00 PM via Zoom
Presented by: Rosanna Roizin, Partner, Tarter Krinksy & Drogin LLP
Moderated by: Sidney Cherubin, Director of Legal Services, Access Justice Brooklyn
CLE Credit: 2 CLE credits available.

Advanced CLARO Training (Track II): Assisting CLARO Clients with Motions, Friday, November 3, 2023, 1:30–5:00 PM via Zoom
Presented by: Johanna Ocaña, Fordham Law School, Feerick Center for Social Justice; Marcella B. Silverman, Fordham Law School, Consumer Litigation Clinic; and Matthew Schedler, CAMBA Legal Services Inc.
CLE Credit: 3.5 CLE credits available.

The New York Judicial Foreclosure Process: Rules, Changes, and Updates
Thursday, November 16, 2023, 3:00–5:00 PM via Zoom
Presented by: Peter S. White II, Supervising Attorney, Access Justice Brooklyn; and Aaron Scheinwald, Staff Attorney, Access Justice Brooklyn
Moderated by: Bella Nunes, Legal Assistant, Access Justice Brooklyn
CLE Credit: 2 CLE credits available.

Introduction to Consumer Bankruptcy, Tuesday, November 28, 2023, 3:00–5:00 PM via Zoom
Presented by: Sheldon Barasch, Supervising Attorney, DC37; and Bruce Weiner, Partner, Rosenberg, Musso & Weiner, LLP
CLE Credit: 2 CLE credits available.

Access Justice Brooklyn Celebrates 2023 Gala at Brooklyn Museum

Access Justice Brooklyn held our annual Gala on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at the Brooklyn Museum. We were delighted to welcome back Melissa Russo, Government Affairs and Investigative Reporter, NBC 4 New York, and tremendous advocate of our work, as Emcee. Melissa once again guided us through an evening of celebration, as we recognized extraordinary individuals and innovative leaders who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving the public good and Access Justice Brooklyn’s impactful programming. Congratulations to our honorees and award recipients: Dedication to Justice Awardee Faith Gay, Founding Partner, Selendy Gay Elsberg PLLC; Tradition of Excellence Awardee Nicki Livanos, Director, Real Estate Investments, Equitable; Lifetime Achievement Awardee, Gbenga Oyebode, Founder and Of Counsel, Aluko & Oyebode; and Champion of Justice Awardee AXA XL.

We are incredibly grateful to all our supporters and guests! A special thank you to our Platinum Sponsor: A great friend of Access Justice Brooklyn; Gold Sponsors: Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Madison International Realty, and Selendy Gay Elsberg PLLC; and exclusive Video Sponsor: Aluko & Oyebode. For a complete list of our 2023 Sponsors, click here.

Thank you to our Gala Host Committee members: Access Justice Brooklyn Board Members Caroline Conway, Managing Director, Legal, Stonepeak; Akshay Dhiman, Managing Director – Power, Energy & Infrastructure M&A, Lazard; Gala Chair, Adam Gilbert, Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP; Trish Lilley, Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, Thompson Coburn LLP, Samuel O. Maduegbuna, Founding Partner, Maduegbuna Cooper LLP; and Adam Shepherd, Managing Director, Macquarie Group and Board president, Lynn E. Judell, Counsel, Rukab Brash PLLC; as well as Advisory Board Members James Hallowell, Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Stephen P. Younger, Senior Counsel, Nixon Peabody LLP; and former Gala honoree Janice Mac Avoy, Partner, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP.

As Access Justice Brooklyn’s premier fundraising event, funds raised for the Gala strengthen our vital work and impact throughout the borough. For more information about our honorees, sponsors, and program, click here.