Fordham Law School's Feerick Center for Social Justice invites attorneys and professionals to an informational session on Monday, June 23rd at 6:00pm for those interested in volunteer opportunities to assist low-income New Yorkers with consumer debt defense and credit reporting issues. The informational session will introduce a program at the Feerick Center called the Legal, Economic, and Educational Advancement Project (LEEAP), an AmeriCorps VISTA initiative. The economic component of LEEAP seeks to direct the energy, skills, and experience of lawyers and professionals to volunteer activities including, but not limited to:

• Limited scope or full service representation of defendants in consumer debt cases;
• Staffing a hotline to provide limited scope advice on consumer debt matters;
• Assisting indigent individuals with filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy petitions as appropriate;
• Resolving identity theft issues and assisting with credit reporting issues; and
• Financial coaching in the areas of banking, savings, credit, and debt.

*Training is provided by the Feerick Center or host organization.

LEEAP seeks to match volunteer attorneys with legal service organizations and community-based organizations to create sustainable public services. LEEAP builds on the Feerick Center's involvement with the Civil Legal Advice and Resource Office (CLARO) Programs, which operate clinics in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, staffed by volunteer attorneys who provide limited legal advice to low-income New Yorkers being sued by debt collectors. Other CLARO partners operate programs in Westchester, Queens, and Brooklyn.

Please direct RSVPs and inquiries to Sara Trongone or register online with Fordham.

We hope to see you on June 23rd!