The City Bar's Committee on Legal Services for Persons of Moderate Means, in conjunction with the City Bar Justice Center, is seeking volunteer attorneys to staff the Monday Night Law (MNL) clinic, which begins its 29th year in September. MNL is designed to address the public’s need for affordable and accessible legal assistance by providing clinics every Monday evening at the Association in which volunteers meet with clients who have been screened by the Association’s Legal Referral Service, which coordinates MNL’s scheduling. Volunteers must attend two training sessions in September and commit to attend the clinic one Monday evening per month from October 2018 through the end of August 2019.

During 30-minute appointments, the clients and attorneys discuss problems in the areas of housing, employment, family law, consumer law, small business, and personal bankruptcy. The volunteers do not take any cases, but will distribute materials and provide explanations and suggestions to help clients understand and find solutions to their legal problems on their own, or, where appropriate, make referrals for representation back to the Legal Referral Service or other legal services providers.

Volunteer attorneys must commit to attending two training sessions at the Association, on Monday, September 17, 2018, and Monday, September 24, 2018, from 5:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Meeting Hall on the second floor of the Association. Continuing legal education credit is available upon completing the requirements for the trainings and attendance at the MNL clinics; pro bono CLE credit is also available for the MNL clinic work. We will post audio of the training sessions for volunteers who cannot attend, but the audio will not carry CLE credit.

No prior experience in the topics covered is necessary. To participate in the program, volunteer attorneys must (1) be admitted to New York practice, and (2) have been practicing law for at least two years in the public sector, private practice, as in-house counsel, or in some other capacity, or have had some significant related experience. There also are internship roles for non-admitted attorneys and individuals with translation skills.

A copy of the full clinic description and an application to participate are attached. Please apply to mondaynightlaw@gmail.com by August 31, 2018.