The City Bar Justice Center is pleased to recognize Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP for its work with the CBJC's Elderlaw and Cancer Advocacy projects. The Elderlaw Project maintains the dignity and independence of elderly people by training pro bono attorneys who counsel and represent seniors in a variety of legal areas. The Cancer Advocacy Project provides cancer patients, survivors, and their families with legal information and pro bono legal assistance on issues related to discrimination in the workplace, health law, insurance issues, access to public benefits, advance directives, and wills. Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP has provided pro bono assistance to these two constituencies primarily in the area of advance directives and wills.

While Stroock Trusts and Estates attorneys have worked with both projects for many years, the firm's Financial Restructuring Group recently contacted the CBJC in search of a new pro bono opportunity for their group. They identified the Elderlaw and Cancer Advocacy projects as projects of interest and in March 2011, ten new volunteer attorneys were trained with the projects. In the months following, they have taken on numerous matters for representation.

"We decided as a group to work with a project that helped people with issues that touched our lives," said Kris Hansen, Co-Chair of Stroock's nationwide Financial Restructuring Group, "Many of us have suffered along with loved ones through their battles with cancer and a number of us also have dealt with the myriad issues facing the elderly. To be able to provide assistance in both areas is an opportunity for us to grow as people, give to those in need, and to step away from a regular practice that often has little to do with people in the purest sense."

Elderlaw and Cancer Advocacy Project Director Vivienne Duncan describes the firm as being extremely eager and reliable: "Kevin Curnin," Partner and Director of Stroock's Public Service Project, "often proactively contacts us to offer the firm's assistance with pro bono matters. It has been a pleasure to work with Stroock and we appreciate their partnership."

Stroock has shown its commitment to assisting the elderly and ill in their hour of need and in certain instances, Stroock attorneys have stepped up to the plate even when the pro bono matter extended beyond the scope of the projects and required immediate attention. The Justice Center continues to be grateful for the work of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.