Good evening Members, New Yorkers who need help securing unemployment benefits through the appeal process will be matched with attorneys provided by the pro bono partnership launched by the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and the state court system. Hundreds of lawyers are preparing to assist clients beginning this week. A new innovative website, www.nysba.org/legalhelp, … Continued

Good evening Members, President Donald Trump today signed an additional coronavirus-related stimulus bill to provide more relief for small businesses. The U.S. House passed the measure Thursday 388 to 5. The Senate had passed the bill by voice vote on Tuesday. Previously on March 27, the CARES Act had been signed into law with $376 … Continued

Remembered fondly in the legal profession as a premier trial lawyer and teacher, past NYSBA President Henry G. Miller passed away on April 16 from COVID-19. He was 89. NYSBA issued a statement that read, in part, “Henry was a brilliant advocate, a larger than life personality and a giant in the profession. For decades he was … Continued

Good evening Members, The Court of Appeals issued an order today implementing temporary waivers of several bar admission requirements for spring 2020 graduates, including pro bono work. First, the court announced it is implementing a waiver of the full-time pro bono work requirement and the corresponding academic component of the Pro Bono Scholars Program for … Continued

“While this worldwide pandemic may bring about great fear, it will not hold us back from actively helping our friends and neighbors, such as the Seoul Bar Association,” NYSBA President Henry M. Greenberg said.

Good evening Members, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore issued another update on the state’s “virtual” court system this afternoon and reported a “highly productive and encouraging” first week of expanded operations. Since April 13, she said judges and professional staff conferenced and heard nearly 8,000 matters; settled or disposed of over 2,600 cases, a third of … Continued

Good evening Members, Emergency federal relief funds intended to keep millions of small businesses from closing down amid the COVID-19 health crisis have run out of money, and the New York State Bar Association is calling for immediate action to rectify that. “I appreciate that Congress acted quickly to create these relief measures, and I … Continued

Good evening Members, The New York State Bar Association, in partnership with the state court system, has established a COVID-19 Recovery Task Force to oversee the pro bono network of lawyers who will be assisting New Yorkers suffering from the pandemic. At Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s urging, the network’s first task is dispatching lawyers to … Continued

Good afternoon Members, The New York State Bar Association and the Seoul Bar Association in Korea recently sent each other letters of support in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. “South Korea started a war against COVID-19 ahead of New York,” wrote Seoul Bar Association President Jongwoo Park. “Therefore, we fully sympathize with the situation … Continued

Good evening Members, With unemployment numbers reaching historic levels due to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has called upon the pro bono network formed by the state court system and the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) to help jobless New Yorkers during this difficult time. NYSBA will offer free-of-charge training for lawyers … Continued