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NFPA Pro Bono - Paralegals Making a Difference
NFPA Pro Bono and Community Service Commitment
"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."
~ John F. Kennedy
Updated: 11/02/2006
Annual Pro Bono Conference
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Navy Legalman and Military Paralegal Outreach Program
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Pro Bono Workshops
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Pro Bono and Community Service - Definitions
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| Pro Bono and Community Service - Definitions |
“Community Service” is defined as volunteer activities that would not meet the definition of pro bono, as adopted by the delegates in Resolution 99F-4 and is further defined as unpaid services that are volunteered by individuals to benefit an organization, community, or its institutions that are provided through the direction of a non-profit organization as defined under the Internal Revenue Code. The definition focuses on volunteer services that improve the quality of life for community residents, or to solve particular problems related to their needs. See: NFPA Resolution 06-05.
"Pro Bono Publico" means providing or assisting to provide quality legal services in order to enhance access to justice for persons of limited means; charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational organizations in matters that are designed primarily to address the legal needs of persons with limited means; or individuals, groups or organizations seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights. See: NFPA Resolution 99-F-4.
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| Annual Pro Bono Conference |
NFPA sponsors the annual NFPA Pro Bono Conference. The annual conference is held in conjunction with the American Bar Association and National Legal Aid Defender Association's Equal Justice Conference (EJC) and is usually hosted by a local NFPA member-affiliated association. The first conference in 1999 was hosted by the Pittsburgh Paralegal Association; the 2000 Conference was hosted by the Central Massachusetts Paralegal Association; 2002 Conference was hosted by the Cleveland Association of Paralegals; the 2003 Conference was hosted by the Oregon Paralegal Association; and the 2004 Conference -was hosted by the Georgia Association of Paralegals.
2006 Pro Bono Conference
The 2006 Pro Bono Conference was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in conjunction with the 2006 EJC. The conference began at 1:00 p.m. on April 1st and ended on April 2nd. A record number of registrations were processed (35). The topics covered include: How to Build or Expand a Pro Bono Program; Building Relationships Bar Associations; Recruiting Volunteers; Retaining Volunteers; Record Keeping; Recognition; Pro Bono Projects in Pennsylvania; and Ethics, Conflicts, and avoiding the unauthorized practice of law. See: 2006 Pro Bono Conference Agenda. (PDF)
2005 Pro Bono Conference
NFPA's Pro Bono Committee did not organize a Pro Bono Conference in 2005 due to the EJC being held in Austin, Texas and NFPA’s closest member-affiliated association being located in Dallas.
2004 Pro Bono Conference
NFPA's 2004 Pro Bono Conference was held in conjunction with the EJC in Atlanta, Georgia. The Georgia Association of Paralegals (GAP) formally hosted the 2004 Pro Bono Conference and the conference began on April 17th and ended on April 18th. Lori Thompson, Pro Bono Coordinator, worked with GAP to locate speakers and vendor to support this event. GAP did an amazing job finding local sponsors to cover 100% of the costs of the conference in addition to locating inspirational local pro bono leaders to present information.
The topics covered included: How to Build or Expand a Pro Bono Program; Building Relationships with your State Bar; Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers; Record Keeping and Recognition; Pro Bono Projects in Atlanta; and Ethics, Conflicts, and avoiding the unauthorized practice of law. The conference was a great success thanks to the outstanding organizational skills of GAP’s Pro Bono Committee: Daphne Bryant, Mizette Coakley (Pro Bono Chair), Gina Farley, Cheryl Johnson, Jennifer Kirkland (Board Advisor and NFPA Primary), Marcus Li (President), Jodi Pruitt, Lyza Sandgren, Pamela Starr, Lois Surrett, Alvin Thurman, Connie White, and Penny Wigfall. The sponsors that covered the costs for the conference were: Encore Lex Solutio, Cambridge Professional Group, and Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. See: 2004 Pro Bono Conference Agenda (PDF)
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| Navy Legalman and Military Paralegal Outreach Program |
NFPA’s Pro Bono Committee, twenty-seven of NFPA’s member affiliated paralegal associations, and three individual or sustaining members are currently supporting 46 Navy Legalmen (men and women) and Military Paralegals that are deployed at three locations in Afghanistan and four locations in Iraq (as of October 2006).
The purpose of this community service program is to provide support and bring comfort, along with information and news regarding the civilian paralegal profession, to our military paralegal counterparts serving overseas. NFPA’s member affiliated paralegal associations and individual or sustaining members that are involved have made a commitment to “adopt” a Navy Legalman or Military Paralegal to whom they send bi-monthly care packages. The care packages include items such as hygiene products, food, snacks, puzzles, books, games, and personal cards and notes. The goal of the program is to send each and every Navy Legalman and Military Paralegal a personalized care package every other month.
The program developed during a conversation at dinner one night during NFPA’s 2005 Leadership Conference that was held in Washington, DC, and hosted by one of NFPA’s newer member associations, the Navy Legalmen Association. Lori Thompson, NFPA’s Pro Bono Coordinator at the time, started a conversation with Master Chief Stephen Distefano, President of the Navy Legalman Association, which ended with setting the foundation for a new program that would provide an opportunity for NFPA’s Pro Bono Committee and the local associations to support the deployed Navy Legalmen.
Additional Information:
Legal Assistant Today (March/April 2005) - New Paralegal Group Sets Sail NFPA Welcomes the Navy Legalmen Association
Legal Assistant Today (March/April 2005) - NFPA Adopts Navy Legalmen Deployed Paralegals Receive Gift Packages in Iraq
National Paralegal Reporter (April/May 2006, PDF, pages 20-23)
National Paralegal Reporter (December/January 2007, PDF)
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| Pro Bono Workshops |
2004 Pro Bono Workshop
With the assistance of Helen Federline and Chris Cronk, Lori organized and presented the 2004 Pro Bono Workshop on April 2, 2004 during NFPA's Spring Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. The workshop focused on working with bar associations to develop pro bono opportunities. The topics covered included: (1) How to Network with Your State and Local Bar Associations to Promote Pro Bono Partnerships; (2) Public Relations – Paralegal Model Ethics Code, Commitment to maintaining client confidentiality, Commitment to avoiding Conflicts and the Unauthorized Practice of Law; (3) Where to Start: State vs. County Bar Associations, Networking with the Bar Association’s Legal Assistant Section, Attending Pro Bono Training; How to get in the door: (4) Networking, Attending Meetings (formal and social); (5) Advertise: Paralegal stance on Code of Ethics, Conflicts of Interest, UPL; (6) Tips and Challenges to working with local bar associations; and Local Pro Bono Opportunities.
Helen Federline, NFPA Bar Association Coordinator, and Chris Cronk, Community Services Director (Middle Tennessee Paralegal Association) both assisted in presenting information during the workshop and both greatly assisted in making the workshop a great success. The workshop materials were very popular and 15 copies of the materials were mailed after the workshop. See: 2004 Pro Bono Workshop Agenda (PDF)
2003 Pro Bono Workshop
With the assistance of Raeann Bromark, Roy Falby, LoRaine J. LaMorte, and Lisa Shapiro, Lori organized the 2003 Pro Bono Workshop at NFPA's Convention in Newport, Rhode Island. The workshop focused on: (1) How to Start a Successful Pro Bono Committee Within Your Association; (2) How to Network with Your National, State and Local Bar Associations, Legal Services, and Social Services Agencies to Promote Pro Bono Partnerships; (3) How to start a Utility Day Program; (4) Information about how to get involved locally with the Court Appointed Special Advocate (“CASA”) Program; (5) Student Involvement in Law Clinic(s); and
(6) Ethical Duties and Responsibilities. See: 2003 Pro Bono Workshop Agenda (PDF)
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