VOLUNTEER LEGAL SERVICES PROJECT

Meeting unmet civil legal needs with pro bono attorneys

ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR 2012 April 1, 2011 - March 31, 2012

MESSAGE TO THE FRIENDS OF VLSP Message to the Friends of VLSP:

Our Annual Report only tells part of the story. It provides a snapshot of our annual budget, a synopsis of our programs and a list of our board and staff members. There are the names of many of our volunteers and a few of our contributors. It can never adequately express our gratitude to the volunteers who give their time, and to donors and funders who provide financial support to VLSP. With your help, VLSP will continue to meet the challenges ahead and make strides towards its mission. We would not have been able to continue existing services or implement new programs without your ongoing support. In fiscal year 2012, VLSP continued to harness technology to help weather the financial storm of cuts in federal and state funding during a time of unprecedented client need. VLSP’s website was completely redesigned at very little cost and its functionality expanded tremendously. Both volunteers and clients can find a wealth of information on VLSP’s new website, including our current case list which is available for volunteers to access at their convenience on a password protected page. VLSP also embraced social media including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as a means to recruit new volunteers, provide up-to-the-minute information to our volunteers and clients, and assist with fundraising initiatives. Amid continued reports about the uncertainty of funding for civil legal services, the Campaign for Justice phonathon is more vital to our future than ever before. Despite the sluggish economy, Rochester’s legal community continues to rally around VLSP. The 2012 Campaign for Justice was the most successful to date, raising $240,364 in pledges to preserve and strengthen programs which represent low income people with civil legal problems. VLSP is truly grateful to all who donated to the 2012 Campaign for Justice. Many thanks as well to the attorneys and paralegals comprising VLSP’s panel of volunteers, which numbers over 1,000. Our dedicated volunteers handled diverse civil legal matters including unemployment insurance, bankruptcy, consumer, immigration, tort defense, landlord-tenant, wills, matrimonial, kinship custody and family court practice among others. VLSP volunteers assisted over 1,800 clients in full representation, brief service and in our five legal clinics and consumer law hotline. In fiscal year 2012, the value of our volunteers’ donated legal services was a truly inspirational $1,277,280. VLSP will continue to address the serious legal problems facing our low income neighbors. We look forward to another successful year.

Sheila A. Gaddis Executive Director

James P. McElheny Co-President, Board of Directors

Stephanie L. Schaeffer 1 Co-President, Board of Directors

OUR MISSION, VISION & GUIDING PRINCIPLES

OUR MISSION VLSP improves the quality of life of low-income people in Monroe County by insuring the existence of a readily available panel of skilled volunteer attorneys to resolve serious civil legal problems of the poor.

OUR VISION There are no unmet civil legal needs of the poor in our community.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES I.

Responsiveness

VLSP offers high quality legal services to the poor that are accessible to clients and which produce positive outcomes for clients. VLSP continually monitors and improves its processes and programs in order to identify changing civil legal needs of the poor, to be responsive to those needs and to be responsive to the needs of volunteer attorneys.

II.

Coordination

VLSP works collaboratively and in coordination with other legal services programs and human services programs to ensure that volunteer attorneys are used to meet needs that are not met elsewhere, that clients can easily find legal help they need and that clients will readily access a range of services to meet their needs.

III.

Efficiency

VLSP maximizes productivity and efficiency in the delivery of legal services through systems and techniques that will include, among others, optimal use of technology, promotion of simplified procedures to address client problems and use of volunteers.

IV.

Maximizing Volunteer Resources

VLSP maximizes volunteer delivery of legal services to the poor though aggressive recruitment, particularly in substantive areas of high client demand, and through high quality training and support.

V.

Fiscal Stability

VLSP obtains sufficient financial resources and maintains stability of funding sources to meet the operational needs of the program, while limiting expenditure of staff and board time in fundraising.

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PRO BONO HONOR ROLL Volunteer Legal Services Project acknowledges and thanks the attorneys and paralegals listed on this page who worked on a VLSP case, advised and assisted clients at VLSP’s Debt Collection Advice Clinic, Family Court Custody Clinic, Pro Se Divorce Clinic or Wills Clinic, represented tenants in the Lawyer of the Morning program, presented training seminars or served on the VLSP Board of Directors between April 2011 and March 2012.

Afoh-Manin, J.B. Agostinelli, Gino Ajaka, Maroun Album, Betsy Alexson, Timothy Alonzo, Hon. Gerard Althoff-Brown, Cheryl Amering, Barbara Anderson, Richard Andreucci, Christopher Andrews, Carol Anyichie, Chika Aramini, Mary Arnold, Michael Ashcraft, Sara Austin, Matthew Baker, Ashley Ballard, Christine Barnes, Stefanie Baynes, Katherine Bean, Lloyd Benchakroun, Ali Beretta, Frank Berndt, Paul Bettiol, Ophelie Bielecki, Julie Biernbaum, Alan Blaise, Ann Borrelli, Phillip Bould, Claire Bourtis, Eftihia Bowman, Jason Boyce, Sheldon Boysen, David Breitenbach, Katherine Brennan, Robert Brooks, Bonnie Brown, Kelley Ross Brown-Hanks, Vanessa Brown-Steiner, Terrance

Brunner, Adam Brunsting, Suzanne Bruu, Christen Budd, Alexander Buholtz, Eileen Burt, Margaret Calarco, Michael Callanan, Karen Smith Campbell, Dana K. Carey, Patricia Carling, Steven Carr, Denine Carrigan, Barry Carson, Craig Carter, Kathleen Castellano, June Catillaz, Margaret Cegelski, Frank Chamberlain, Patrick Champion, Ashley Christman, Scott Ciaccio, Christopher Cimino, Michelle Clark, Robert Clemens, Margaret Clifford, Elizabeth Cohen, Andrew Cohen, Gary Cole, Elaine Cole, Judith Coletti, David Colicchio, Roy Collin, Dwight Colon, Flor Condon, Tim Connors, Mary Cooper, Jennie Costello, John Coyne, Ellen Crosnicker, Michael

Curran, Candace Curtis, Richard Cusker, Thomas Dahl, Torger D’Amato, Louis DeCresenza, Cory DeHond, Wayne DeMarco, Hon. John Demo-Vazquez, Kristine Dentinger, Penny De Souza, Tina Devabhakthuni, Sanjeev Ding, Margaret DiPasquale, Meghan DiRenzo, Erica DiRienzo, Cynthia Doe, Richard Dolan, Eric Dollinger, Alison Dorcely, Franck Dowling, Rachel Drexler, Mark Duclos, Marc Duff, Kelly Dunn, Tracy Durkin, Thomas Dwyer, Michael Dwyer, Paula Ealy, David Edwards, Jonathan Egerton, Kerry Ellmore, Karen Emmens, Terrance Espinosa, Jason Essley, Jason Essley, Peter Farace, Thomas Fazio, Jennifer Feder, Steven Feinberg, Heidi

Feldman, Brian Feldman, Roberta Fero, Matthew Ferrullo, Ernest Fields, Frank Fisher, Mary Fitz-Gerald, Mab Flansburg, Chad Forsyth, George Forsyth, Scott Foss, Kelly Fox, Timothy Franklin, Gregory Funk, Mark Gallo, Nicholas Garrett, John Genese, Charles Gibbons, Patricia Gilman, R. Thompson Giuliano, Michael Gleason, Victoria Goewey, Brian Goldman, Ronald Gordon, Kenneth Green, Vanria Greene, F. Paul Grossman, James Grout, Alex Gucker, Edward Hagelberg, Frank Halverson, Christine Hance, Janice Hardies, Robert Harris, Alan Hartman, James Hauser, Robert Heisman, Lewis Hetherington, Bryan Hiller, Aaron Hobbs, James 3

PRO BONO HONOR ROLL Holl, Diana Clarkson Holliday, Billie Hooks, Robert Hou, David Houde, Ardeth Howe, Caitlin Hughson, Lily Hurwitz, Phillip Hutter, Robert Inclima, Charles Indivino, Deborah Ingersoll, Timothy Ingraham, Steve Isabella, Melinda Jennings, John Jonascu, Michael Jones, Nora Jones, Rhian Jong, Tracy Jonsson, Kristin Josh, Sylvia Katz, Eliot Kendall, Amy Kepner, Kevin Kieffer, Michael King, Jr. William Kittelberger, Allison Kovalsky, Shaina Kraus, Kenneth Kroll, Marcus Kronenberg, Jared Kurland, Harold Kvam, Christopher Lagoe, Victoria Laluk, Susan Schultz Lamonica, Ashley Lane, Patrick Lanio, Alan Lanning, Kathy Lapoff, Cindy Lavery, Margaret Law, Michael Lawkowski, Stacy Lawrence, C. Bruce Leavy, Anthony LePage, Herbert Levey, Sherman Levitsky, Steven Lewis, Carmen Licht, Kenneth Linton, Pennelle Lochner, Megan Loughran, Colleen Lowe, Kristin Lowenguth, Mary Ludwig, Carrie Lunn, Hon. Robert Lunsford, Jennifer Lusk, Jared Lynch, Tara MacAulay, Paul Machado, Kerri Mackey, George MacKnight, David Mahan, Francis Mahar, Meagan

Marchioni, Monique Marshall, Ella Martin, Rashondra Martin, Thomas Martinez, Raul Mascitti, Gregory Matarazzo, Hadley Maves, Mark Maye, Chenoa McAndrew, John McCarthy, Kelly McCreary, Jean McDonald, Elizabeth McElheny, James McFadden, Langston McQueen, John Menchel, Sam Mendick, Diane O’Hara Messina, Harry Messina, Karen Messina, Michael Metallo, Michelle Michael, Leann Mikesell, Peter Militello, Adam Miller, Darren Miller, G. Michael Mindy, Steven Miralem, Iskra Miranda, Vincent Missal, Paul Montoya, Jessica Moore, James Moretti, Mark Morey, Ryan Morin, Lucien Morris, Lisa Morrison, Patrice Morse, Hon. Thomas Mui, Victor Mullin, Robert Murphy, Gerald Nacca, Lea Nassau, Robert Nearpass, Gregory Neild, William Nevarez, Juan Nobile, Michelle Novak, Frank Nowak, Edward Nussbaum, Carolyn O’Connell, Robert O’Connor, Brian Olsson, Hope Orenstein, Barbara Orlowski, April O’Toole, Martin Owens, David Pappalardo, Fauna Parker, Lori Pattison, Ross Pawar, Santosh Peartree, Audrey Pellerin, Sarah Perez, Gilbert Perri, C. Kenneth

(continued)

Personte, Michael Peterson, Craig Petrolla, Christine Pettit, Kaitlyn Piazza, Anthony Piede, Gregory Pilaroscia, Marla Polen, Maureen Ponce, Lucrecia Poricanin, Emina Powell, Tracy Premo, Edward Profeta, Katrina Pryor, William T. Pupatelli, Daniela Purdie, Patience Rabinowitz, Karen Randisi, Elizabeth Reed, Maria Reid, Bradford Reid, Fatimat Reifenstein, Michael Reixach, Rene Reynolds, Gavin Richards, Hon. Thomas Richardson, Paul Riedesel, Karen Rochford, Richard Rohr, Thomas Romanchik, Richard Rosenbloom, Hon. Richard Rosenhouse, Michael Rulison, Mallorie Russell, Dianne Ryan, Jodie Ryen Plotnik, Joy Sadinsky, Lisa Sanchez, Margaret Santiago, Rayza Santoro, Ernest Schaal, Deborah Schaeffer, Stephanie Schell, George Schnittman, Michael Schraver, David Schubmehl, Meghan Schwartz, Robert Schwartz, Steven Schwind, Lawrence Seidman, Steven Sekharan, Raja Sewruk, Julia Green Shaffer, David Shaffer, Kim Shah, Neeraj Shepard, Zuleika Sheppard, Josie Shinaman, M. Aileen Short, Anne Marie Simpson, Patrick Smalley, Laura Smoker, Kari Snyder-Merkel, Sarah Spatarico, Derrick Spaull, Elaine Spellane, Phil

Spooner, Richard Spoth, Eric Steckler, Cory Stiles, Robert Stiller, Sharon Stull, Elizabeth Suda, John Tanck, Eric Tang, David Tanui, Jemeli Tapia, Javier Taylor, Kim Taylor, Laura Taylor, William Tebor, Sue Tennant, David Thompson, Renee Tilton, Samuel Tokarczyk, Brett Tomaino, Michael Tomasso, Ellen Torabi, Raha Trotto, Elsa Trotto, Jonathan Truax, Elyse Tryon, Lora Tuori, Thomas Turner, Jeffrey Turner, Robert Twietmeyer, Don Underberg, Sharon Valion, Debbie Van Graafeiland, Gary Van Loon, Nathan Van Strydonck, Hon. Thomas Van Voorhis, Eugene Vanderwall, Cheryl Venning, Todd Weinstein, Seth Weisbeck, Kimberly Werner, Christopher Whitney, Kathy Wieser, John Wilcox Mabry, Deborah Wilkens, Jeffrey Wilks, David Wilsey, Karla Winner, Cynthia Witmeyer, John Wolfe, Fiona Wolford, Elizabeth Wolford, James Wolford, Michael Womer, Jason Wood, Sherri Woodarek, Marla Woodworth, Ryan Zane, Caroline Zunno, Harriett

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PRO BONO HONOR ROLL Abrams Fensterman Allstate Insurance NY State Supreme Court, Appellate Division – Fourth Dept. Ashcraft, Franklin & Young, LLP Biernbaum & Meyer LLP Boylan Code LLP Brenna, Brenna & Boyce, PLLC Brent & Powell Canandaigua National Bank Canadaigua Wine Company Carestream Health Cegelski Legal Associates, PLLC ChamberlainD'Amanda Christiano, Gallant & Coletti Cohen & Associates, P.C. Connors & Corcoran Counsel Press LLC Cusker Law Office Eastman Kodak, Legal Dept. Evans & Fox Faraci Lange LLP Fero & Ingersoll Forsyth & Forsyth Forsyth, Howe, O'Dwyer, Kalb & Murphy, P.C. Gates & Adams Global Crossing Gordon & Schaal, LLP Gray, Feldman & Rosenbaum LLP Handelman, Witkowicz & Levitsky Harris Beach LLP Harris, Chesworth, O'Brien, Johnstone, Welch & Leone, LLP Harter Secrest & Emery LLP Hiscock & Barclay LLP Kaman, Berlove, Marafioti, Jacobstein & Goldman Lacy, Katzen LLP Law Firm of Janice Iati LeClairRyan Legal Aid Society Littler Mendelson McConville, Considine, Cooman & Morin, P.C. Monroe Community College Monroe County Dept. Of Law Monroe County Legal Assistance Center Nixon Peabody LLP Odorisi Law Firm Olsson & Feder, LLP Osborn, Reed & Burke LLP Pappalardo & Pappalardo Petralia, Webb & O'Connell Pheterson, Stern, Calabrese & Neilans, LLP Phillips Lytle LLP Pirrello, Missal, Personte & Feder Place & Arnold Remington, Gifford, Williams & Colicchio LLP

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Schell & Schell The Daily Record The Wolford Law Firm LLP Thomson Reuters Toski, Schaefer & Co., PC Tracy Jong Law Firm Trevett, Cristo, Salzer & Andolina P.C. Underberg & Kessler LLP University Of Rochester Office Of Counsel Ward, Greenberg, Heller & Reidy LLP Wealth Design Services Inc. Weinstein & Murphy Woods, Oviatt, Gilman LLP Xerox Corporation

The list of individual attorneys and paralegals includes VLSP participants from firms and law departments, as well as solo practitioners. We sincerely regret any omissions from the list. If your name was not listed, please call VLSP at 232-3051, and we will add your name to the next publication of the list. *Please note that the names and affiliations listed are as of the date of service.

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PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES The range of pro bono opportunities available through VLSP is extremely broad. VLSP assists clients in a wide variety of substantive areas, in a number of different judicial and administrative forums and with non-litigation as well as litigation matters. In addition to direct one-on-one representation of clients, VLSP offers two clinics through which volunteers can provide advice and immediate brief assistance to low income clients.

ONE ON ONE REPRESENTATION

VLSP particularly needs help in the substantive areas of divorce and Family Court practice, unemployment insurance Priority Areas representation, tax and immigration. In these areas, client need often outstrips availability of volunteer attorneys. We hopeparticularly that volunteers willhelp consider signing up in one of these areas. Family Court practice, unemployment insurance VLSP needs in the substantive areas of divorce, representation, tax and immigration disputes. In these areas, client need often outstrips availability of volunteer attorneys. We hope that volunteers will consider accepting referrals in one of these areas.

Divorce and Family Court Practice There is a tremendous demand for representation in the family law area and the need for volunteers is great. VLSP currently handles cases in two priority areas: representing victims of domestic violence and representing parents in custody and visitation disputes. The former type of case generally involves uncontested divorce and occasionally an application for an order of protection. The custody and visitation cases are litigated in either Family Court or Supreme Court. VLSP has extensive resource materials on matrimonial practice, and expert practitioners are available for consultation and to assist volunteers with their cases.

Kinship Care VLSP helps individuals with non-parent family law matters including custody, visitation, guardianships and adoptions. Volunteer attorneys at our clinic help non-parents complete petitions and instruct them on how to proceed.

Standby Guardianship Volunteer attorneys represent parents with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses in standby guardianship proceedings, to designate custodians of their children in the event of incapacity or death

Unemployment Insurance Benefits Unemployment Insurance VLSP provides representation to Benefits people who are denied unemployment insurance benefits. There are only a handful of attorneys who are currently handling these cases. The law in this area is not very complex, and the vast majority of VLSP thatinvolve providesfactual representation to people who are denied unemployment insurance There are only a handful of attorneys hearings questions. Unemployment insurance hearings offer benefits. a wonderful opportunity to try cases inwho an are currently handling cases.need The not law in area is not very complex, andYork the vast majoritythese of hearings involve factual questions. adversarial forum. Anthese attorney bethis admitted to practice in New to handle hearings. Unemploynce hearings offer a wonderful opportunity to try cases in an adversarial forum. An attorney need not be admitted to practice in Tax VLSP handles almost any type of dispute with the IRS including, but not limited to, issues with earned income tax credit, dependency exemptions, head of household filing status, pension income, independent contractors, and other tax issues. VLSP can help with examinations or audits, collections, appeals, and injured spouse tax relief.

Immigration



VLSP helps unite and keep together families of U.S. citizens and permanent residents by obtaining immigration status for their undocumented family members. The legal representation provided by our volunteer attorneys includes applying for U.S. citizenship, permanent residence status, adjustment of status applications and petitioning for fiancé visas.

OTHER AREAS OF PRACTICE

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PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES

(continued)

OTHER AREAS OF PRACTICE Wills and Wills andEstates Estates Volunteer attorneys assist terminally ill people AIDS such and other diseases cancer in drafting of attorney and health Volunteer people with serious with illnesses as HIV/AIDS, and wills, otherpowers life threatening illnesses in care proxies. On a limited basis and (dependent on income asset eligibility and value of estate), also assist drafting wills, powers of attorney health care proxies.and On a limited basis (dependent onthe income andvolunteers asset eligibility and people estate administration and probate. value ofwith the estate), volunteers also assist people with estate administration and probate.

Landlord/Tenant and Real Estate Volunteers are needed to represent tenants in a variety of matters, including those involving conversion by landlords of tenants’ personal property (it is not uncommon for landlords to illegally lock out tenants and keep all of their belongings), affirmative warranty of habitability actions and eviction proceedings. VLSP also needs attorneys who will negotiate on behalf of defaulting mortgagors in foreclosure actions. VLSP handles a limited number of house closings for individuals who purchase homes from Habitat for Humanity and a small number of deed transfers and partition actions.

Bankruptcy Bankruptcy Wage 200% ofof the federal Wage earners earners who meet VLSP’s eligibility guidelines (no more than 187.5% the federalpoverty povertylevel) level)and andwho whoface faceincome income execution Chapter 77 Bankruptcy Bankruptcyproceedings. proceedings. Clients Clientswith withdebt debtcollection collectionproblems problems are screened execution need representation in Chapter are screened for for bankruptcy representation at VLSP’s debt collection advice clinic. bankruptcy representation at VLSP’s debt collection advice clinic (see below).

Consumer VLSP represents clients with a variety of consumer problems including name changes, record expungement cases, unfair and deceptive contracts and debt collection actions for which there are good legal or factual defenses.

Tort Defense Tort Defense

Litigators represent parties in tort cases involving uninsured motor vehicles and a variety of other miscellaneous tort LitigatorsThese represent parties tort cases involving uninsured motor vehicles and a variety other miscellaneous tort source actions. actions. actions varyin across the board in terms of complexity and subject matter,ofand serve as an excellent These actionsexperience vary acrossfor theboth board in termsand of complexity andattorneys. subject matter, and serve as an excellent source of courtroom of courtroom litigation non-litigation experience for both litigation and non-litigation attorneys.

Employment/Labor Clients present a varied array of labor problems including pension cases, licensure cases (e.g., state denies employment license) and removing mandatory legal bar of disability imposed as a result of a criminal conviction.

Miscellaneous VLSP handles a limited number of Article 78/ proceedings and works with grassroots not-for-profit organizations.

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SNAPSHOT OF ACHIEVEMENTS Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County Inc. (VLSP) opened 1,802 new cases in FY 2012, serving clients through a wide range of legal assistance provided by pro bono attorneys. 311 cases were referred to pro bono counsel for representation in matters involving domestic violence, eviction and foreclosure, denial of unemployment insurance benefits and consumer problems, among many other legal problems. Volunteer attorneys assisted an additional 443 clients with advice and brief service at VLSP’s five clinics. Volunteer attorneys also assisted 100 clients with advice and brief service in our new attorney hotline program. In addition to the 1,190 new cases handled by volunteer attorneys in VLSP’s direct referral and clinic services, volunteer attorneys represented 175 tenants facing eviction in VLSP’s collaborative effort with the Legal Aid Society and the Lawyer of the VLSP AT A GLANCE Morning program. VLSP representation provided significant benefits for clients. In cases closed in 2012, clients recovered $182,573 in lump sum awards, and an aggregate $2,971 per month was awarded to VLSP clients in cases such as unemployment insurance, SSI and child support. VLSP also handles defensive litigation, and we prevented loss of significant financial resources for our clients. VLSP clients avoided recovery of $171,025 in cases handled by volunteers. In FY 2012, in an effort to support the stability of families, VLSP continued participation in a three-agency collaborative (started in 1998) that offers an interdisciplinary approach to caretakers of children whose parents have died of HIV/ AIDS. VLSP also continued its varied collaborative projects with other legal services providers in Monroe County, described in section F below.

Population Served:

General Low Income Population

Area Served:

Monroe County

FY 2012 Funding (Total):

$751,515

Program Size Total Staff:

9.40

Lawyers:

4.5

Paralegals:

1.8

Other Staff:

3.8

Types of Services Provided Direct Civil Legal Representation Brief Services Extended Services Hotline and Other Phone-based Services Community Legal Education Pro Se Assistance Support for Other Service Providers Major Cases or Other Advocacy Projects



VLSP maintains its successful partnership with Syracuse University College of Law’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, which provides representation to clients who have disputes with the IRS. In FY 2012, VLSP updated the probono.net attorney roster and overhauled the content (launched in 2000) to use as an informational resource for pro bono attorneys in the Rochester and the Finger Lakes region. This website provides volunteer attorneys with online access to a calendar of training events, news of interest, including volunteer recognition and photos of CLEs, workshops and other VLSP events, a list of cases for which VLSP needs volunteer attorneys and a library of pleadings, manuals and reference materials. VLSP is sharing this resource with (LAWNY) Legal Assistance of the Finger Lakes and its volunteer attorneys in five rural counties. For many years, IOLA funding has been critical to VLSP’s accomplishments. In the past, IOLA provided special funds to support a major volunteer attorney recruitment drive that allowed VLSP to double the number of clients served as well as the automation of its case management system. IOLA funds continue to be used to support major volunteer attorney recruitment drives and support an updated case management system. However, most importantly over the past decade IOLA’s ongoing support of VLSP’s general operating budget has ensured that VLSP has adequate staffing to properly screen, monitor and support cases handled by its volunteer panel.

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FACTS & FIGURES OUTCOMES 4,511 Individuals Benefited from Direct Civil Representation Extended Representation Outcomes

• 195 • 46 • 64 • 126 • 508

people people people people people

obtained obtained obtained obtained obtained

a divorce, legal separation or annulment federal bankruptcy protection preserved or increased child support or maintained custody of children benefits from other “extended representation”



• 2,938 people benefited from legal advice and counsel • 631 people benefited from non-litigation advocacy services • 3 people benefited by referral to other sources of help

Brief Representation Benefits

BREAKDOWN BY LEGAL PROBLEM AREA Total

4,511People

Family Consumer

2,205 People 809 People

Income maintenance

366 People

Housing

167 People

Other



964 People

NUMBER OF PEOPLE BENEFITED BY LEGAL SERVICES OTHER THAN DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION Total

2,133People

Community Legal Education: Pro Se Assistance:

2,040 People

93 People

PRO BONO STATISTICS In FY12, volunteer lawyers participating in our program achieved the following results: • Number of cases completed: • Hours contributed: • Dollar value of services:

1,802 7,736.88 $1,277,280

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FINANCIAL STATEMENT Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our funders and our volunteers, VLSP has helped change the lives of many low-income residents of Monroe County for the better. This support is deeply appreciated by both VLSP and our clients. Volunteer Legal Services Project’s board of directors and staff thank the following funders for their generous support for our program:

Allstate Foundation



American College of Bankruptcy

The New York Bar Foundation



United Way

Xerox Foundation

REVENUE Donated Services Contributions United Way Grants Miscellaneous Investment Gain TOTAL Revenue and Support

$1,277,280 $132,420 $51,404 $537,411 $29,506 $3,865 $2,031,886

EXPENSES Program Services

$1,881,745

Management/General

$75,938

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

$74,203

TOTAL Expenses

$2,031,886

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VLSP BOARD OF DIRECTORS James P. McElheny, Esq. Stephanie L. Schaeffer, Esq. Frank A. Novak, Esq. Steven G. Schwartz, Esq. Karen L. Ellmore, Esq. Michael S. Schnittman, Esq.

A. Robert Bailey, Esq. Elizabeth Clifford, Esq. Gary B. Cohen, Esq. Flor M. Colón, Esq. Hon. Craig J. Doran (ex officio) Karen L. Ellmore, Esq. Alan S. Harris, Esq. (ex officio) Gregory J. Huether, Esq. Harold A. Kurland, Esq. C. Bruce Lawrence, Esq. Mary Loewenguth (ex officio) Raul E. Martinez, Esq. Elizabeth J. McDonald, Esq. James P. McElheny, Esq. Michael H. Messina, Esq. Mark J. Moretti, Esq. Hon. Thomas Rainbow Morse

...........Co-President .......... Co-President ….....Vice President …............Treasurer …............ Secretary ….... Past President

Frank A. Novak, Esq. Edward J. Nowak, Esq. C. Kenneth Perri, Esq. (ex officio) Anthony J. Piazza, Esq. Thomas S. Richards, Esq. Paul E. Richardson, Esq. Margaret Sánchez Fernando Santiago, Esq. Stephanie L. Schaeffer, Esq. Michael S. Schnittman, Esq. Steven G. Schwartz, Esq. M. Aileen Shinaman, Esq. Laura W. Smalley, Esq. David H. Tennant, Esq Sharon E. Underberg, Esq. Connie O. Walker (ex officio) Elizabeth A. Wolford, Esq.

VLSP STAFF & CONTACT INFORMATION VLSP Office:

(585) 232-3051

VLSP Fax:

(585) 232-5103

Sheila Gaddis, Esq., Executive Director [email protected] Marlene Attardo, Staff Attorney [email protected] MaryBeth Conway, Staff Attorney [email protected] Linda Kostin, Staff Attorney, Pro Bono Coordinator [email protected] Ann Williams, Staff Attorney [email protected] Tina De Souza, Senior Staff Paraleagal [email protected] Connie Doherty, Administrator [email protected] Melanie Shiree, MBA, Executive Assistant [email protected] Donna Hall, Administrative Assistant Reception & Intake [email protected] Telesca Center for Justice One West Main Street. 5th Floor www.vlsprochester.org Rochester, NY 14614 www.probono.net.ny

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Volunteer Legal Services Project One West Main Street, 5th Floor Rochester, NY 14614

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Rochester, NY Permit No. 1395

V L S P

Meeting unmet civil legal needs with pro bono attorneys

Volunteer Legal Services Project One West Main Street, 5th Floor Rochester, NY 14614 Tel: (585) 232-3051 Fax: (585) 232-5103