Lawyers Club of San Diego’s Post

Thanks to the work of IWIL's VP of Policy, Bree Buchanan, and Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL) Board of Directors, we are pleased to share IWIL's 2024 IWIL Policy Agenda. In Summary- In 2020, IWIL was created as a non-profit think tank dedicated to individual and systemic change needed to improve the well-being of all those working in the legal industry. IWIL pursues this goal through policy advocacy, new research and scholarship, education and professional development, technical and resource support. As part of the Policy Advocacy work, IWIL's policy agenda is primarily directed towards changes in rules, regulations, and policy initiatives at the state and national level, focusing on issues that will meaningfully advance progress towards greater well-being in the profession. These include: ⏺ amending state regulations regarding admission to the bar ⏺ advocating for rule changes to accreditation standards ⏺ modifying state MCLE requirements ⏺ increasing state funding for lawyer assistance programs ⏺ advocate for policies that support diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging for all members ⏺ supporting law firms and legal organizations in creating policies & procedures that create a well-being culture ⏺ support state-specific efforts to include well-being as a component of competence and fitness to practice in rules of professional conduct To view the entire Policy, please visit https://lnkd.in/gEC-sADJ #lawyerwellbeing #wellbeinginlaw #IWIL

Empowering Future Lawyers: Giving Back to the Community We're excited to support young professionals entering the legal field, providing guidance and competency. Join us as we discuss the importance of mentorship and the impactful work being done at the conference. Andy's efforts are truly a blessing for our community. #LawMentorship #FutureLawyers #CommunitySupport #LegalProfession #LawConference #Empowerment #ProfessionalGrowth #Guidance #LegalCommunity #GivingBack

#EJAFellowshipUpdate The last couple weeks have been quiet, almost too quiet… But in actuality it’s because I’ve been writing a lot. Turns out law involves a lot of reading and writing. I’ve been continuing my work writing answers and motions, as well as my project researching rights retained by individuals who are placed under article 81 guardianships and under guardians ad litem. Speaking of motions, I’ve also been able to get a fair amount of court time down at everyone’s favorite civil court: Manhattan housing court. I got a sampling of the true lawyer experience after spending hours writing an opposition to a motion to restore only for the opposing counsel to acquiesce to an informal request for time with no issue. Which is of course, a good thing - clients facing eviction should have all the time in the world to fight against their case and to get the resources they need to satisfy the lessor’s demands. I also was able to do the thing I actually enjoy the most: interact with clients. Unfortunately, a lot of law offices, whether they’re a non-profit, firm, or otherwise, are isolated from the communities they serve both geographically and socially. This is, of course, no accident and is the way of things for both formal and informal reasons. However, I was able to spend a day at the Harlem Community Justice Center doing community work and helping people file HP actions and discuss their legal rights as tenants. An HP action being a type of case brought by a tenant for something like repairs or lack of hot water. It was fulfilling to talk with residents of Harlem and interesting, albeit slightly enraging, to hear the ways that these landlords are treating their tenants. Neighborhood Defender Service Fordham University School of Law Equal Justice America

From Advocate to Activist: How Lawyers Become Community Champions! Have you ever noticed how many lawyers end up as pillars of their communities? It's no coincidence. Every day, we witness the struggles of ordinary people. We see the cracks in the system, the injustices faced by those who can't afford a voice. And for many of us, that spark ignites a fire – a fire to do more than just provide legal counsel. Take Gurpreet Bhatia, for instance. A respected principal at a thriving law firm, Gurpreet also dedicates a significant portion of his time to various local volunteer projects. He's a shining example of how lawyers can leverage their skills and compassion to give back to the communities they serve. Are you ready to be a champion for your community? Here are some ways you can get involved: Pro bono work – Offer your legal expertise to those who can't afford it. Participate in legal aid programs. Partner with schools or community centers to offer legal education workshops Contact me - I can connect and/or advise on local projects in your area Every action, big or small, makes a difference. Let's inspire each other to go beyond the courtroom and become true advocates for a better tomorrow. #LawyersWhoCare #CommunityLeaders #GivingBack #SocialJustice #ProBono #Volunteer #LawyersOfLinkedIn #UKLawyers #IndianLawyers #LegalProfessionals #SocialImpact #Empowerment #Changemakers #LeadByExample #BeTheDifference

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) is a national model of service through which artists and arts organizations are paired with pro-bono attorneys who share the belief that the ability to thrive in the arts should depend on creative vision and talent, not on the ability to afford quality legal guidance and services. A VLA program has long served and benefited Allegheny County arts organizations and artists through a partnership between the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, the ALLEGHENY COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION, and the Allegheny County Bar Association's Arts and Law Committee. The target audience for this program is individual artist whose personal income is less than 250% of the federal poverty guidelines and non-profit arts organization or groups with annual operating budgets not exceeding $1,000,000 (excluding program costs). On average, the Arts Council annually receives 125 requests for service, with pro-bono service provided by participating lawyers totaling approximately $285,000 if calculated at market rate. Are you a lawyer passionate about the arts? Or, are you seeking ways to earn CLE credit? Please consider registering as a volunteer lawyer with VLA using the link below. If you work at a firm, please also consider sharing this with your colleagues and peers. https://lnkd.in/evzfitzX

🏛Happy #NationalNonprofitDay! 🎉 The Legal Accountability Project has achieved incredible impact ⚡️for law students and law clerks over the past 2 years. ✨LAP is the first and only #nonprofit working full-time to fix the judicial #clerkship system. We do all the things because there’s a ton of work to do! Through advocacy, thought leadership, and innovative #legaltech, LAP increases #transparency, diversity and #equity, and #accountability in judicial clerkships, the #judiciary, and the #legalprofession generally. ✨In *just 2 years,* we’ve: 🚀Launched a first-in-the-nation Centralized Clerkships Database containing nearly 1,300 reviews about more than 900 federal/state judges and democratized judicial #clerkship opportunities. Our 1,000+ Clerkships Database users represent *nearly every U.S. law school.* 🎤Hosted nearly 50 #lawschool clerkship events to change the conversation around clerking. 💡Meaningfully impacted #lawschool clerkship messaging, advising, programming, and resource allocation. 🗣️Sparked a national dialogue around #judicialaccountability and transformed the #clerkship messaging from uniformly positive and misleading, to balanced and realistic. 💥Created the conditions to empower more law clerks to stand up for themselves, speak out 🗣️, and even leave hostile work environments. ⚖️Created meaningful change in the courts. 🏛Encouraged many judges to look inward and reassess their roles as manager and mentor. ✍️Contributed our expertise to a *lot* of thought leadership, including mainstream articles, scholarly works, podcasts 🎧, news interviews 🎙️, and social media posts to raise awareness about injustices faced by court employees–and solutions. 🌀Advocated for legislative reform and legal protection for 30,000+ federal #judiciary employees, including law clerks and public defenders. ✨Looking forward to achieving and celebrating 🥳 even greater impact for law students and law clerks in the months and years ahead! Happy #NationalNonprofitDay! #clerkships #transparency #judicialaccountability #judiciary #courts

International Be Kind to Lawyers Day - 🌟 Happy International Be Kind to Lawyers Day! 🌟 Today, let’s take a moment to appreciate the dedication and hard work of our lawyers. Their tireless efforts uphold justice and protect student rights. Whether it’s a word of encouragement, a thank you note, or a simple act of kindness, let’s show our gratitude to the legal professionals who make a difference every day. #BeKindToLawyersDay #LegalProfession #Gratitude #educationrightscounsel #ERC #Omahanonprofit #nebraskanonprofit

*"THE POWER OF PRO BONO: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY"* Today, I want to talk about a crucial aspect of our legal system: public interest litigation. As lawyers, it is our duty to correct the incorrect, to remind the law of its forgotten principles, and to ensure that government departments work for the people. *Public interest litigation is not just a legal tool, but a social responsibility. It is our collective duty to hold the government accountable for its actions and to advocate for the rights of the marginalized.* As lawyers, we have a unique opportunity to make a difference. We must work pro bono, using our free time to take on cases that matter. We must challenge the status quo, question the unjust, and fight for the rights of the oppressed. By doing so, we can ensure that government departments work properly, that the law is upheld, and that justice is served. We must not forget that the law is a powerful tool for change, and it is our responsibility to wield it wisely. Let us commit to using our skills, knowledge, and time to make a positive impact on our society. Let us work together to create a better future for all. Thank you."

Spotlight on our 2024 Law Access Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year - Adam Levine, K&L Gates, Partner in Corporate Practice Qn: How does your pro bono work fit within your practice? Ans: I always like to say that I am a full time pro bono lawyer who does some corporate and transactional work in his spare time! The reality is that it's a perpetual juggle with our fee paying and pro bono clients – but that pro bono does play a central role in my practice. Qn: Why do you do pro bono work? Ans: Access to justice is one of the key foundations of society, but the reality is that more and more people in our community are just not able to access the justice system. In doing pro bono work , I try to fill that gap. Qn: What would you say to anyone contemplating volunteering their time? Ans: You get more than you give.

We at the Access to Justice Lab are working with ALISSA GOMEZ at University of Houston Law Center, & Connective to understand eviction prevention techniques. With the support of J-PAL North America, we're piloting an investigation of legal literacy as a solution. https://lnkd.in/g2PenHfn In her article, Demand Side Justice (28 Geo. J. of Poverty L. & Pol’y 411 (Spring 2021)), Alissa discusses a lack of awareness of rights and the availability of legal services. If we make that information accessible and digestible, will it make a difference - will individuals self-identifying as housing insecure use the services identified and stabilize? We think the legal community is moving from eviction case management to eviction prevention & we are excited to contribute.