New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help! Forum
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New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
I'm a foreign lawyer and would like to complete the 50 hours pro bono requirement in New York (i know you can also do it overseas).
Does anyone have experience, know or heard of foreign lawyers who have taken this approach? Is it easy to apply for pro bono positions if you are not from the US but have passed the bar exam?
Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Does anyone have experience, know or heard of foreign lawyers who have taken this approach? Is it easy to apply for pro bono positions if you are not from the US but have passed the bar exam?
Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance!
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
Are you based in the US currently? I met an attorney in law school and became his volunteer legal assistant. He’s a solo so he gladly accepted the free help. I also gained a mentor and the skills needed to practice right now. Between just straight up volunteering, and clinics, there are plenty of ways to meet 50 hours. It sounds like a lot, but it really isn’t.nada123 wrote:I'm a foreign lawyer and would like to complete the 50 hours pro bono requirement in New York (i know you can also do it overseas).
Does anyone have experience, know or heard of foreign lawyers who have taken this approach? Is it easy to apply for pro bono positions if you are not from the US but have passed the bar exam?
Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Call the your applicable Department to see what overseas work counts. You may’ve met the requirement already.
My $.02
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
Thanks for the reply.b290 wrote:Are you based in the US currently? I met an attorney in law school and became his volunteer legal assistant. He’s a solo so he gladly accepted the free help. I also gained a mentor and the skills needed to practice right now. Between just straight up volunteering, and clinics, there are plenty of ways to meet 50 hours. It sounds like a lot, but it really isn’t.nada123 wrote:I'm a foreign lawyer and would like to complete the 50 hours pro bono requirement in New York (i know you can also do it overseas).
Does anyone have experience, know or heard of foreign lawyers who have taken this approach? Is it easy to apply for pro bono positions if you are not from the US but have passed the bar exam?
Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Call the your applicable Department to see what overseas work counts. You may’ve met the requirement already.
My $.02
I’m not in the US right now but was hoping to get something lined up and complete the hours in one go when i’m there later in the year to take the MPRE exam. Just unsure if they need to see you in person/interviews beforehand etc
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
In my experience, it is extremely difficult to secure a pro bono position with pro bono organisations in New York as a foreigner. Most organisations admit only current JD students.
I am a Singaporean and fulfiled my pro bono requirements in a pro bono organisation in Singapore.
I am a Singaporean and fulfiled my pro bono requirements in a pro bono organisation in Singapore.
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
Correct. NY pro bono organizations have been hard to get into, even for JD students. It’s only gotten worse since NY added the 50 hr requirement. Many schools have their own clinics, but again that’s an option mainly for JD students (and/or LLM students based in the US).Bass wrote:In my experience, it is extremely difficult to secure a pro bono position with pro bono organisations in New York as a foreigner. Most organisations admit only current JD students.
I am a Singaporean and fulfiled my pro bono requirements in a pro bono organisation in Singapore.
Also even if you stick to the MPRE + pro bono plan, another problem is how you’ll pull it off. Coming in from abroad = your visa determines what you can/can’t do. Unless you have it pre-arranged, and your visa allows for it, it’s a non-starter. An org will definitely want to know if you’re authorized to work in the US and pro bono is still counted as “work.”
Again, call the pertinent Department. Bass’ option sounds like the best one.
My $.02
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
Organizations in NY will not allow you to do 50 hrs pro bono over a few weeks or so. It has to be spaced out in months, 3-6 at the minimum. If you do not have permanent resident status then you will require a H1B visa, because pro bono is work even though you do not get paid.
I am a foreign applicant and did my 50 hours long distance with an organization based in Texas (Texaslawhelp.org). NY now has a law help website that you could probably try.
I am a foreign applicant and did my 50 hours long distance with an organization based in Texas (Texaslawhelp.org). NY now has a law help website that you could probably try.
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
You can also try volunteering as LiveHelp Operator with Illinoislegalaid.org. I know many individuals volunteer with that org and fulfill their requirements for the NY bar.UKATTORNEYUSA wrote:Organizations in NY will not allow you to do 50 hrs pro bono over a few weeks or so. It has to be spaced out in months, 3-6 at the minimum. If you do not have permanent resident status then you will require a H1B visa, because pro bono is work even though you do not get paid.
I am a foreign applicant and did my 50 hours long distance with an organization based in Texas (Texaslawhelp.org). NY now has a law help website that you could probably try.
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
You don't think there's any pro-bono that would be considered a voluntary service program?UKATTORNEYUSA wrote: If you do not have permanent resident status then you will require a H1B visa, because pro bono is work even though you do not get paid.
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
Pro bono will not be considered as a voluntary service program, unless you are a member of a non profit charitable organization that has such a program. You will need to bear in mind that organizations offering pro bono work are geared towards JD students but will accept LLM students as well. This is arranged through the law schools in exchange for academic credit.albanach wrote:You don't think there's any pro-bono that would be considered a voluntary service program?UKATTORNEYUSA wrote: If you do not have permanent resident status then you will require a H1B visa, because pro bono is work even though you do not get paid.
The US Embassy were very clear that the most appropriate visa is H1B for pro bono work in the legal sector.
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
Thank you all for the great suggestions. Much appreciated! I have permanent residence status so no issues about working in the US.BL2017 wrote:You can also try volunteering as LiveHelp Operator with Illinoislegalaid.org. I know many individuals volunteer with that org and fulfill their requirements for the NY bar.UKATTORNEYUSA wrote:Organizations in NY will not allow you to do 50 hrs pro bono over a few weeks or so. It has to be spaced out in months, 3-6 at the minimum. If you do not have permanent resident status then you will require a H1B visa, because pro bono is work even though you do not get paid.
I am a foreign applicant and did my 50 hours long distance with an organization based in Texas (Texaslawhelp.org). NY now has a law help website that you could probably try.
@UKATTORNEYUSA, did you complete the hours as a law student/intern or as a lawyer/attorney (assuming you are registered as a lawyer in the UK? but not yet in the US)? Most of the pro bono websites only have those volunteer categories to choose from. If you don't mind sharing, what kind of long distance work were you able to do?
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
Thank you Bass. Did you have to submit any additional documentation to the NY board because the pro bono was completed in a foreign country? Was it hard/easy to sort out?Bass wrote:In my experience, it is extremely difficult to secure a pro bono position with pro bono organisations in New York as a foreigner. Most organisations admit only current JD students.
I am a Singaporean and fulfiled my pro bono requirements in a pro bono organisation in Singapore.
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
Neither, as I work as a Paralegal since graduating. I just sent out speculative emails explaining the NY requirements that I needed to fulfill. I was a live help operator assisting pro se litigants with finding info on the website based on their legal needs under direct supervision of an attorney.nada123 wrote:Thank you all for the great suggestions. Much appreciated! I have permanent residence status so no issues about working in the US.BL2017 wrote:You can also try volunteering as LiveHelp Operator with Illinoislegalaid.org. I know many individuals volunteer with that org and fulfill their requirements for the NY bar.UKATTORNEYUSA wrote:Organizations in NY will not allow you to do 50 hrs pro bono over a few weeks or so. It has to be spaced out in months, 3-6 at the minimum. If you do not have permanent resident status then you will require a H1B visa, because pro bono is work even though you do not get paid.
I am a foreign applicant and did my 50 hours long distance with an organization based in Texas (Texaslawhelp.org). NY now has a law help website that you could probably try.
@UKATTORNEYUSA, did you complete the hours as a law student/intern or as a lawyer/attorney (assuming you are registered as a lawyer in the UK? but not yet in the US)? Most of the pro bono websites only have those volunteer categories to choose from. If you don't mind sharing, what kind of long distance work were you able to do?
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
LiveHelp Operator with Illinoislegalaid.org
Has anyone else used the above to get their pro bono hours done?
It sounds really convenient but I'm not sure it would be accepted.
Has anyone else used the above to get their pro bono hours done?
It sounds really convenient but I'm not sure it would be accepted.
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
@Findedeux
I used Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) to complete my Pro Bono requirement. It was very convenient and NY does accept it. Also, ILAO frequently works with NY Applicants so they have all the forms for the Pro Bono requirement and they make the whole process super easy.
I used Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) to complete my Pro Bono requirement. It was very convenient and NY does accept it. Also, ILAO frequently works with NY Applicants so they have all the forms for the Pro Bono requirement and they make the whole process super easy.
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Re: New York Pro Bono hours for foreign lawyer - help!
Literally any legal work that you do for free or even paid if its for government or non profit will count, as long as you can get someone who supervised you to sign the form
Its not that complicated I am not sure why people in this thread are having such a hard time. Just call places and ask if you can volunteer for a week or two I am sure a non profit who is swamped would love some help.
Its not that complicated I am not sure why people in this thread are having such a hard time. Just call places and ask if you can volunteer for a week or two I am sure a non profit who is swamped would love some help.
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