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SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY
One important aspect of the
Onondaga County Bar Association's mission is to promote equal
access to the justice system. Providing services to our
community is one way we support that part of our
mission. Listed here are many of the projects the Bar
Association supports and promotes.
 Lawyer Referral
If you think you
have a legal issue that requires the attention of an
attorney in Onondaga County, and if you can afford to
hire one, the
Onondaga County Bar Association Lawyer Referral program may be
an excellent way for you to find the help you need.
To
hear about the national public service LRS radio network,
click here.An extensive explanation of this program is
available
here.
VOLUNTEER LAWYER PROJECT
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Enhanced
Tel-Law
Lawyers
take calls from the community and address individual's
legal issues. For a schedule of times attorneys
are available call our Lawyer Referral line at 471-2690.
Pro Se
Uncontested Divorce Clinics
Clinic
sessions which assist low-income Onondaga County
residents to complete forms to secure an uncontested
divorce. Three clinics are held per year. Please call
Volunteer Lawyer Project at 471-3409 or email
vlp@onbar.org to determine
eligibility. |
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Neighborhood "Talk to a Lawyer"
Program
Volunteer lawyers are on hand to
meet and listen to legal problems and offer advice and
referrals. Meetings take place at three community
locations.
1. Southwest Community
Center (401 South Ave.) Tuesdays between 5:30 - 7:30
p.m.
2. Westcott Community
Center (826 Euclid St. corner of Westcott St.) Thursdays
between 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
3. Brown Memorial
Church (corner of Geddes and Davis St.) 2nd & 4th
Mondays of the month between 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
The program is anonymous and
free.
● Attorneys - If you are interested in volunteering
your time at our neighborhood centers,
link here for more information.
Elder Law
Fair
Annual program of free
legal seminars of interest to older adults and their
families. The 2008 Fair will be held on Tuesday, May
6th at LeMoyne Manor, 629 Old Liverpool Road. Call
471-3409 for registration information. Free legal
consultations at the end of the fair.
Landlord/Tenant
Court
Volunteer
lawyers advocate for tenants facing evictions in city court
each day of the week.
Unemployment
Insurance Benefits
Assistance with UIB
hearings for claim applications. Call Hiscock Legal
Aid 442-8191 for intake eligibility.
Not-For-Profit
Program
Legal
assistanceto needy not-for-profit organizations. Help
would include incorporation, obtaining tax exempt status or
general structural guidance with respect to by-laws, board
duties or responsibilities. Contact Volunteer Lawyer
Project 471-3409 for information on screening process.
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SERVICES FOR
HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS
Law
Week
For information on
the 2006 Law Week Activities, click here.
Law Day was instituted
by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1961 to celebrate
the profession of law. It is celebrated nationwide
on May 1st of every year. In Onondaga County, we
have expanded this day to include the entire first week
of May. Law Day itself includes a Law Day Ceremony &
Luncheon, poster, photography, and essay contests, as
well as courthouse tours. The remainder of the week
consists of attorneys visiting area classrooms and
hosting students in their law offices. The week
is a wonderful opportunity for students and the legal
profession.
If you are a student in grades 7 through
12, and are interested in participating in one of these
contests or shadow opportunities, please contact the Law Week Coordinator at
471-2667 or
vlp@onbar.org. |
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Teens
& The Law Booklet
As part of a Law Week
project, attorneys, judges, and leaders of the Syracuse
community, worked together to form a “Teens & The
Law” Booklet. The booklet was created to prevent
teens, through education, from committing crimes.
The booklet highlights areas such as Assault, Drug
Possession, Emancipation, DWI, Date Rape, Employment of
Minors, Searches & Seizures, Hate Crimes, Sexual
Harassment, and Weapons in Our Schools. Each category
has an example scenario, definition, consequence
section, and a list of resources of where to go for
help.
If you would like a copy of this
booklet, simply forward a request to
vlp@onbar.org or call
471-2667.
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Mock
Trial Competitions
Every
year, the Onondaga County Bar Association hosts a mock
trial competition for local high school students.
The New York State Bar Association creates a mock case
and distributes it to Bar Associations throughout the
state. School teams then compete at the county,
regional and state levels where one school team emerges
as the champion.
Last
year, 20 Schools competed in Onondaga County:
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Bishop Ludden High School
Cazenovia High
School
Chittenango High
School
Cicero-North Syracuse High
School
Corcoran High
School
East Syracuse-Minoa High
School
Fabius-Pompey Middle/High
School
Fayetteville-Manlius High
School
Henninger High School
Jamesville-Dewitt High
School
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Jordan-Elbridge High School
LaFayette High
School
Liverpool High School
Marcellus High School
Nottingham High School
Onondaga Junior/Senior High
School
Paul V. Moore High School
Skaneateles High School
Tully High School
Westhill High School |
For more information regarding meets
or how to get involved, please contact us
at
471-2667 or
vlp@onbar.org.
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