As a board member of Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT), a non-profit organization that helps unrepresented litigants in New York City Family Court, I was proud to help organize a recent panel discussion addressing race and poverty in the New York State Family Court. Moderated by LIFT Executive Director Cathy Cramer, the panelists included the Honorable Edwina Mendelson, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge; former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson; and Proskauer Pro Bono Partner, Bill Silverman. Secretary Johnson is responsible for a recent report on institutional racism in the New York State Court System, where he characterized certain courts, including the Family Court, as providing a “second class system of justice for people of color in New York State.” Bill Silverman co-authored a recent report on behalf of the New York City Bar Association and the Fund for Modern Courts which addressed the impact of COVID-19 on the New York City Family Court and how the crisis laid bare longstanding inequities. Judge Mendelson is responsible for the Court’s justice initiatives.

This past month, Proskauer launched a series of Lawyering for Social Justice Workshops at John Jay College in Manhattan.  Attended mostly by pre-law students, the workshops explore specific examples of how lawyers in private practice can make a critical difference in society.  We discussed challenges within our criminal justice system, and highlighted the pressing need for representation in certain civil matters, such as immigration, family, and housing court proceedings, where there is much at stake but no right to counsel for those who cannot afford a lawyer.  We also discussed the role of impact litigation and reviewed specific cases brought recently by Proskauer.  Finally, we explored various volunteer efforts, especially those involving education.