Seward & Kissel’s Pro Bono initiative is designed to allow our attorneys to give back to our community by providing needed advice and counsel to those who would otherwise lack representation. We are proud and privileged to work with individuals and organizations on a broad spectrum of matters: from domestic violence and matrimonial issues to urban poverty; from employment matters to elder law; from civil rights to immigration; from working with start-up nonprofit agencies to representation of the oldest and largest seafarer's agency in the United States. We provide help where it is most needed.
We make pro bono activities a commonplace part of our office environment. Our pro bono team circulates weekly updates of available matters that need staffing. We encourage both litigation and corporate attorneys to take on matters that are important to the community as well as to them. We introduce pro bono work to our attorneys early in their careers – in fact, in 2009, we partnered with In Motion and staffed three matters with summer associates. We trust that the early introduction to pro bono efforts will instill in our attorneys a commitment to integrating such work into their professional lives.
Our attorneys have dedicated thousands of hours annually to pro bono initiatives. Such efforts necessarily have a direct impact on the communities in which we live and work, as well as providing our attorneys with a hands-on learning experience that is remarkable. The following are highlights of our pro bono efforts:
InMotion
Seward & Kissel is a Corporate Partner of InMotion, a not-for-profit organization which offers free legal services to low-income women in matrimonial, family and immigration law matters. We provide both financial support to help fund InMotion’s daily operations, as well as a substantial amount of time rendering legal counsel. Our attorneys have successfully represented domestic violence victims in cases involving orders of protection, divorce, custody, child support and spousal maintenance.
Feerick Center for Social Justice at Fordham University School of Law
Seward & Kissel works with the Feerick Center for Social Justice at Fordham University School of Law which focuses on urban poverty. Through the Feerick Center, our attorneys staff legal clinics at homeless shelters and at the Center for Employment Opportunities, an entity which assist individuals recently released from incarceration. Through these two programs, our attorneys provide legal advice in a wide variety of areas, including counsel on issues involving access to public assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, child support, and consumer debt.
New York Legal Assistance Group
Seward & Kissel works with the New York Legal Assistance Group ("NYLAG"), a non-profit law office dedicated to providing free legal services in civil law matters to low-income New Yorkers. Through NYLAG, our attorneys have represented New York City public school students in their efforts to receive educational therapies consistent with their respective Individualized Education Programs.
Urban Justice Center
Seward & Kissel works with the Urban Justice Center ("UJC"), an organization focused on assisting the underserved through a combination of direct legal services, systemic advocacy, community education and political organizing. We work with the UJC on various matters including: successfully litigating a wage and hour dispute under federal and state law on behalf of former employees of a New York City restaurant; defending tenants' succession rights to rent-stabilized units in eviction proceedings; representing construction workers in connection with the enforcement of a judgment against their former employer; and, providing research and consulting on affordable housing issues.
Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Seward & Kissel works with the Association of the Bar of the City of New York's Elder Law Project (the "Project"). The Project works to maintain the dignity and independence of elderly people by training volunteer attorneys to counsel and represent elderly New Yorkers in a variety of areas. Our attorneys have attended Project legal clinics and provide advice and representation on matters concerning wills, living wills, health care proxies, powers of attorney, government benefits, and other issues.
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
Seward & Kissel is a Pro Bono Donor for New York Lawyers for the Public Interest ("NYLPI"), a not-for-profit, civil rights law firm that strives for social justice through impact litigation, systemic reform, community organizing and advocacy. We provide both financial support to help NYLPI fund its daily operations, and legal advice. Most recently, our attorneys worked with NYLPI's Community Oversight of Policing Project, interviewing residents in New York City Housing Authority buildings concerning their interactions with police in and around the buildings. The project culminated in a report by NYLPI summarizing those interviews and offering recommendations.
The NYC Know Your Rights Project
Seward & Kissel works with The NYC Know Your Rights Project, which provides immigration advice and legal assistance to detainees at the Varick Federal Detention Center. Our attorneys meet with detainees and counsel them on their options regarding immigration relief.
Phoenix House
Seward & Kissel works with Phoenix House, a not-for-profit alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention facility with locations throughout the country and more than thirty residential and outpatient programs in New York State. Over the past year, our attorneys have represented Phoenix House before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in federal court in connection with lawsuits filed by former employees.
Seamen's Church Institute
Seward & Kissel works with the Seamen's Church Institute ("SCI"), the oldest and largest seafarer's agency in the United States. Our attorneys provide legal assistance in a variety of areas, including nonprofit governance issues, contracts for SCI's seafarer training facilities, retirement plan issues, employment law counseling, insurance, real estate advice and numerous other corporate and litigation matters. For our efforts, our firm has been named a "Contributing In-Kind Sponsor" of SCI.
Seafarers & International House
Seward & Kissel works with the Seafarers & International House, the largest maritime ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which supports and cares for seafarers and sojourners from all over the world. Our attorneys represented the Seafarers & International House before the New York State Division of Human Rights, successfully defending it against an employment discrimination claim filed by a former employee.
Recycle-A-Bicycle
Seward & Kissel works with Recycle-A-Bicycle, a not-for-profit bicycle advocacy and environmental education organization. Our attorneys provide advice on various matters including trademark protection, employment issues, and tax and corporate issues.
Helping Haitian Immigrants Apply for Temporary Protected Status
Seward & Kissel is currently working with several organizations, including the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and City University of New York Law School, to staff legal clinics providing advice to Haitian immigrants. In these clinics, our attorneys advise clients on applying for Temporary Protected Status under U.S. Immigration law and assist clients with completing the necessary paper work.
Human Rights Watch
Seward & Kissel works with Human Rights Watch, one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights around the world. Our attorneys assist Human Rights Watch with various trademark and copyright matters.
Strive International
Seward & Kissel works with Strive International, a not-for-profit organization that provides job training and placement for the chronically unemployed. Our attorneys assist Strive with various employment law issues.
Sustainable South Bronx
Seward & Kissel works with Sustainable South Bronx, a not-for-profit environmental justice organization, in its efforts to oppose the siting of a large prison in the Hunts Point area of the South Bronx, and to reduce noxious odors and emissions from a nearby sludge pelletization facility which negatively affects local air quality, water quality and public health.
The Blacksmith Institute
The Blacksmith Institute ("Blacksmith") is a not-for-profit corporation which identifies and works with local organizations around the world in eliminating hazardous pollutants which present grave dangers to human health. Our attorneys successfully represented Blacksmith in connection with an action brought by two multinational chemical manufacturers who operate plants in the area of Vapi, India. The Plaintiffs claimed that Blacksmith interfered with their business and contractual relationships with customers when it included Vapi on its list of the "Top Ten Most Polluted Places," published online.
The Kings County District Attorney's Office, Appellate Division
Seward & Kissel works with the Appellate Division of the Kings County District Attorney's Office. Our attorneys have written briefs and presented oral arguments on behalf of the D.A.'s office in appeal cases from convicted defendants.
The Southern District of New York Pro Se Office
Seward & Kissel works with the Southern District of New York Pro Se Office, which assists pro se litigants. Our attorneys assist the Pro Se Office with various matters, including the representation of incarcerated prisoners, many of whom allege Constitutional violations including claims of excessive force or deprivation of medical treatment.
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Seward & Kissel works with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, an organization that delivers legal services and legal information to over 10,000 members of the arts community each year. Our attorneys successfully represented a writer seeking to identify and protect her rights to a television pilot that she had authored.
Redtree
Redtree is a not-for-profit organization that serves immigrants in the Flushing, New York area by providing free music, art and dance. Our attorneys prepared Redtree's certification of incorporation, and drafted its by-laws and a drug and alcohol policy conforming to federal grant requirements.
The Sawyer Foundation
The Sawyer Foundation is an organization that provides funding for cancer research for rarer forms of leukemia and lymphoma, works to increase awareness about these forms of cancer and helps families who, after a family member's death, are left with outstanding debt. Our attorneys drafted the Foundation's bylaws and articles, assisted the Foundation with applying for status as a charitable entity, and provided advice with respect to corporate governance standards and charitable solicitation laws.
