Organizations Filed Purposes:
THE MISSION OF THE BROOKLYN BAR ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT (VLP), AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, IS TO ENSURE THAT THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE WHO, BECAUSE OF SPECIAL NEEDS OR THE OVERWHELMING BURDENS OF POVERTY, WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE THEIR RIGHTS PROTECTED OR THEIR VOICES HEARD.SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1990, THE VLP HAS HARNESSED THE POWERFUL PRO BONO COMMITMENT OF THE PRIVATE BAR TO PROVIDE CRITICAL CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES AND EQUAL ACCESS TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO THOUSANDS OF BROOKLYN RESIDENTS. AS AN ESSENTIAL LEGAL LIFELINE, THE VLP REMAINS UNIQUELY RESPONSIVE TO THE EVOLVING LEGAL NEEDS OF BROOKLYN'S OVERLOOKED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
PRACTICAL REALIZATION OF JUSTICE FOR THE POOR
CONSUMER DEBT PROGRAM: IN THE PAST YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 3,304 CASES IN CONSUMER DEBT WERE CLOSED, ASSISTING 8,291 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION IS OFTEN CHOSEN AS A LAST RESORT BY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING INSURMOUNTABLE DEBT AFTER TRYING TO COPE WITH JOB LOSS, A FAMILY CRISIS, OR SERIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEMS. THE BROOKLYN BAR ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT (VLP) ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED TO RE-ORDER THEIR FINANCES, AND WHO FALL UNDER 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES, BY DRAFTING BANKRUPTCY PETITIONS AND BY REPRESENTING THEM IN CHAPTER 7 PROCEEDINGS IN THE UNITED STATE BANKRUPTCY COURT, EASTER DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. THE VLP ALSO RUNS SEVERAL CLINICS TO ASSIST UNREPRESENTED DEBTORS. THE CIVIL LEGAL ADVICE AND RESOURCE OFFICE (CLARO) IS A FREE, WEEKLY WALK-IN CLINIC AT KINGS COUNTY CIVIL COURT WHERE CONSUMERS CAN OBTAIN FREE INFORMATION ABOUT DEBT COLLECTION. IN ADDITION, THROUGH THE CONSUMER DEBT VOLUNTEER LAWYER FOR A DAY (VLFD) ACCESS TO JUSTICE PROGRAM, A VLP STAFF ATTORNEY IS PRESENT FOUR DAYS A WEEK IN KINGS COUNTY CIVIL COURT WORKING WITH VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS, LAW GRADUATES AND LAW STUDENTS TO PROVIDE LIMITED SCOPE DIRECT REPRESENTATION TO PRO SE LITIGANTS IN CONSUMER DEBT ACTIONS.
FAMILY LAW PROGRAM: IN THE PAST YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 591 FAMILY LAW CASES WERE CLOSED, ASSISTING 1,358 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. THE VLP ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN CRISIS BY OFFERING LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN FAMILY COURT MATTERS. VLP STAFF AND VOLUNTEER LAWYERS REPRESENT CLIENTS IN CUSTODY AND VISITATION CASES BY APPEARING WITH THEM IN COURT AND/OR OFFERING ADVICE AND COUNSEL. THROUGH THE VLP'S CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT PRACTICE, THE VLP ASSISTS BOTH CUSTODIAL AND NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS TO ENSURE FAIRNESS AND EQUITY IN SUPPORT ORDERS GRANTED BY THE KINGS COUNTY FAMILY COURT. THE VLP ALSO HAS AN ACTIVE SELF-REPRESENTED UNCONTESTED DIVORCE PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE LIVES ARE IN CRISIS OR AT A STANDSTILL BECAUSE OF A BROKEN MARRIAGE, OR BECAUSE THEY WERE ABANDONED OR ARE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND/OR EMOTIONAL ABUSE. AS THE UNCONTESTED DIVORCE PROCESS CAN BE OVERWHELMING, VLP VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT BY HELPING PRO SE PETITIONERS COMPLETE THEIR DIVORCE.
FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION PROGRAM: IN THE PAST YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 789 FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION CASES WERE CLOSED, ASSISTING 1812 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOMES AND NEED ATTORNEYS TO HELP NAVIGATE THE DIFFICULT FORECLOSURE PROCESS. VLP VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS, INCLUDING FORECLOSURE MOTION PRACTICE, BAD FAITH HEARINGS, FORECLOSURE DEFENSE LITIGATION, AND SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES IN KINGS COUNTY SUPREME COURT. THE VLP'S FORECLOSURE PRACTICE ALSO INCLUDES A CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY PROGRAM TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS AND ASSISTANCE FOR FORECLOSURE CLIENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE VLP RUNS SEVERAL FORECLOSURE CLINICS A WEEK, INCLUDING THE FORECLOSURE LEGAL ASSISTANCE GROUP (FLAG) IN KINGS COUNTY SUPREME COURT, OPEN EVERY MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND WEDNESDAY, AND THE SUPREME COURT FORECLOSURE CLINIC ON FRIDAY MORNINGS. IN ADDITION, THE VLP LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM WITH THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE TRIALS AND HEARINGS (OATH) WHERE VLP VOLUNTEERS ASSIST HOMEOWNERS IN NYC DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING VIOLATION PROCEEDINGS.
Executives Listed on Filing
Total Salary includes financial earnings, benefits, and all related organization earnings listed on tax filing
| Name | Title | Hours Per Week | Total Salary |
|---|
| Heidi Lee Henderson Esq | PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $154,835 |
| Melissa Starr | SR DIRECTOR OF DEV & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES | 40 | $126,419 |
| Sidney Cherubin | DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES | 40 | $104,351 |
| Michael Watson | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Adam Keith Shepherd | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Manas Mohapatra | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Colin Kelly | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Stephen Z Williamson | SECRETARY | 2 | $0 |
| Steven L Zelkowitz | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Scottye Lindsey | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Mark Lande | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Sean Mikala Gray | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Jeffrey Gewirtz | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Michael William Leahy | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Alexander Kaplan | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Adam B Gilbert | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Gregory M Messer | TREASURER | 2 | $0 |
| Lawrence F Digiovanna | VICE CHAIR | 2 | $0 |
| Daniel Angel | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Lynn E Judell | CHAIR | 2 | $0 |
| Rachel S Blumenfeld | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
| Caroline Conway | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 |
Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (
public 990 form dataset) from:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202043019349300649_public.xml