The NYS Courts Access to Justice Program is holding a training session for the Housing Court's
Resolution Assistance Program ("R.A.P.")
Attention Volunteers!
Are you concerned about access to justice in the Bronx Housing Court?
Did you know that most people who go through the Bronx Housing Court don’t have legal representation?!
You can help! Come to this training if you want to:
Help unrepresented litigants have a productive experience in Housing Court through an offering of non-legal support
Ensure unrepresented litigants are aware of all of the resources available to them, so that they may better advocate for themselves; and
Provide unrepresented litigants with the confidence to discuss their claims or defenses before a court attorney or judge.
The NYS Courts Access to Justice Program, in partnership with New Settlement Apartments' Community for Safe Apartments (CASA), is holding a training session for the Housing Court's Resolution Assistance Program ("R.A.P.")
TRAINING DATE & TIME:
Monday, April 8th, 2013
5:30pm-6:00pm (Registration); 6:00pm to 8:00pm (Training)
TRAINING LOCATION: 35 Marcy Place, corner of Walton Ave, Bronx NY
TRAINING COST & VOLUNTEER SERVICE: FREE – in exchange for 30 hours of volunteer service between
April 15 and July 12, 2013: Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
RSVP REQUIRED:
Send an e-mail to probono@nyc-pa.org to register for the training with a copy of your resume.
All volunteers are mandated to participate in one two-hour training provided by the Honorable Fern A. Fisher, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for New York City Courts and Director of the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program, and/or her staff.
R.A.P. trains volunteers to provide in-court assistance to tenants and owners who are parties to nonpayment proceedings and are appearing without an attorney in the Housing Court, Resolution Part. (Nonpayment proceedings are cases in which an owner/landlord sues a tenant to collect alleged overdue rent). Training topics include Housing Court Overview, Basics of Nonpayment Proceedings and Interviewing and Communication Skills. In exchange for this free training, prospective volunteers are required to volunteer a minimum of 30 hours in the Resolution Part between April 15, 2013 and July 12, 2013 and will receive an electronic copy of the program manual, and, upon request, a certificate of volunteer service upon completion of the training and volunteer hours.
Volunteers are given flexibility with their schedules and may volunteer time in blocks of time as follows:
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
Participants may choose to volunteer in a specific borough. While the program runs in four boroughs including Manhattan and Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx urgently need volunteers. Each volunteer will be assigned to a Resolution Part of the Housing Court.
RSVP: This event is open for Members and non-Members.
In order to register, volunteers must contact the pro-bono chairperson. Send an E-mail to the Pro-Bono Chairperson at probono@nyc-pa.org which includes training date and time, volunteer housing court county preference, and your contact information (Full name, Current New York City Paralegal Association Membership status or whether you are a student and from which college, address, and cell phone number) If you have questions you can leave a message at 516-851-4007.
