The Lawyers Clearinghouse is pleased to announce the launch of its new Legal Assessment Program. This service will function as a preventive “checkup” for nonprofit organizations.  Volunteer lawyers will review and evaluate the corporate governance of nonprofits to identify and remedy potential legal issues, ensure that legal requirements are met, and suggest best practices for governance.

Legal issues covered by the assessment may include:

• Legal Formation and Governance
• Internal Controls and Procedures
• Appropriate Insurance Coverage
• IRS and State Filing Compliance
• Employment Practices
• Privacy and Data Security
• Fundraising Activities
• Material Contracts

Participating nonprofits can expect to strengthen their governance and management practices, resolve legal issues before they become legal problems, and ensure the health and vitality of their organization for the future.

To apply for assistance or for more information, please contact Machiko Sano Hewitt at 617.778.1954 or msanohewitt@lawyersclearinghouse.org. Applications are also available online at www.lawyersclearinghouse.org.

The Clearinghouse thanks Brown Rudnick for its expert pro bono legal assistance in creating this program.

The Clearinghouse is so very grateful to Jane Pikor, John Pouliot, and Emerson Productions for their hard work and talent in producing the first Lawyers Clearinghouse video.  Jane is the Production Manager at Emerson College’s Television, Radio & Film Production Department and John was Director of Photography and Editor of the video.  Emerson Productions, an Emerson College video production group, produced and directed the video which was completed entirely by Emerson students.

Working with Jane and John was a wonderful experience as they sought to produce a video that not only informed viewers of who we are and what we do, but conveyed the impact of our programs on real people in the community.  They were professional, passionate, and delivered a fantastic product.  See for yourself!

Lawyers Clearinghouse Video

Sarah Clinton is a senior associate at Ropes & Gray practicing in the Corporate Department.  She also coordinates the firm’s participation in the Clearinghouse’s Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

Sarah is a strong advocate for the Legal Clinic at Ropes.  During law school, Sarah did a summer internship at the Lawyers Clearinghouse and researched and wrote much of the material in the Legal Clinic Manual that is used by pro bono attorneys in the program.  Since joining Ropes in 2005, she has participated in nearly every clinic Ropes has staffed.   As coordinator, she is able to play an even greater role in promoting the Clinics within the firm and ensuring that Ropes associates are aware of the opportunities that they provide.  Sarah believes that the Clinics help to fill a real need in the community by connecting lawyers with people who otherwise would not have access to representation.

Sarah feels that coordinating the Clinics is a privilege and she has enjoyed her experience at the Clinics.  She has worked on a variety of interesting and challenging cases, including those involving housing, social security, warrant surrenders, trademark protection, burial plots, and wills.  Most notably, she has represented several clients in connection with obtaining public housing benefits and has worked with a housing authority to safely remove a client from a living situation involving domestic abuse to a new apartment with rent subsidized by a Section 8 voucher.

In addition to having an ethical and professional obligation as a lawyer to provide service to the underrepresented, Sarah participates in pro bono work because it is personally and professionally rewarding.  She is able to partner with people in the firm with whom she would not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet, and working on Clinic cases has allowed her to develop client service, project management, and advocacy skills that have benefited her in other areas of her practice.  She finds it refreshing to spend time out of the office and in the community working through pressing problems that are far removed from the issues she typically encounters in her practice.  The clients are grateful for her assistance and she has learned a lot from the hope and perseverance they demonstrate as they work against hardships to improve their lives.

Sarah and her clients are fortunate that her firm is so supportive of the Legal Clinic and pro bono activities in general.  In addition to the Legal Clinic, Ropes & Gray is involved in numerous pro bono programs that are vetted and developed by Roz Nasdor, the firm’s Pro Bono Manager, and a pro bono committee comprised of partners with a commitment to service.  The firm solicits feedback from associate representatives to the pro bono committee regarding the types of cases associates are interested in taking and the ways in which the pro bono program might be improved.  Ropes gives attorneys and paralegals billable credit for pro bono work and provides training, resources, and support for volunteers.

Thank you to Sarah for her commitment to the Legal Clinic and to Ropes & Gray for their support of the Legal Clinic program and the Lawyers Clearinghouse.