Pro Bono Spotlight: Thanks to ACC, VLSP’s internship program continues

Summer interns are a welcome addition to any office. Particularly in small offices like that of Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County Inc., interns provide invaluable assistance to staff at all levels. 

Thanks to the support of the Central and Western New York Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), VLSP is able to continue its internship program this summer. ACC generously provided $2,000 to fund the program this year, as it did in 2010.

The quality of VLSP’s pro bono program was among the factors considered by ACC in deciding to fund the internship program again this year. 

“VLSP has a very high profile in our legal community and is widely known for the much-needed pro bono assistance it provides to low-income members of our community,” said Zosan (Sam) Soong, senior patent counsel at Xerox Corp., who serves as president of the ACC’s Central and Western New York Chapter.

Additional factors included the strong ties forged between VLSP and corporate counsel in Greater Rochester. 

“In-house counsel in our area have a long history of involvement with VLSP,” Soong said. “At Xerox Corp., many attorneys volunteer for VLSP’s clinics, others take full case referrals. They often speak of their experience as VLSP volunteers as being very rewarding, both personally and professionally.”

According to its website, ACC is the global in-house bar association for professional corporate counsel who practice in legal departments. There are over 28,000 ACC members in 75 countries representing more than 10,000 organizations.  

Soong is in his second year as president of the Central and Western New York Chapter of the ACC. Prior to Soong’s involvement, the chapter had been inactive. 

“I wanted to re-energize the chapter, so I recruited people who would assume an active role on the board,” Soong said. 

The chapter presently has about 155 members. In addition to Soong, the current ACC board members are: David Mowry, counsel, Xerox Corp.; Maureen Mulholland, general counsel, Monro Muffler Brake Inc.; John Messenger, vice president & associate general counsel, PAETEC Communications Inc.; Susan Parulski, chief patent counsel, Carestream Health Inc.; Daniel McDonald, vice president and general counsel, Hahn Automotive Warehouse Inc.; Gail Norris, senior counsel, University of Rochester; Andrea Perry, corporate attorney, Welch Allyn Inc.; Kim Shaffer, counsel, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield; Clay Arnold, counsel, Bausch & Lomb Inc.; William Myers, vice president & associate general counsel, Carrols Corp.; and Thomas Rall, associate general counsel, Ultralife Batteries Inc.

While the chapter has implemented a broad range of initiatives including CLE programs, its commitment to the next generation of attorneys is a major focus. In addition to funding VLSP’s internship program, ACC offers support to the Monroe County Bar Association’s Diversity Clerkship program. 

“ACC members enjoy interacting with the diversity law clerks, and recently hosted them at a dinner reception,” Soong said. 

With funding in place thanks to ACC, VLSP has welcomed two interns. Allison Kittelberger, a native of Webster who competed as a Division 1 student athlete as an undergraduate, is a rising second year law student at Michigan State University College of Law. Kittelberger was placed at VLSP by John Busby, Equal Justice Work AmeriCorps Legal Fellow, through the Law Students in Action Project, a program of the Legal Assistance of Western New York Volunteer Legal Corps.

“I was drawn to VLSP by the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with clients,” Kittelberger said. “I really have enjoyed interviewing clients and seeing some go through the legal process start to finish.  Having seen the endless stream of people coming to VLSP, I now understand the need for attorneys to do pro bono and plan to do continue to volunteer after I am admitted.”

A 2011 graduate of MIT who will start at Stanford University College of Law this fall, Margaret Ding appreciates the opportunity get a head start on law school by undertaking research projects and interacting with clients at VLSP. 

“Interning at VLSP has given me a better idea of the needs of the Rochester community, as well as exposure to clients from diverse backgrounds,” Ding said. “It also has been a great way to give back to the community.”

Kittelberger and Ding will soon be joined by Dai Smith, a high school intern joining VLSP through the Law Prep summer internship program. 

“The program fosters an interest in law among Rochester City School District students as a way to potentially increase the diversity of Rochester’s legal community,” said attorney John R. Hurley of the Rochester City School District’s Academy of Law and Justice.

During the past 15 years, as many as 30 high school students interned each summer through the program, which was funded by state and federal grants. This year, there will only be two or three internships available.

“The Law Prep summer internship program has been scaled back significantly,” Hurley said. “With the loss of grant funding, this year employers were required to provide $870 in funding to pay an intern for 20 hours of work for 6 weeks at minimum wage. To date, VLSP and Harter Secrest & Emery have agreed to accept interns this summer.”

The internships are available to School Without Walls students who have taken a law class and expressed an interest in law. Prospective employers interview internship candidates and determine whether or not to extend them an offer. Throughout the internship, Hurley meets with the students to ensure they are making appropriate connections between their internship experiences and their school year academics.

Over the years, the Law Prep summer internship program has yielded numerous success stories. 

“One of the first students in the program was placed at Lacy Katzen,” Hurley said. “She’s still working there as a paralegal. Ward Greenberg and Frontier Abstract have had students who started as high school interns return to their offices as college interns. Several students have gone on careers in law or law enforcement.”

While VLSP’s summer internship program gives students exposure to the legal field, VLSP’s Art of Lawyering Workshop gives lawyers a chance to explore the fine arts. Attorneys who would like to contribute to the Art of Lawyering silent auction opening on Oct. 6, but need some guidance to be able to do so, are welcome to attend the workshop at Studio 34 Creative Arts Center on Aug. 11.

Join in the fun by creating beaded jewelry and fused glass pendants. Instruction will be provided. Refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m.; workshops will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. A $5 donation at the door would be appreciated.  Please contact me to register. 

To ensure the workshop is a success, VLSP is also holding a jewelry drive now through Aug. 1. Beads and beaded jewelry are especially appreciated. VLSP will provide tax receipts for donations.

VLSP thanks the Central and Western New York Chapter of ACC, the Rochester City School District, the Academy of Law and Justice, the Law Students in Action Program and all of the members of the legal community who stepped up last month to help low-income clients with a wide range of issues including bankruptcies, wills, tax, name changes, unemployment insurance benefits denials, grandparent/non-parent child custody disputes, and divorces.

June 2011 honor roll

Solo practitioners and paralegals: Mary Aramini; Matthew Austin; Karen Callanan; Denine Carr; Craig Carson; Robert Clark; Tina de Sousza; Marc Duclos; Charles Genese; Patricia Gibbons; Vanessa Brown Hanks; Victoria Lagoe; Anthony Leavy; Chenoa Maye; Lori Parker; Santash Pawar; Marla Pilaroscia; Maria Reed; Michael Reifenstein; Mallorie Rulison; Lisa Sadinsky.

Attorneys and paralegals at firms: Steven Carling (Burns & Schultz); Diana Holl, Kristin Lowe, Langston McFadden (Harter Secrest & Emery); Erica DiRenzo, Richard Romanchik, paralegal Peter Mikesell (Hiscock & Barclay); Jennifer Fazio (Kaman Berlove); Patrick Lane (McConville Considine); Dana K. Campbell, Barry Carrigan, Jared Lusk, Jean McCreary, Richard Rochford, Meghan Schubmehl (Nixon Peabody); Roy Colicchio (Remington Gifford Williams & Colicchio); Robert Hooks, Seth Weinstein (Woods Oviatt).

Government attorney: Emina Poricanin, Kim Taylor (Appellate Division, Fourth Department); Sherri Wood (Monroe County Law Department).

Corporate attorney and paralegal: Brian O’Connor (Eastman Kodak); Frank Fields (Global Crossing); paralegal  Cindy Winner (Thomson Reuters).

Mediator: Robert Hauser (Center for Dispute Settlement).

Web Developer: Robert Kostin.

Summer Associates: Kelly Foss, Caitlin Howe (Harter Secrest & Emery); Vanria Glenn, Jemeli Tanui (Hiscock & Barclay).

Students: Margaret Ding (Stanford University College of Law); Elizabeth Johnstone (Skidmore College); Allison Kittelberger (Michigan State University College of Law); Jonathan Edwards; Pennella Linton (Monroe Community College); Frank Dorcely, Patience Purdie (Athena High School).

Linda Kostin, Esq., is the pro bono coordinator at Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County Inc. Contact her at [email protected] or (585) 295-5703.