ACBA & ACBF projects

ADOPTION COMMITTEE BIRTHPARENT CONSULTATION PROJECT
Provides legal consultations to low-income birthparents contemplating, or involved in, private and private agency adoptions. Governed by the Adoption Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association. Managed by Vicki Hunt Mortimer, Esq., 412-471-8118; vhmesq@comcast.net

DISASTER RELIEF PROJECT
Primarily provides representation and advice to victims of disasters and catastrophes. Managed by Barbara Griffin, Esq., 412-402-6677; bgriffin@acba.org

DIVORCE LAW PROJECT
Represents plaintiffs in relatively simple no-fault divorce actions and conducts outreach clinics at community service agencies.
Managed by Whitney Hughes, Esq., 412-391-4467; whughes@acba.org

FEDERAL COURT PRISONERS CIVIL RIGHTS PRO BONO PROJECT
Represents prisoners who have filed non-frivolous civil claims in federal court. Ranges from one-day mediations to more protracted civil rights litigation.
Managed by the Federal Court staff - Colleen Willison, 412-208-7518; colleen_willison@pawd.uscourts.gov

FLOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Provides legal advice, referrals, and/or representation to individuals who are impacted by flooding in Allegheny County.
Managed by Barbara Griffin, Esq., 412-402-6677; bgriffin@acba.org

INDIGENT BIRTHPARENT ATTORNEY PROJECT
Represents indigent birthparents in termination of parental rights proceedings in Orphans’ Court. Managed by Carol S. Mills McCarthy, Esq., 412-471-9900; mccarthy@mmsj.com

JUVENILE COURT PROJECT
Provides pro bono legal representation to qualified low-income parents who are parties to a dependency action through Allegheny County’s Juvenile Court. Managed by Eleanor Grainy, Esq., 412-904-5412; egrainy@acba.org

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS PROJECT

MILITARY PERSONNEL PRO BONO PROJECT – Offers legal advice, referrals, and/or representation to military personnel and their immediate family members who are Allegheny County residents who have been called to active duty as a result of war and/or military action. Contact: Timothy O’Brien, Esq., 412-391-4467; tpob@icubed.com

MILITARY AND VETERANS LEGAL ADVICE CALL-IN DAY – Four-hour call-in program at KDKA providing legal advice to military personnel and veterans. Managed by the ACBA Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

PITTSBURGH PRO BONO PARTNERSHIP

Group of law firm and corporate legal department members who develop signature pro bono projects:

MCKEES ROCKS CLINIC – General clinic held two times per month at Focus on Renewal in McKees Rocks. Staffed by attorneys from ALCOA, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, and Burns, White & Hickton.

ANTI-PREDATORY LENDING CLINIC – Clinic for predatory lending issues only, located at Family Services of Western Pennsylvania’s East Liberty office. Staffed by attorneys from U.S. Steel Corporation and Pietragallo Bosick & Gordon, LLP.

CHILD CUSTODY GUARDIAN PROJECT – Provides attorneys to serve as guardians representing the best interests of at-risk children in high-conflict custody cases. Staffed by attorneys from Reed Smith, LLP.

FAMILY LAW CUSTODY CONCILIATION PRO BONO PROJECT – Limited representation of clients at family law custody conciliations. Staffed by Pro Bono Partnership member organizations. Managed by Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC.

EDUCATION LAW – School Board Expulsion Hearing Pro Bono Project - Represents students of families who meet income-edibility guidelines at school board expulsion hearings. Staffed by the Education Law Center and the Academy of Trial Lawyers Association.

THE WILLS PROJECT – Provides drafting of wills, living wills, and Healthcare Powers of Attorney for senior citizens who meet income-eligibility guidelines. Staffed by attorneys from Reed Smith, LLP and GlaxoSmithKline.

Member organizations:

CHRISTIAN LEGAL AID OF PITTSBURGH
Provides free legal consultations on non-criminal matters including but not limited to family law, protection from abuse orders, bankruptcy, landlord-tenant issues, and elder law. Managed by Janet Goode, Esq., 412-622-0232; clapittsburgh@yahoo.com

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PA, FAMILY DIV. – ADULT SECTION PRO SE PROGRAM
Assists eligible unrepresented applicants in the preparation of motions to be presented to a Family Court judge. Managed by the Family Division, Court of Common Pleas, Hon. Kim Clark, Administrative Judge and Barbara L. Payne, Esq., 412-350-5600; barbara.payne@court.allegheny.pa.us

EDUCATION LAW CENTER
Provides legal advocacy to families who have public education related problems. Services include individual counseling and technical support, legal representation in select individual cases and cases involving key issues affecting large numbers of students, and advocacy for administrative and legislative reforms at the local, state, and nation levels.
Managed by Nancy Hubley, Esq., 412-391-5225; nhubley@elc-pa.org

EXECUTIVE SERVICE CORPS LAWLINKS, A PROGRAM OF THE BAYER CENTER FOR NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT AT ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY
Provides legal services, education, and advice to small, grassroots, non-profit organizations. Managed by Cindy Bahn, Esq. 412-397-4057; bahn@rmu.edu

GREATER PITTSBURGH ARTS COUNCIL VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
Provides advice and representation to emerging and small arts organizations and low-income individual artists in the following areas: incorporation, by-laws and 501(c) (3) status filings, entertainment contracts, immigration law, trademark, copyright, and other IP issues.
Managed by Susan Blackman, 412-391-2060; sblackman@pittsburghartscouncil.org

JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN’S SERVICE
Offers family and immigration law assistance to low-income refugees and immigrants in Pittsburgh. Special program: Removal Proceedings Project.
Contact: Joyce Ramirez, Esq., 412-904-5965; jramirez@jfcspgh.org

KIDSVOICE
Represents abused, neglected, and at-risk children in Juvenile Court dependency proceedings. Directed by Scott M. Hollander, Esq., 412-391-3100; shollander@kidsvoice.org

MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION LEGAL SERVICES
Provides legal consultations and limited representation to individuals receiving mental-health services; the focus is on issues that are non-criminal in nature.
Contact: Frank Cecchetti, Esq., 412-391-3820, ext. 12; fcecchetti@mhaac.net

NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION
Provides advice and representation in the following areas: employment and unemployment compensation law, family law, tenant’s rights, debt collection and bankruptcy law, protection from abuse, SSI and social security disability, litigation defense, estates with limited assets, and adult guardianships. Special programs: Debt Advice Clinic; Family Law Clinic; PFA; Older & Wiser. Managed by Barbara Kern, Esq., 412-255-6700; kernb@nlsa.us

NORTH HILLS COMMUNITY OUTREACH, INC.
Provides counseling and referral services at clinics in the North Hills regarding family, consumer, and landlord/tenant issues. Managed by Harriet Gibbs, Support Coordinator for NHCO, 412-487-6316; hzgibbs@nhco.org

PITTSBURGH AIDS TASK FORCE LEGAL COMMITTEE
Advises, refers, and/or represents people living with AIDS and HIV infection, their family, and friends in legal matters including: wills; living wills; powers of attorney; SSI/SSDI; guardianship; and issues involving civil rights, employment discrimination, medical treatment discrimination, confidentiality issues and medical insurance.
Managed by Matthew E. Ometz, 412-345-7456; mometz@patf.org

UPTOWN LEGAL CLINIC
Offers pro bono legal services at Bethlehem Haven to indigent and low-income individuals in matters pertaining to family law, housing, debtor-creditor, and benefits issues.
Managed by Deborah L. Kutzavitch, Esq. 412-338-3502; dlkutzavitch@hillmanco.com and Frank J. Lucchino, Jr., Esq,. 412-654-3111; fj@lucchinolaw.com

YWCA’S LEGAL RESOURCES FOR WOMEN
Advises, refers and represents women in a wide variety of legal matters; services includes seminars and individual counseling. Special project: 100 Lawyers – One Case Each Pro Bono Limited Asset Divorce program.
Managed by Jean Cason-Wynter, Esq., 412-255-1246; ajcason-wynter@ywcapgh.org