PRESS RELEASE

New York City Bar and City Bar Justice Center Announce Deferred Associate Law Extern Support Project

The New York City Bar and City Bar Justice Center are pleased to announce the launch of the Deferred Associate Law Extern Support Project. The Project was created in response to the growing pool of law school graduates who have been deferred for up to a year from private law firms and have chosen to work in public interest law in New York City. The Project is also open to law firm associates who have accepted year-long voluntary deferral offers from their firms.

The main goal of the project is to provide a series of training sessions that will help the law firm externs get up to speed on the hard and soft skills needed to succeed at their externships and when they return to law firms. A secondary goal of the Project is to bring the externs together with their peers to discuss their experiences in a supportive environment and to meet leaders in the legal profession who support pro bono efforts.

On September 14, 2009, the Project will kick off with a Welcome to the NYC Public Interest Legal Community Breakfast and a week long training program held in conjunction with The Legal Aid Society and Legal Services NYC. Additional programming will continue throughout the fall and early winter at the House of the Association. The event is free for deferred associate externs.

For full programming details, please visit www.nycbar.org/DeferredAssociate/index.htm or contact Zakiyyah Salim-Williams, Project Director at zswilliams@nycbar.org or (212) 382-6689 for more information. The City Bar gratefully acknowledges the support of the New York Community Trust for this Project.

Training Programs, Social Events, and Roundtables:

Welcome to the New York Public Interest Legal Community Breakfast Roundtable on Right to Counsel Initiatives and Keynote on Poverty in New York

Monday, September 14, 2009, 8:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

Introduction to Interviewing and Counseling Clients & Negotiation

Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 8:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

Cross Cultural Lawyering Skills: Interview and Counseling Clients Across Gender, Race and Age Gaps

Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 8:30 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.

Research and Resources & Case Management

Thursday, September 17, 2009, 8:30 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.

The Deferred Associate Law Extern Support Project Hosts a Law Extern Cocktail Party

Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Professional Boundaries: Client Relationships, Opposing Counsel and Co-Counsel

Friday, October 23, 2009, 8:30 a.m. — 10:30 a.m.

Evidence in Administrative Hearings & Trials: Gathering Evidence and Laying Foundations & Mock Administrative Hearing

Friday, November 13, 2009, 8:30 a.m. — 10:30 a.m.

Melding Public Interest and Firm Culture: Achieving Success at Your Externship and Back at Your Firm

Friday, December 4, 2009, 8:30 a.m. — 10:30 a.m.

Leadership Roundtable on Improving Access to Justice through Pro Bono

Thursday, December 17, 2009, 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

The New York City Bar will also hold a two-day bootcamp on October 13-14 to train deferred associates and law school graduates on how to successfully join a firm.