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Other
Organizations : The Nebraska Lawyers Foundation : Funds
THE NEBRASKA LAWYERS FOUNDATION
The Nebraska Lawyers Foundation is
a non-profit corporation who’s focus is to obtain grants,
gifts and contributions to fund the work of the Minority and Justice
Implementation Fund, the Nebraska Lawyers Assistance Fund, the One
Hour of Sharing campaign, the Volunteer Lawyers Fund, the Nebraska
Continuing Legal Education Fund and the New Initiatives Fund.
Volunteer
Lawyers Project
VLP is
the NSBA’s statewide volunteer legal services project and
referral network founded on the belief that all citizens should
have access to the legal system, regardless of ability to pay. The
following is a quote from a real client assisted by VLP: “Last
September my divorce was accepted through the VLP. My divorce is
over with now and I am standing on my own two feet. I am not on
any public assistance, but without the attorney’s help and
the Volunteer Lawyers Project I would have had to apply for assistance
just to make ends meet. Because of the attorney, I have my pride
and self-respect. I didn’t just gain an attorney, I gained
a friend or two along the way.
Nebraska
Minority Justice Committee
The Nebraska
Minority Justice Committee is a unique statewide collaboration that
works to develop and implement just and sustainable policy reforms
that will not only improve the system of justice but will also strengthen
public trust and confidence in our laws and court system. The Committee
is a joint effort of the Bar Association and the Nebraska Supreme
Court, appointed by the Supreme Court in May of 2003 in response
to a Task Force’s two-year investigation of racial and ethnic
bias and discrimination in Nebraska’s justice system. The
mission of the Committee is to achieve four primary aims:
- Address
racial disparities in both the juvenile and adult justice systems,
- Ensure
equal access to justice,
- Increase
the diversity of Nebraska’s judicial workforces, and
- Increase
the diversity of Nebraska’s legal profession.
Nebraska Lawyers
Assistance Program
NLAP
offers help to lawyers, judges, and law students troubled by substance
abuse problems, stress, depression and other problems that may impair
their ability to perform in a competent and professional manner.
“If I haven’t told you already, the program you’re
running is a fantastic asset to the bar. Saved my life.” (E-mail
received by the NLAP Director from a Nebraska lawyer)
One
Hour of Sharing Campaign
Seeks
to raise cash contributions to support the provision of civil legal
services to low income Nebraskans. Contributions may go to the Volunteer
Lawyers Project, Nebraska Legal Services, Nebraska Appleseed Center
for Law in the Public Interest, the Milton R. Abrahams Legal Clinic
or the UNL Civil Law Clinic. In addition to financial contributions,
the annual campaign recruits volunteers to provide pro bono assistance.
The following is a real client assisted because of the One Hour
of Sharing Campaign: Tina, a homemaker, has four children. Due to
domestic violence in the home, she and the children left their home
and went to live at the Friendship home. Tina’s husband wanted
custody of the children. Tina obtained a protection order, which
her husband did not violate. Tina wanted a divorce but was afraid
her husband would be awarded custody of the children. Tina contacted
the Volunteer Lawyers Project. The case was placed with an attorney
in Lancaster County. With the assistance of this volunteer, Tina
files for divorce and is awarded temporary custody. Tina was able
to leave the shelter knowing she and the children are safe.
Nebraska
Continuing Legal Education
NCLE
was established to provide an educational program for the study
and discussion of information relating to the practice of law. Its
mission is to provide Nebraska lawyers with the latest information
about law and practice in Nebraska, to enable them to stay current
and maintain their “edge” so as to better serve their
clients. The lawyers, judges, and other professionals who plan and
present at NCLE seminars are volunteers in service to the profession.
As one participant said “NCLE does a great job with informative
and up-to-date programs.”
New
Initiative Fund
The new
initiative fund will fund new initiatives, projects, or programs
before a dedicated fund is established.
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