The Legal Aid Society (www.legal-aid.org)
Under the supervision of The Legal Aid Society, Cahill associates and summer associates work closely together and with their pro bono clients to provide much-needed representation to:
- young children who are the subjects of abuse and neglect proceedings in New York Family Courts.
- disabled individuals in need of social security benefits.
- immigrant youth who are the subjects of abuse.
- tenants who are denied the most basic of services.
- indigent defendants in criminal appeals.
The Door (www.door.org)
Cahill's pro bono partnership with The Door provides summer associates and associates with a variety of opportunities to:
- help young people in crises through individual representation.
- participate in immigration and emancipation clinics.
- conduct workshops that inform and educate on topics of interest, including arrest procedures, juvenile rights and free speech rights.
Surviving the Streets: "Know Your Rights"
In 2008, a team of Cahill associates pioneered the teaching curriculum "Surviving the Streets: Know Your Rights." Designed specifically for urban students whose schools are heavily patrolled by NYPD safety agents and who are interested in learning about the legal process and how if effects them, the curriculum covers rights under the Constitution such as arrest procedure, search and seizure, juvenile rights, voting rights and free speech rights. Since its introduction, dozens of Cahill associates have participated in completed workshops to several classes held at The Door and The Andrew Glover Youth Program. "Surviving the Streets: Know Your Rights" has gained national attention by non-profit press, and a teaching manual to export the curriculum to other urban centers across the United States is being developed. In 2010, workshops have been scheduled for students of the Urban Assembly Academy for Careers in Sports in the Bronx.
Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (www.transgenderlegal.org)
Through the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, Cahill lawyers assist transgender individuals with the "Name Change Project." The project allows transgender individuals to begin conforming their legal identities to the way they identify and live their lives. Cahill lawyers lend their services by advising clients on the applicable law and petitioning a court as well as appearing as co-counsel to the Fund in court proceedings.
- Since 2005, Cahill lawyers have achieved favorable results for more than 80 pro bono clients of the Legal Aid Society's Kathryn A. McDonald Education Advocacy Project.
- Each year since 2005, The Legal Aid Society presented the firm or our lawyers with the Pro Bono Publico Award "in recognition of Cahill's outstanding commitment to the cause of equal justice through pro bono service."
- At Cahill, pro bono hours are considered "billable."
- In 2009, Cahill was honored by Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) among the firms who exceeded the VOLS Pro Bono Pledge of at least an average of 30 hours of qualifying pro bono work.
- Cahill associates who seek experience handling cases from start to finish participate in Legal Aid's Criminal Appeals Program. Associates have argued more than twenty appeals in New York's Appellate Division.
- Cahil associates have consistently participated in the Legal Aid Society's Associates' campaign - an annual fundraiser that helps the Legal Aid Society sustain services to New York's poorest residents. In 2009, Cahill placed third in its division.
"Being able to develop and expand our Street Law teaching program has been extremely rewarding and greatly appreciated. I certainly didn't expect to be allowed, let alone encouraged, to devote so much time and effort to something like this when I decided to come to Cahill, but it's made a huge impact on me and my work experience here. The opportunity to use my legal education in a new and challenging way has been invaluable."- Sarah Barrs, 3rd Year Associate
"... the firm's backing on this [working with The Door] has been very meaningful for us, especially as young associates."- Sogol Somekh, 3rd Year Associate
- Egregious housing conditions prompted a Cahill associate to represent a Queen's resident in her hearing; he won her a court order for the necessary repairs.
- Cahill associates teamed to successfully represent a 19-year old in deportation proceedings in New York State Court to secure an appointment for legal guardian for their client, despite being over the age of 18.
- Two Cahill associates successfully represented two pro bono clients of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund to legally change their names.
- A Cahill summer associate secured supplemental social security benefits for a disabled 16-year old boy.
- Two Cahill associates secured citizenship for an 18-year old immigrant from Bangladesh.
- Two Cahill associates negotiated a service plan for special education program for their pre-school aged pro bono client.
- A spirited argument made by a Cahill associate as part of the Legal Aid Society's criminal appeals program was the subject of a front-page article "Identification Expert Proof Held Unneeded," in The New York Law Journal.
- A Cahill associate secured special education benefits for three disabled siblings with severe developmental delays.
- A Cahill associate convinced the New York Department of Education to grant a disabled kindergartner much-needed special education placements.
- A Cahill associate won disability benefits for a woman with severe osteoarthritis.
- A Cahill associate secured education benefits for a two-year old client with chronic lung disease.
- A Cahill associate helped securing placement for a developmentally challenged three-year-old boy in pre-school programs where he will receive a full-day classroom, play therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.
- A Cahill associate represented a five-year-old foster child classified by her school as emotionally disturbed and having behavioral problems, securing placement for her at a Charter school to receive proper care.
- A summer associate successfully secured full disability benefits for a disabled seven-year-old.
- A Cahill associate negotiated special education placements for three brothers with learning disabilities.
- Cahill lawyers provided antitrust advice to independent, non-profit women's health clinics in their formation of a national association.
