Cahill has a long and honored tradition of pro bono work. The firm supports the efforts of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York through Volunteers of Legal Service ("VOLS") to provide an average of 30 hours per attorney to qualifying pro bono work annually. In 2009, Cahill was honored by VOLS among firms who exceeded the VOLS Pro Bono Pledge. Each year since 2005, The Legal Aid Society has 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."
Through our partnership with The Legal Aid Society, Cahill lawyers advocate for educational services for 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, and indigent defendants in criminal appeals. The housing program component was recently expanded when Cahill initiated a new project with the Civil Practice's Queens Neighborhood Office to represent tenants in Housing Court actions to compel landlords to repair dangerous building conditions, threatening life, health, safety and continued occupancy.
Many Cahill partners and associates have taken cases on behalf of abused and neglected children and disabled, low income adults. In addition to the benefits afforded by hands-on experience, Cahill lawyers have repeatedly obtained successful results, securing educational and developmental placements and disability benefits for their pro bono clients. Others have undertaken to handle criminal appeals on behalf of indigent defendants as part of Legal Aid's Criminal Appeals Project. Working with guidance from Legal Aid attorneys, our lawyers have the primary responsibility for all aspects of the appeals, including consulting with the clients, mastering the trial record, formulating issues for appeal, drafting the brief, and conducting oral argument.
In 2008, the firm initiated a pro bono partnership with The Door, a youth services agency for people between the ages of 12 and 21. Since 1972, The Door has practiced a holistic and human approach that helps each individual member to dismantle the complex barriers that often stand in the way of success. Of the 8,000 current members, the majority are between 17 and 20 years of age, with the average being 18. Most are African-American or Hispanic; a growing number are immigrants from China.
Through its partnership with The Door's Legal Services center, our lawyers provide pro bono counsel to young people in crisis through individual representation on immigration (asylum, SIJS, VAWA self-petitions), family law/family violence, public benefits, and public assistance. Also through this partnership, Cahill lawyers conduct Emancipation Clinics. Our attorneys meet with young people who have questions or concerns regarding emancipation, benefits, becoming an independent student for purposes of financial aid eligibility, or combinations of the above issues and teach youth legal rights. Last summer, Cahill associates pioneered an original teaching curriculum at The Door entitled, "Surviving the Streets: Know Your Rights." The workshops covered practical but important law topics, including arrest procedure, search and seizure, juvenile rights, voting rights and free speech rights. Twice a week, associates developed lesson plans, activities and workshops for a class of twenty.
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.
In addition, Cahill lawyers individually have taught inner city youth law programs, mentored troubled youth, provided advice to not for profit organizations and served as volunteers for community service projects in and around New York City.
