Highlighting Access Justice Brooklyn’s Summer Interns on National Intern Day

National Intern Day is July 27, 2023, and to celebrate we are delighted to introduce, highlight, and celebrate Access Justice Brooklyn’s Summer Interns! As an organization operating with a full-time program staff of fourteen, our interns play an especially critical role in our day-to-day work and impact.

Sarah Genchanok, Rising 2L, Brooklyn Law School, NYSBA Catalyst Public Service Fellowship Recipient
“I was interested in interning at Access Justice Brooklyn because of the opportunity to provide direct assistance to the Brooklyn community for a variety of legal matters. So far, I’ve gained hands-on experience on how to best assist and advocate for clients by appearing on the record on behalf of pro se litigants in Civil Court and learned how to discuss potential resolutions and settlements with opposing counsel. I am incredibly grateful to the organization’s staff and our supervising attorneys for their guidance!”

Sydney Korman, Rising 2L, Brooklyn Law School, NYSBA Catalyst Public Service Fellowship Recipient
“I was drawn to interning with Access Justice Brooklyn due to its mission of promoting a fair and accessible legal system. This opportunity has been immensely valuable, providing me with practical legal skills that can only be learned through hands-on experience. Moreover, I’ve gained a profound understanding of what it means to ardently advocate for clients.”

Caroline Strauss, Rising 2L, Brooklyn Law School, NYSBA Catalyst Public Service Fellowship Recipient
“I was interested in interning with Access Justice Brooklyn because of their commitment to ensuring a more accessible legal system. I have had the opportunity to learn how to best advocate for my clients by doing hands-on work in real time including writing discovery orders and order of dismissals, taking part in settlement negotiations, and writing settlement stipulations, and arguing motions in front of the presiding judge.” I’ve gained a lot of confidence thus far, and I look forward to learning even more in these last weeks of my summer internship.”

From conducting intake to staffing legal clinics and representing clients on civil legal matters, our interns are making a long-lasting difference in the lives of those who are often overlooked and underserved.

We are incredibly grateful and proud of their compassion and dedication to Access Justice Brooklyn and those we serve! For more information about volunteering with Access Justice Brooklyn, visit: www.accessjusticebrooklyn.org/take-action

Press Release: Access Justice Brooklyn Announces the Appointment of Trish Lilley to Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, July 24, 2023

ACCESS JUSTICE BROOKLYN ANNOUNCES THE ELECTION OF A NEW BOARD MEMBER (click here to download the press release)

Brooklyn, New York –– Access Justice Brooklyn announces the election of a new member to its Board of Directors following the organization’s meeting held on July 18, 2023.

Joining Access Justice Brooklyn’s Board of Directors is Trish Lilley, Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer at Thompson Coburn LLP. Upon her election, Trish shared the following:

“I am honored to join the Access Justice Brooklyn board as its mission to provide critical civil legal services and access to the justice system to low-income individuals across Brooklyn and greater New York City is truly life-altering and empowering for those served, many of whom are in marginalized communities. I am thrilled that the organization’s goal of achieving equitable access to justice for all regardless of income, identity or ability aligns so closely with my personal values, and I look forward to leveraging my professional experience to contribute and further Access Justice Brooklyn’s mission in partnership with its talented staff and dedicated board.”

As Access Justice Brooklyn enters its second year since its transformative rebrand and celebrates 33 years of service to the Brooklyn community, the board remains focused on raising the organization’s profile among potential clients, community partners, volunteers, and supporters.

“We are delighted to welcome Trish to the Access Justice Brooklyn Board. With deep pro bono roots, a passion for justice, and a keen understanding of how to strategically maximize partnerships, Trish is uniquely positioned to play a key role in efforts to strengthen the visibility of the organization within marketing, legal, and cross industry professional networks, while strengthening our impact throughout Brooklyn,” said Lynn Judell, Chair, Access Justice Brooklyn Board of Directors.

Trish will join a 25-member board that oversees Access Justice Brooklyn’s governance and strategic development including: Lynn E. Judell, Rukab Brash PLLC, Chair; Stephen Z. Williamson, Law Office of Stephen Z. Williamson, P.L.L.C., Vice Chair; Scottye Lindsey, Santander Bank, Treasurer; Michael Watson, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Secretary; Jack Aldrich, BlackRock; Daniel Angel, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; Elena Bonifacio, Google; Lisa Braun, PwC; Caroline Conway, Stonepeak; Elizabeth Dank, TikTok; Akshay Dhiman, Lazard; Brian Fryd, Cornerstone Research; Jeffrey B. Gewirtz, BSE Global; Adam B. Gilbert, Nixon Peabody LLP; Heidi Lee Henderson, Access Justice Brooklyn, President; Alexander Kaplan, Oppenheim + Zebrak, LLP; Colin S. Kelly, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP; Melanie Kotler, RenaissanceRe; Mark Lande, Island Capital Group LLC; Samuel O. Maduegbuna, Maduegbuna Cooper LLP; Thanya Polonio-Jones, Center for Reproductive Rights; Lee Popkin, Proskauer Rose LLP; Lydia Keaney Reynolds, FARFETCH; Adam Shepherd, Macquarie Group; and William Zichawo, Blackstone.

Board recruitment efforts continue as Access Justice Brooklyn seeks diverse candidates, across varying industries, who possess the combined dedication, values, skills, and enthusiasm needed to fulfill the organization’s mission, surpass its goals, and advance Access Justice Brooklyn’s vision for an equitable Brooklyn where everyone knows their rights and has access to legal support.

About Access Justice Brooklyn:

Access Justice Brooklyn partners with compassionate pro bono attorneys to provide high-quality, civil legal services that help ensure equal access to the legal system. The organization’s approach prioritizes the most basic, essential elements and experiences of human life, including housing, family stability, and subsistence income. Its proven pro bono model—recruit, train, supervise, and support—also provides flexibility to address new legal issues as they emerge. Everyone, whether an attorney or not, has a role to play in expanding access to justice. Visit www.accessjusticebrooklyn.org or email info@accessjusticebk.org to volunteer, donate, or find other ways to get involved.

Press Contact:
Melissa Starr | Senior Director of Development & Strategic Initiatives | 718-473-9209 | melissa@accessjusticebk.org

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Unclaimed Funds: Find lost money at the New York State Comptroller’s Office

Every day New York State returns $1.5 million to those who file claims with the Office of the New York State Comptroller.

Banks, insurance companies, corporations, and the courts are required by law to report dormant or inactive accounts to the State Comptroller’s Office. Companies and organizations must attempt to notify you by mail and publish the information in newspapers if you have money in these accounts. Despite these efforts, billions of dollars remain unclaimed and are turned over to the State Comptroller’s Office.

There is a total of $955,603,433 in unclaimed funds in Kings County – is any yours?

Types of Unclaimed Funds Accounts

– Bank Accounts – savings, checking, and/or certificate of deposit (CDs)
– Court Funds – settlements
– Dividends – corporate profits to shareholders
– Estate Proceeds – wills and trusts
– Insurance Benefits and Policies
– Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds – investment funds
– Telephone, Utility, and Security Deposits

Search for Lost Money

Visit www.osc.state.ny.us/unclaimed-funds to begin your search. Enter your last and first name or organization name. If you find a match, select the Name or Address for more information about the item you wish to claim. You can submit a claim online or mail-in a claim form. For more information about the process and available resources, click here.

AVOID UNCLAIMED MONEY SCAMS!

Beware of people who pretend to be the government and offer to send you unclaimed money in exchange for a fee or the exchange of confidential personal information. The State Comptroller’s Office never charges a fee to return unclaimed funds. This practice is called phishing – a criminal activity using various techniques to trick you into providing personal or financial information through an email request or through a link to a fraudulent Web site. For more information on phishing, please visit the New York Department of State, Division of Consumer Protection.