Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, a full-service business law firm with offices throughout New York, is partnering with the University of Rochester and Volunteer Legal Services Project (VLSP) on a signature pro-bono project aimed at helping senior citizens who both qualify for services with VLSP and live in Rochester Housing Authority buildings.
The project, entitled Helping Elders Law Project (HELP-U), brings legal services to qualified local seniors in the Rochester Housing Authorities where they live through a series of on-site legal clinics. Attorneys from Harter Secrest & Emery and the Office of Counsel at the University of Rochester will prepare future planning documents, such as health care proxies, powers of attorney, wills, and other documents at no cost to the residents. VLSP staff will schedule and coordinate the on-site legal clinics with funding from the City of Rochester.
HELP-U is a year-long project now entering its second year. Those involved with the project hope to serve 50 seniors and produce 125 documents for them between now and August 2017, with their next on-site clinic planned for the Keeler Park Apartments later this month. Harter Secrest & Emery has committed to have volunteer attorneys from the firm available for two on-site clinics throughout each project year, with as many volunteer attorneys from the firm and from the Office of Counsel at the University of Rochester at each clinic as necessary to meet the needs of the seniors. During the first year, Harter Secrest & Emery and University of Rochester attorneys and VLSP personnel worked with residents at Hudson Ridge Towers and Danforth Towers.
“VLSP is pleased to partner with Harter Secrest & Emery, the University of Rochester Counsel’s office, and the City of Rochester to provide these important legal services to senior Rochester Housing Authority residents at no cost,” said Sheila Gaddis, Executive Director, Volunteer Legal Services Project.
Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Harter Secrest & Emery LLP is a full-service business law firm providing legal services to clients ranging from individuals and family-owned businesses to Fortune 100 companies and major regional institutions. With offices in Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, Corning, and New York City, New York, the firm is a recognized leader in corporate, employee benefits, environmental and land use, healthcare, higher education, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation, real estate, and trusts and estate law.