Say Yes Buffalo is now offering free legal advice to city school families. Say Yes Legal Clinics are operating at four city school buildings.
Several area law firms have stepped forward with volunteer lawyers, providing pro-bono legal services. Say Yes Buffalo offers free legal clinics.
Say Yes leaders and supporters appeared at the Dr. Antonia Pantoja Community School of Academic Excellence on West Avenue on the city's west side Tuesday morning for a ribbon cutting. The school is one of four locations where the legal clinics have been established.
"As a judge of 31 years, I've watched and seen patterns that cross race lines that cross all sorts of different demographics where a family has problems in the background students are not able to focus on bettering themselves and creating a more successful future," said Hon. Hugh B. Scott, United States Magistrate Judge.
Buffalo Attorney Robert Elardo is with the Volunteers Lawyers Project. Elardo said many times legal barriers distract families from focusing on education.
"These families are getting help with real life problems that often effect family stability and definitely effect the children's ability to perform in school," said Elardo. "If the family is facing eviction and homelessness or if they aren't getting the unemployment benefits or child support money that they need to survive financially, or if the mother is facing possible deportation, that's going to effect the family and that's going to effect the kid and how they concentrate on their studies."
Local firms, including Phillips Lytle LLP; Hodgson Russ LLP; Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP; Hiscock & Barclay LLP; and Harris Beach PLLC. Gibson, McAskill, & Crosby, LLP will be joining the list of legal support for the clinics.
"We have about 400-lawyers that volunteer with us. So the breathe of the help that is coming from the legal community is widespread," noted Elardo.
The Say Yes Buffalo legal Task Force was co-chaired by Hon. Hugh B. Scott,United States Magistrate Judge. Judge Scott spoke at the news briefing explaining how legal troubles distract students.
"As a judge of 31 years, I've watched and seen patterns that cross race lines that cross all sorts of different demographics where a family has problems in the background students are not able to focus on bettering themselves and creating a more successful future," said Judge Scott.
Say Yes provides free college tuition to public school students who are eligible.
“We are excited to see another needed service be offered to Buffalo students and families,” said David Rust, Say Yes Buffalo Executive Director. There are often legal issues at home that affect a student’s ability to be successful in the classroom. In collaboration with the school district, the Volunteer Lawyers Project and the legal community, we are working to eliminate the legal barriers so students and families can focus their attention on academic success.”
Along with the new legal clinic at Public School #18, Say Yes Legal Clinics are also open at Public School #53 Dr. George E. Blackman School of Excellence, Early Childhood Center, South Park High School and East High School.
"This is a vital social service for our students and their families,” said Interim Superintendent Donald Ogilvie. “The ability to navigate legal issues that stand in the way of success is a priceless step toward improved quality-of-life. I thank Say Yes on behalf of our families for their recognition of this need, and their willingness to remove yet another obstacle that can impede educational advancement.”