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- LASP COVID-19 service update
- Welcoming new board members Lorraine Ramunno & Milton Vélez
- New: upcoming virtual legal workshops on Clean Slate / Expungement / Pardons, Unemployment Compensation / Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) & Job Seeker Rights
- New: Webinars for attorneys on military discharge upgrades (May 20) & veterans benefits
- Bucks County Bar Assoc. CLE: PFA refresher May 20
- LASP in the news - COVID-19
- #GivingTuesdayNow
- Intern news
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LASP coronavirus service update
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Welcome to Lorraine Ramunno & Milton V
élez
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At LASP's virtual Board of Directors meeting in April, Board President Judith A. Algeo welcomed two new members,
Lorraine M. Ramunno, Esq. of Delaware County and
Milton
Vélez
, Esq. of
Montgomery County.
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With 37 years in the legal field,
Lorraine Ramunno is a solo practitioner in Media at her eponymous firm, the Law Office of Lorraine M. Ramunno. Her practice spans 25 years in c
riminal defense - adult and juvenile - as well as juvenile delinquency and dependency cases, and family law. She was recognized in
Best Lawyers in Delaware County by the
Daily Times
2017 and 2019 Reader's Choice in the area of Juvenile Law, and Best Lawyer recognition for criminal law this year.
"Nobody should be excluded who legitimately needs LASP's services," she said. "People who fall through the cracks - that's a real concern I have."
A native of Delaware, Lorraine holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and corrections from the University of Delaware, and a J.D. from Widener University School of Law. She's licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida.
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Though
Milton Vélez
is relatively new to Montgomery County, he has devoted much of his career to public service. He is currently
Montgomery County Assistant Solicitor, representing Montgomery County and its employees in state and federal civil litigation. As a new LASP board member, he looks forward to helping support communities served by LASP and hopes to volunteer at an expungement clinic in the near future. "Legal Aid is one of the primary providers of legal help to our diverse community, and I want to support those efforts," he noted.
An alumnus of Pennsylvania State University, he obtained his law degree from the Evening Division of the Temple University School of Law. But law is second career for him: he spent 11 years working for the state Supreme Court’s Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts as a Management Analyst. After law school he worked with several private law firms and the Law Department of the City of Philadelphia, concentrating in civil rights, labor and employment. After 10 years, Mr. V
élez moved to the Philadelphia Managing Director’s Office, as Director of its Criminal Justice Population Management Unit. He has also worked as Director/Manager of Human Resources for two Christian nonprofit corporations.
Mr. V
élez has been involved with numerous charitable boards and organizations, including the American Red Cross; Hispanic Bar Association Legal Education Fund; the Board of Directors of Academia Timoteo, a private Christian school in North Philadelphia; as well as the Board of Directors for the Children’s Jubilee Fund, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to raising scholarships for inner-city children to attend private Christian schools. He also served two terms on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs representing Philadelphia County.
Milton lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Olga Alvira V
élez, a former high school Spanish teacher. They have three adult daughters and four grandchildren. He is a longtime member of the Iglesia Evangelica Bautista, serving in various capacities.
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LASP launches new website
Offering improved events capability and a modern interface, LASP's new website launched on April 10. Check it out on desktop or mobile:
- Events page! Learn details for virtual legal clinics. New: webinars for attorneys are also available, to help bolster your pro bono practice. https://www.lasp.org/events
Expanded content will be added in days and weeks ahead. Feedback is welcome; contact Marion Hoffman Fraley, Communications Manager, at 610-275-5400 x140 or
mfraley@lasp.org.
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LASP gives thanks for your support on
#GivingTuesdayNow
-
a global day of unity and giving in response to COVID-19.
Your generous contributions will help bring free legal services to people facing housing loss because of COVID-19.
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Regional news coverage during COVID-19
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Pottstown
Mercury and
Times-Herald story
by
Carl Hessler Jr.
May 13, 2020
Phoenixville
Patch article by
Mark Pinto
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Virtual Clean Slate & Expungement workshop May 20
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Have a criminal record and want to learn more about the record-clearing process in Pennsylvania?
LASP Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will provide details on
Wednesday, May 20
from
2-3 p.m
. Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate law allows certain criminal cases to be sealed – taken out of public view – so they cannot be used as barriers to employment, housing, etc. She will discuss:
- How to find out what is on your record in Pennsylvania.
- Whether or not your record can be expunged or sealed.
- How to get help clearing your record.
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Pardons & expungements: Virtual workshop May 21
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Erica Briant, Supervising Attorney for LASP's Community Engagement Unit, will present a free online
Pardons / Expungements workshop
Thursday, May 21, 2020
in partnership with
PA CareerLink of Montgomery County
. The event will be from 12:30-1:30 p.m. To sign up, visit PA CareerLink:
https://bit.ly/369KqcZ
. For more information, please contact Clare
Lawrence at 610-270-3429 or
cllawrence@pa.
gov
.
This workshop will be presented using Zoom. Register now, and the link will be sent to you the day before the workshop.
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Virtual Unemployment Compensation workshop May 27
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LASP Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will present an update on
Unemployment Compensation / Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
, how and when to apply, and will answer your questions. The online event is
Wednesday, May 27
from
10-11 a.m.,
and it's
free
and
open to the public
.
Register now:
https://bit.ly/2SHyRnC
, through the
Phoenixville Public Library portal
. After you register, you will receive a Zoom link through email.
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Job Seeker Rights workshop May 28
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Are you looking for a job? Know your rights!
LASP Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will discuss laws around
job seeker rights and answer your questions.
A free virtual workshop will be held
Thursday, May 28 from
2-3 p.m.
On the morning of the event, a Zoom link will be emailed to you.
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Virtual Unemployment Compensation workshop June 4
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Unemployment Compensation: Free Virtual Workshop
Thursday, June 4 from 2-3 p.m.
LASP Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will present an update on
Unemployment Compensation /
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, how and when to apply, and answer your questions.
Register now for this online workshop: email
kquigg@mclinc.org. A few days before the event, you will receive a Zoom link through email.
~ Presented through a partnership between
LASP and
Royersford Free Public Library ~
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Webinars for attorneys: Helping veterans
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2-part webinar series for veterans' advocates:
- Military Discharge Upgrades - May 20
- Veterans Benefits - May 27
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Bolster your pro bono practice! Attend one or more of LASP's new WEBINARS FOR ATTORNEYS / Veterans' advocates, geared to help you take a pro bono case. The webinars are part of LASP's new
Veterans Advocacy Project.
Earn
1 free substantive CLE credit for each webinar if you handle 1 LASP case pro bono.
Discharge upgrades and restoration of veterans’ benefits can help veterans avoid the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Learn how you can best advocate for our nation’s veterans.
Part I: Military Discharge Upgrades
Wednesday, May 20 | 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Through under-diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other service-connected illnesses and injuries, thousands of veterans have been discharged from the military with less than honorable discharges and therefore denied veterans’ benefits. These “bad paper” discharges bar service members from benefits, employment opportunities, and other services. The military service branches have correction procedures which permit veterans to apply for discharge upgrades. Receive specialized training to learn how to navigate this process. Advance registration:
https://bit.ly/3dHEUAE
Part II: Veterans Benefits
Wednesday, May 27 | 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Veterans with a current disability and in-service injury can apply for benefits that provide a monthly check, physical and mental health treatment, education benefits, or home loans. Learn the requirements veterans must meet and how to advocate for veterans’ benefits. Advance registration:
https://bit.ly/2Z0L8rs
Presenter: Richard A.J. Prebil, Esq. is LASP Staff Attorney, Chester City Office, Delaware County.
He represents clients in cases related to landlord/tenant, child custody, public benefits, unemployment compensation, veterans benefits and discharge upgrades. Richard served as an Equal Justice Works Fellow with the Military Assistance Project in Philadelphia and interned with Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, Center for Disability & Elder Law, Chicago, and Homeless Advocacy Project, Philadelphia.
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PFA Refresher & Procedures when Bucks Co. PFA court reopens: A virtual CLE on May 20
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DOYLESTOWN - Bucks County's Protection from Abuse (PFA) court is currently scheduled to reopen in
early June
.
YOUR help is needed
to help PFA days run smoothly!
The Bucks County Bar Association's Pro Bono Committee will host a
virtual training
Wednesday, May 20
from
noon-1 p.m.
Get a refresher on taking a pro bono PFA case for plaintiff or defense, with a particular focus on how court will run in June due to the increased caseload.
Credit / Fee: 1.0 Substantive Credit; Distance Learning.
- This course is FREE for all to attend.
- CLE credit will only be given to those who volunteer to take a PFA case in June.
- The BCBA is now able to offer CLE credit for every 5 hours spent on pro bono PFA defense, up to 3 credits per year.
Presenters
:
Kimberly Litzke
,
Jessica Pritchard
,
Barbara Kaner
(LASP Staff Attorney) &
Shari Williams
.
How to volunteer for Bucks PFA hearings on June 3 and/or June 10,
for plaintiff or defense
- Volunteers are needed for the June PFA hearings. Bucks PFA court resumes June 3. Hearings are scheduled for Wednesdays thereafter. If you can volunteer for plaintiff on a Wednesday in June, contact Randi Riefner at rrierfer@lasp.org, and if you can volunteer for defense, contact Kristin Norcross at kirstenn@bucksbar.org.
- Six courtrooms will be open for PFA court.
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Bucks County United Way's COVID response
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During COVID-19, thank you to
United Way of Bucks County
and
Kimberly-Clark
for supporting the
Lower Bucks community
with cases of Cottonelle. United Way of Bucks County received the donation as part of Kimberly-Clark's $1 million #ShareASquare campaign, supporting United Way Worldwide's COVID-19 Community Response & Recovery Fund. LASP's Bristol office is among the Bucks County nonprofits that are assisting with distribution. Pat MacCorkle, LASP's longtime Bristol Office Manager, volunteered to help with the effort on May 6.
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Trial Run 5K has been moved to autumn!
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Save the date:
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020
Due to COVID-19, the
Trial Run 5K has been
MOVED to
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020! Save the date, and please stay tuned for updates! For more information, contact Brian Doyle at
610-436-4510 x211 or
bdoyle@lasp.org.
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A U.S. Army veteran and law student at Seton Hall University,
Matt Handley has volunteered with the Chester County Office since October 2019. He assists Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves at the monthly LASP clinic at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He has also worked as a Summer Fellow for the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School, as a legal intern at the Montgomery County Office of Public Defender, and as a Veterans Service Representative with the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs. He holds a B.A. in communications from Cedarville University in Ohio and an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma. During the COVID-19 crisis, Matt has continued to work with LASP’s veteran clients remotely in pursuing discharge upgrades and VA disability benefits claims. In his free time, Matt enjoys woodworking, cooking, and writing.
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Brittany Murphy has regularly volunteered at LASP expungement events in Delaware and Montgomery counties. A recent graduate of the Paralegal Studies program at Delaware County Community College, she won recognition for academic achievement and volunteerism through the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges and the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society of two-year colleges. She plans to attend Brigham Young University or University of Idaho,
majoring in business administration and criminology
in the fall, and to become a public interest attorney. Brittany was recently featured in the Philadelphia
Tribune:
https://bit.ly/33W8ZZT.
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Danielle Phillips worked as a legal intern on expungements and pardons in the Community Engagement Unit this spring. She was based in the Norristown office and then online, when coronavrius restrictions began in mid-March. A Temple Law student, she also has interned in Montgomery County's Office of the Public Defender. She served as judicial intern to Hon. Steven Tolliver and Hon. Barbara McDermott. She holds a B.A. from California State University, Fresno, and a Master's in Library and Information Science from Simmons College, Boston. In London, she worked for
Women for Women International as Office Coordinator and for Depaul UK as Career Coach. She served as Director of Library Services for Carrington College in Phoenix, Media Selector for Maricopa County Library District, and Library Manager for Fresh Start Women's Foundation.
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A Temple Law student,
Meghan Teal
worked with LASP's Community Engagement Unit this spring. She was based in the Norristown office and then worked remotely due to COVID-19. Meghan earned a degree in psychology from Salisbury University in Maryland in 2003, and she served a year as a graduate assistant for Salisbury's Office of Student Affairs. In 2004, she moved to Chicago to begin a 14-year career in theater, including 13 years as a stage and production manager for The Second City. Law school brought her to Philly in 2018, with the goal of studying and working in criminal defense as a public defender and/or in legal aid, serving people who have fewer resources to access the justice system. "Sentencing, prison, and collateral consequences reform, as well as wrongful convictions, are particular passions of mine," she said. In addition to LASP, Meghan also has volunteered for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, the PA Innocence Project, and Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts. She will intern with the Montgomery County Public Defenders this summer and the Philly Defenders Association in the fall.
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