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ARIZONA EFFORTS Two Week Update: Arizona Lawyers Assist Hurricane Evacuees Tucson Team Fulfills Mission Lawyers Answer Call for Volunteers (9/09) Phoenix Schedules Second Training Session Tucson Lawyers in Action (9/09) Bar Calls for Volunteer Lawyers (9/08) We know lawyers have been looking for ways to help people impacted by Hurricane Katrina. We now have some solid information and opportunities for you to put your legal skills into action. The Governor's office has asked the State Bar to coordinate free legal assistance for the people who were evacuated from the Louisiana area and sent to Arizona. We sent a team of very experienced lawyers to the Coliseum in Phoenix today where about 500 evacuees are now staying. After assessing the situation, we are developing a plan on how best to provide a structured and helpful environment for both the lawyers and the people who need our help. We do need volunteer lawyers who are willing to provide onsite legal assistance in Phoenix for at least two 4-hour shifts over the next month. The shifts are Monday through Saturday: 8:00am - 12noon If you are willing work at least two of those shifts, then we need you to participate in a short training program. The State Bar, in coordination with the Volunteer Lawyers Program and Osborn Maledon, will hold its first training session on Wednesday, September 14th from 4:00-5:30pm at Osborn Maledon, 2929 N. Central Avenue, Suite 2100. At this time we need 50 attorneys for the initial training and volunteer effort. We know it is likely we will get more than 50 volunteers. We will take them on a first-come, first-served basis. If you do not make the first 50, we ask for your patience. We will keep your contact information and communicate with you about future volunteer opportunities. To sign up for the Wednesday training program, go to our sign-up form by clicking here, and be sure to designate yourself as an "onsite volunteer." In addition, there is a need for experienced lawyers to be available via the telephone. If you have expertise in one of the areas below, please sign up to be an offsite expert telephone consultant. *Consumer bankruptcy/debt There's no guarantee you will be called, but it will be very helpful to have a list of available experts. Go to our sign-up form and be sure to designate yourself as an "offsite consultant." All of these efforts are being coordinated with the Volunteer Lawyers Program, Community Legal Services, and the Maricopa County Bar. Our sincere thanks for their wonderful teamwork and expertise. In addition, we are also working on similar efforts in Pima County and will communicate that as we get more information. Thanks in advance for your valuable time and talents. This is a fluid situation that changes rapidly, so we appreciate your patience. Regards, Helen Perry Grimwood AZ Bar to Coordinate Legal Assistance for Evacuees AZ Law Schools Help Displaced Law Students The law schools at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University are hosting law students from areas hardest hit by the Hurricane. U of A The University of Arizona Rogers College of Law has taken four Tulane law students for the fall semester as visiting students. These four students began law school here today. Most of them have very little as they fled New Orleans quickly and expected to be able to return to school and their homes within a few days. They brought with them a few days’ worth of clothing and their laptop computers. The law college has arranged for temporary housing, student mentors, campus parking, student health and other services normally offered to registered law students. West, Foundation & Aspen will donate textbooks to all Tulane & Loyola law students who are visiting at other schools this semester. Due to the hardship these students have faced, the University of Arizona Rogers College of Law is waiving tuition for students who are paying tuition to their home institutions. How you can help However, these students still need help. Specifically, they need money or gift certificates for clothing (casual and professional) and furniture. If you can help, please send your tax deductible cash donations, made payable to: "Law College Association - Student Emergency Fund," Mail to: Law College Association, P.O. Box 210176 Tucson, AZ 85721-1076 Tax deductible credit card donations may be made by following the directions at this link: http://www.law.arizona.edu/Alumni/PDF/creditcard.pdf. If you have furniture you can loan to these visiting students for a few months, please contact Kay Clark, Assistant Director of Admissions, at clark@law.arizona.edu or 520-621-9949. ASU The College of Law at Arizona State University is also hosting law students. As of Friday, the school had accepted 8 new law students coming from Tulane and Loyola and had room for as many as 20 in total, according to K Royal, the College of Law’s Director of Pro Bono Programs and Student Life Royal says Arizona attorneys can best help simply with money, necessities, donated laptops, meals, clothes - basically everything we would want if going on an extended visit. West has donated all the books and the school has taken care of housing for the students. For information on how to donate, contact: K Royal Director of Pro Bono Programs and Student Life The College of Law at Arizona State University (480) 727-8979 KRoyal@asu.edu Fennemore Craig Offers Office Space The Phoenix law firm of Fennemore Craig is offering office space for use by displaced lawyers from the states affected by Hurricane Katrina. The firm has 4 large offices and 4 smaller associates offices. Hours available: 8am to 5pm Use of phones and photocopying machines, can plug in laptop, etc. For more information, contact Kathy Hancock (602) 916-5410 or e-mail: khancock@fclaw.com. LAWYERS HELPING NATIONWIDE Louisiana State Bar Coordinates Relief Fund The Louisiana State Bar has established a relief fund to assist lawyers who lost their homes and offices. The Baton Rouge Bar Foundation is administering the fund. Donations should be sent to: Hurricane Katrina Legal Community Relief Fund c/o Baton Rouge Bar Foundation 544 Main Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Questions about the fund should be directed to Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Association Executive Director Ann Scarle at (225) 344-4803 or ann@brba.org. You may also check http://www.lsba.org for the latest information. Mississippi Bar Establishes Relief Fund Due to the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, The Mississippi Bar and Mississippi Bar Foundation have established the Hurricane Katrina Lawyer Relief Fund to assist lawyers who have lost their offices in the storm. Funds collected will be used to assist lawyers with re-establishing their law offices. Donations should be made payable to Mississippi Bar Foundation and mailed to Hurricane Katrina Lawyer Relief Fund, c/o Mississippi Bar Foundation, PO Box 2168, Jackson, MS 39225-2168. National Conference of Women's Bar Associations Collects Donations National Conference of Women's Bar Associations is raising money for women lawyers and women lawyers' organizations in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. Send donations to: National Foundation of Women's Bar Associations P.O. Box 82366 Portland, OR 97282-0366 All donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible. The Foundation says 100% of funds received will go to women lawyers and women lawyers' organizations in the affected areas. HOW YOU CAN HELP Donate & Volunteer There are many excellent organizations providing donation opportunities and the list keeps on growing. Below are some of the key organizations. You may wish to seek others.
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