Foundation Grants Awarded in 2007

Monroe County Bar Association - Center for Education:

The MCBA will use the grants received for Deaf Equal Access Fund (DEAFund) of the Monroe County Bar Association, the “How to Choose a Lawyer” Public Education Program, the new Law Practice Continuity Registry, the Minority Clerkship Program and Sydney R. Rubin High School Mock Trial Competition.

• The Deaf Equal Access Fund of the Monroe County Bar Association received a grant for $2,000 to help provide member attorneys with partial reimbursement for the costs of interpreters hired through a collaborative partnership with Lifespan that provides certified interpreters at a discounted rate.

• The “ How to Choose a Lawyer” Public Education Program received a grant for $6,000. This unbiased program is designed to better educate the public on selecting an appropriate attorney for specific types of legal matters without relying on the heavily saturated marketing of attorney advertising. Material from the MCBA website www.HowToChooseALawyer.com will be used as a basis for communications, brochures and print advertising.

• The new Law Practice Continuity Registry program received a grant for $2,500 for program development and start-up costs. The registry will enable attorneys to register their law practice designee, and all of their contact information, in the event of their illness, death or some other matter that would end, either permanently or temporarily, their practice of law.

• The Minority Clerkship Program received a grant in the amount of $9,500 to the MCB Center for Education to fund first year law students with one of the legal service providers for two 10-week internships, one in 2007 and one in 2008, and to provide some funding of programmatic expenses.

• The Sydney R. Rubin High School Mock Trial Competition received a grant in the amount of $2,000, and will use the funds to continue its annual competition. The competition provides an opportunity for high school students to learn about the law and its protocol and procedures. Each year, the tournaments hosts 200 to 250 students representing 18-22 high schools.

Finger Lakes Restorative Justice Center , Inc.:

The grant in the amount of $2,000 will be used to help fund the Monroe County Community Conferencing Project , and support at least 20 criminal cases identified by the Monroe County District Attorney's office over the course of a year.

The Finger Lakes Restorative Justice Center is a not-for-profit organization which promotes the principles and processes of restorative justice in the criminal justice system, schools, workplaces and families. It is based on the concept that when victims and their offenders have the opportunity to meet face-to-face to discuss a crime and its impact and make plans for reparations, all parties benefit, including the community at large.