Bar Association of Erie County

Serving the Legal Community and the Public in Western New York

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VLP Staff

Robert M. Elardo
Managing Attorney
relardo@wnylc.com

Gregory J. Stewart

Supervising Attorney
gstewart@wnylc.com

Bertrand G. Bosmans
Staff Immigration Attorney
bbosmans@wnylc.com

Maria E. Pagano
D.O.H. Staff Attorney
rpedone@wnylc.com

Rose M. Pedone
D.O.H. Staff Attorney
rpedone@wnylc.com

Christine C. Biggie
Legal Assistant
cbiggie@wnylc.com

Paula Shareno
Office Manager
pshareno@wnylc.com

Dilma J. Rosales
Clerical Supervisor
drosales@wnylc.com

Aleatrice S. Louie
Secretary

VLP Board of Directors

Jean C. Powers
President

Phillip A. Perna
Vice President

Howard Rosenhoch
Treasurer

Brian R. Welsh
Secretary

Howard E. Berger
Katherine J. Bestine
William J. Brennan
Rev. Allen Farabee
Cheryl S. Fisher
Gary R. Gaffney
Kevin M. Kearney
Gregory P. Miller
James M. Mucklewee
Timothy M. O'Mara
Suzanne Risman
Melinda R. Saran
George Zimmermann

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Location:

700 Statler Towers
Buffalo, NY 14202
716-847-0662
fax 716-847-0307

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the main office.

Mission:

To coordinate the efforts of volunteer attorneys in the provision of quality civil legal services to low income people and small not-for-profit groups.

Functions and Responsibilities:

The Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) is a program created by Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc., (NLS) and the Bar Association of Erie County.

The primary function of this organization is to recruit, train and coordinate the work of over 800 volunteer attorneys; provide client intake, case screening and matching of clients and attorneys. For more information about the history and projects of the VLP, click here.

VLP consists of private attorneys who represent low-income people for free in the areas described below.

Services:

VLP provides services to low income people in the following matters:

Specific Programs:

On Tuesday nights, VLP offers a counsel and advice clinic for victims of domestic violence that are clients of Haven House (716-884-6000).

Eligibility:

Household must be at or below 125% of federal poverty level.