New Clinic At Brooklyn Law School To Address Pandemic-Related Employment Issues

BROOKLYN, N.Y., May 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In a time of severe economic crisis for many low-income and contingent workers, Brooklyn Law School announced that it will launch this summer the Pandemic Employment Relief Clinic (PERC) through BLS Legal Services, a legal assistance project to address these immediate needs. Under the supervision of Professor Minna Kotkin, director of the Law School's Employment Law Clinic, law students will provide free legal advice and possible representation for workers in the community, particularly freelancers, gig workers, and those not normally eligible for unemployment insurance, as well as those facing pandemic-related employment discrimination or "back-to-work" concerns. The clinic, which has currently more than 100 students, will be open for client intake on May 25.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has left so many workers in an economically vulnerable position, and we are pleased to have found a way our law students can assist," said Kotkin. "As one of the few clinical programs that focuses on unemployment insurance, we were uniquely positioned to create this program very quickly to meet the needs of these unprecedented times. It will also give our students the opportunity to gain meaningful legal experience when summer opportunities are now so limited."

The eight-week project will run during the summer school term, beginning with a remote mini-course that will provide training in the new unemployment insurance, family leave, and pandemic-related employment discrimination laws. Students will then be assigned clients whom they will advise remotely with regular faculty supervision.

"Our Law School has a strong history of educating lawyers dedicated to the public interest, and our clinical program has, for 50 years, been both a training ground and a means of access to legal services for low-income New Yorkers," said Michael T. Cahill, president and dean of Brooklyn Law School. "I am proud, and not at all surprised, that so many Brooklyn Law students have signed on to help our community in this time of great economic need."

For more information or to request legal assistance, contact [email protected] or complete the intake form. 

About Brooklyn Law School

Founded in 1901, Brooklyn Law School offers a vibrant intellectual community emphasizing teaching excellence, leading-edge scholarship, and an innovative academic program designed to prepare students for public service, business, and private practice, nationwide and across the globe. It is an independent institution, unaffiliated with any university or college, and the only law school in Brooklyn. The Law School offers J.D. and LL.M. degree programs. Visit Brooklyn Law School at www.brooklaw.edu.

SOURCE Brooklyn Law School