JustCause

10/16/2026

📚 Upcoming CLE: Public Charge & Affidavits of Support

Join JustCause on October 22 from 11:00 AM–12:00 PM for a CLE focused on Public Charge and Affidavits of Support in immigration matters.

Attendees will gain a practical overview of public charge considerations, sponsorship requirements, and the role affidavits of support play in the immigration process.

⚖️ Newly admitted and experienced attorneys are welcome! Whether you’re new to immigration law or looking to strengthen your knowledge, we hope you’ll join us.

📅 October 22 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
🔗 Register here: https://buff.ly/ABeD7s3

10/14/2026

We’re still reflecting on what a special afternoon we shared at our 45th Anniversary Celebration! 💙

We were honored to welcome Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson as our keynote speaker and to recognize the remarkable individuals who have received the William E. McKnight Award over the past 40 years. Seeing so many generations of award recipients represented was a special reminder of how individual acts of service, year after year, have helped shape JustCause into the organization it is today.

We were also proud to present our Enduring Impact Award for Pro Bono Leadership to Maggie Clemens, Michael Wolford, Harter Secrest & Emery, and Hon. Gerald J. Whalen and the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. Their longstanding leadership and support represent the kind of partnership and commitment that has strengthened pro bono service throughout JustCause’s history.

Thank you to our staff, volunteers, board members, community partners, supporters, and everyone who has been part of JustCause’s story. Forty-five years of service is something we have built together.

For those who were unable to attend, or who would like to look back on the celebration, you can read more and view photos from the afternoon in our latest blog post.

➡️ https://buff.ly/FspZbDH

09/24/2026

📰 JustCause in the News!

The Daily Record highlighted JustCause’s 45th Anniversary Celebration and 45 years of connecting our community with pro bono legal services! The article reflects on our history and impact, the nearly 200 members of the legal community who joined us to celebrate, Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson’s keynote remarks on access to counsel, and the extraordinary individuals and organizations recognized for their enduring commitment to pro bono service.

We’re grateful to see this milestone—and the volunteers, partners, staff, and supporters who have made 45 years of service possible—recognized.

Read the full article from The Daily Record here:

Nearly 200 members of the legal community gathered to celebrate the 45th anniversary of JustCause, which provides pro bono legal services to indigent clients.

09/24/2026

🏠⚖️ Upcoming CLE: Defending Tenants in Town and Village Justice Courts

Join JustCause for a practical CLE focused on representing tenants in Town and Village Justice Courts. This program is open to both new and experienced attorneys and is a great opportunity for attorneys interested in getting involved in pro bono housing work.

Our speakers, JustCause Staff Attorney Mosunmola Ojo and John D. Holt of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, will cover the eviction process, common landlord/tenant proceedings in town and village courts, applicable laws, and what pro bono attorneys can expect when representing tenants.

📅 October 7, 2026
⏰ 12:00–2:00 p.m.
📍 Riedman Building, 45 East Ave., 2nd Floor
💻 Attend in person or virtually
⚖️ 2 CLE credits available
🥪 Lunch and registration begin at 11:30 a.m.

Register by October 1 ➡️ https://buff.ly/PDEmwpc

Pro bono attorneys play an essential role in helping tenants understand their rights and navigate the court process. Whether you're new to housing law or looking to strengthen your skills, we hope you'll join us to learn more about how you can make an impact.

09/23/2026

🎉 Celebrating 45 Years of JustCause! ⚖️💙

Yesterday afternoon, we had the incredible opportunity to bring together our pro bono community, partners, supporters, and friends to celebrate JustCause’s 45th Anniversary and 45 years of expanding access to justice in our community.

At the heart of the celebration was recognizing four individuals and organizations whose leadership and commitment have made a lasting impact on JustCause and the people we serve. We were proud to present our Enduring Impact Awards for Pro Bono Leadership to:

🏆 Margaret A. Clemens, Esq.
🏆 Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
🏆 Hon. Gerald J. Whalen, Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, Fourth Department
🏆 Michael R. Wolford, Esq.

Each of our honorees has played an important role in strengthening pro bono service, supporting access to justice, and helping build the network of dedicated legal professionals that makes our work possible.

For 45 years, JustCause has been rooted in the belief that when attorneys share their time, experience, and skills, the impact extends far beyond a single case. Yesterday was a wonderful reminder of just how powerful that collective commitment can be.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone—and especially to our four Enduring Impact Award recipients for the legacy of service they have created. Here’s to 45 years of connecting legal volunteers with our community and to continuing that impact for years to come! 💙⚖️

Pictured below: Harter Secrest & Emory attorneys Craig Wittlin and Glenn Schieck with the Hon. Rowan D. Wilson. Maggie Clemens with the Hon. Rowan D. Wilson.

09/21/2026

🏆 Celebrating Attorney Kristin Johnson and Her Commitment to Pro Bono Service!

Last Wednesday, we were proud to celebrate JustCause Attorney Kristin Johnson at the Federal Court Dinner, where she received the Pro Bono Service Award.

Kristin’s impact reaches across so many areas of JustCause. Through her leadership of our Consumer Unit, she helps ensure that individuals facing consumer and debt-related legal issues have access to meaningful legal assistance. Her work has also been instrumental in programs like our Debt Management Advice Clinic and the Pro Se Assistance Program (PSAP), which provides limited-scope legal assistance to eligible individuals navigating civil matters in federal court. JustCause partners with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York on federal pro bono initiatives, including PSAP and support for volunteer attorneys.

But Kristin’s impact goes far beyond the programs she helps lead. Over the years, she has built lasting relationships with pro bono attorneys, creating a community of volunteers who continue to give their time, knowledge, and experience to our clients.

She is also helping build the next generation of advocates by welcoming and training law students, giving them opportunities to work alongside experienced attorneys, interact with clients, and see firsthand the difference that pro bono service can make.

Kristin’s recognition reflects what she brings to this work every day, leadership, mentorship, collaboration, and a deep commitment to ensuring that everyone has meaningful access to legal help.

Congratulations, Kristin, on this well deserved recognition! We are incredibly proud to have you as part of the JustCause team. 💙⚖️

09/18/2026

🌱 A Step Toward Stability: Rosy’s EAD Win

At just 23 years old, Rosy has already had to make choices no young person should have to face.

After experiencing serious threats in Venezuela because of her political beliefs and support for the opposition to Nicolás Maduro, Rosy made the difficult decision to flee in search of safety. That decision also meant leaving behind someone incredibly important to her, her young child.

Now in the United States, Rosy is pursuing asylum while working to build a safe and stable future. Recently, with the help of JustCause, she reached an important milestone: Rosy received her Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

For Rosy, an EAD means much more than permission to work. It means the opportunity to earn an income, support herself, gain independence, and begin creating the stability she needs as she continues through the asylum process. It is one more step toward building a future, and toward her hope of one day being reunited with her child.

At JustCause, we know that victories like this can have a profound impact on our clients’ everyday lives. Legal assistance can help open the door to safety, stability, and the ability to move forward.

We’re honored to stand alongside Rosy as she takes this next step. 💙

09/16/2026

📣 Upcoming CLE Opportunity for Volunteers!

We’re excited to share an upcoming FREE CLE opportunity, Supreme Court Update: § 1983 Civil Rights Litigation.

Join us on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. for the virtual CLE, featuring guest lecturer Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

Attendees may be eligible to receive 2.0 CLE credits in Professional Practice, and the program is offered free of charge.

⚖️ For our volunteers, this is a great opportunity to continue building your knowledge and skills while strengthening the expertise you bring to pro bono service. Trainings like this help our volunteer community stay informed on important developments in the law while continuing to expand access to justice for those who need it most.

The program is presented by the United States District Courts for the Western and Northern Districts of New York, the NDNY Federal Court Bar Association, the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc., and JustCause.

Interested in attending? To register, you must be a new or current member of the NDNY-FCBA or the WDNY’s Pro Bono Volunteer Panel.

Register Here➡️ https://buff.ly/2md3N52

09/09/2026

⚖️ Celebrating Pro Bono Service in Federal Court

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York has released its 2026 Pro Bono Honor Roll, recognizing attorneys who appeared as pro bono counsel in civil matters between July 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026.

We are incredibly proud to see so many JustCause volunteers among the attorneys recognized! Their inclusion on the Honor Roll reflects the time, skill, and commitment they have given to ensuring that individuals navigating the federal court system have meaningful access to legal assistance.

That same commitment is at the heart of the Pro Se Assistance Program (PSAP). Through PSAP, volunteer attorneys meet with individuals representing themselves in federal court, helping them better understand the legal process, evaluate their cases, and navigate what can otherwise be an overwhelming system.

As the Court noted in announcing this year’s Honor Roll, pro bono representation helps facilitate equal access to justice, allows cases to be addressed more effectively, and provides attorneys with valuable federal court experience.

👏 To all of our volunteers recognized on this year’s Pro Bono Honor Roll: thank you. We are grateful for your partnership and proud to see your service recognized by the Court.

Want to join them? Whether you are an experienced federal practitioner or looking for an opportunity to gain more federal court experience while giving back, your time can make a meaningful difference.

View the Pro Bono Honor Roll➡️ https://buff.ly/melqzUw

Get Involved ➡️ https://buff.ly/yK61hRT

Tuesday, September 1, 2026The United States District Court for the Western District of New York announces publication of the Court's annual Pro Bono Honor Roll, recognizing members of this bar appearing as pro bono counsel in this District from July 1, 2025 - July 31, 2026.

08/28/2026

Upcoming CLE: Naturalization 101

Join for Naturalization 101, a Citizenship Day CLE designed for new and experienced attorneys, as well as community advocates!

Led by Richard Link, Staff Attorney at JustCause, this training will cover the naturalization process and eligibility requirements, common issues and pitfalls, best practices for assisting Lawful Permanent Residents on their path to U.S. citizenship, and important policy updates.

With immigration policies continuing to evolve, knowledgeable advocates and volunteer attorneys play an important role in helping members of our community understand their rights and navigate the citizenship process with confidence.

⚖️ Whether you’re new to immigration law or looking to strengthen your knowledge, we hope you’ll join us!

📅 September 9, 2026
⏰ 12:00–1:30 p.m.
🎤 Richard Link, Staff Attorney, JustCause

Register Here➡️ https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nrOBMs30R6auNbXZt2TJvg