Community Service

A commitment to community service is one of our founding principles.

Through board memberships, pro bono services and financial support, Chaffetz Lindsey works alongside a number of legal and educational groups whose missions we believe in.  We encourage our clients, referral partners, vendors, and other friends to learn more about these organizations and to join us in our support of their good work.  Our current roster of community service partners includes:

The International Senior Lawyers Project provides volunteer legal services by skilled and experienced attorneys to advance democracy and the rule of law, protect human rights, and promote equitable economic development worldwide. Through the pro bono work of retired and active practitioners, working independently and in law firms, ISLP helps governments and citizens develop and implement legal reforms, assists programs that advance the social and economic well-being of people in developing countries, and builds the capacity of local organizations and professionals to meet the needs of their communities. Chaffetz Lindsey partners David Lindsey and Yasmine Lahlou are ISLP board members. Chaffetz Lindsey is committed to providing ISLP financial support and assistance in fundraising and volunteer recruiting. To learn more about the ISLP, please contact Yasmine Lahlou  or click here.

New York Lawyers for the Public Interest “NYLPI” was established to advance equality and civil rights, with a focus on health justice, disability rights and environmental justice, through the power of community lawyering and partnerships with the private bar.  Through community lawyering, NYLPI puts its legal, policy and community organizing expertise at the service of New York City communities and individuals.  NYLPI’s partnership with the private bar strengthens its advocacy and connects community groups and non-profits with critical legal assistance. Founded in 1976 as a small-scale staff working to link low income clients and organizations with attorneys willing to volunteer pro bono legal services, NYLPI has grown into an unparalleled resource for low income, community-driven legal representation.  Partner Charlie Scibetta sits on the Board of Directors for NYLPI, and Counsel Erin Valentine sits on NYLPI’s Pro Bono Advisory Council.  For more information about the organization, please contact Charlie or Erin or click here.

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. Chaffetz Lindsey partner Cia Moss has been a long-time supporter of the IRC and is currently a member of its GenR initiative which seeks to introduce the work of the IRC to a new generation of supporters. She also sat on the IRC’s Children’s Committee for many years and co-hosted the IRC’s Children’s Lunch in 2011. In May 2013, Chaffetz Lindsey hosted a fundraiser for the IRC, which included presentations on the IRC’s critical work to improve the lives of women and children affected by conflict and disaster. To learn more about the work of the IRC, please contact Cia Moss or click here.

Pro Bono Commitment

In addition, we encourage our team to engage in community service on causes important to them.  For example, members of our team have recently:

• Submitted a “Brandeis brief” in D. v. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, No.18-1725 (4th Cir. 2019) on behalf of a group of amici, including Celiac Disease Foundation, Beyond Celiac, the Gluten Intolerance Group, and others, in an appeal brought by an 11-year old student with a severe gluten allergy who was not offered a reasonable accommodation for his condition.
• Represented the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture in amicus submissions to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Petition for Writ of Certiorari in Al-Maqaleh v. Hagel, No. 14-6575, a case involving CIA-detainees.
• Handled a series of pro bono immigration cases. Currently we are working with the Safe Passage Project helping a juvenile asylum seeker from El Salvador obtain permanent residence status in the U.S.
• Brought a wage and hours claim on behalf of underpaid restaurant workers.