Winston Volunteers Empower Fellow New Yorkers at Third Annual Life Planning Clinic

Winston & Strawn hosted its third annual Life Planning Clinic on October 15 in our New York office where 23 Winston lawyers assisted low-income elderly individuals, cancer patients and survivors, and disabled veterans to prepare vital life planning documents.

Helping such vulnerable individuals in this way empowers them with a legally documented voice to express their wishes in advance so that they can be carried out at a later date. Our clients were extremely grateful to have access to Winston volunteers since such documentation must be prepared by a lawyer and can cost thousands of dollars in legal fees.

“The Winston lawyers were so welcoming, thoughtful and supportive in my desire to prepare these documents and have a voice in the future,” said one client at the October 15 clinic.

Vivienne Duncan and Alexa Tovar from City Bar Justice Center helped facilitate the clinic, with coordination by Winston Pro Bono Counsel Tara Moss.

Winston volunteers included Jonathan Birenbaum, Chris Capitanelli, Mats Carlston, John Kalyvas, Maria Kenny, Jared Koch, Michelle Nguyen, Bart Pisella, Ben Popeck, and Dan Shapiro.

Since hosting our first Life Planning Clinic in the fall of 2017, Winston lawyers have helped nearly 50 clients with the preparation of key life planning documentation on a pro bono basis. Many clients cannot afford to hire a lawyer to prepare these documents, so the gift of volunteer legal services is critical to the individuals we have served.