In reaction to urgent legal needs among Israeli citizens resulting from the Israel-Hamas war, the Israel Bar Association (IBA) has collaborated with the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and Paladin, a legal tech firm, to launch a nationwide, emergency pro bono portal.
Greenberg Traurig and Paul, Weiss law firms, together with the NYSBA, are providing financial support for the portal. The platform allows Israeli citizens impacted by the war to pose their legal queries to the IBA, and volunteer attorneys to manifest their interest in contributing their services.
The IBA, employing Paladin’s technology, then matches individuals with a pro bono lawyer for needed legal assistance via the platform, israelbar.legal. The IBA is reportedly receiving over 200 requests a week for assistance, covering matters across social security, emergency relocation, and medical benefits.
The portal will provide valuable data about individuals’ needs to guarantee sufficient resource allocation. Richard Lewis, NYSBA president, compared lawyers to other essential emergency services, citing past experiences of providing legal help during the COVID-19 pandemic and previous collaborations with Paladin on a pro bono portal.
The Paladin’s cofounder and CEO, Kristen Sonday, emphasized Paladin’s ability to match lawyers with those urgently in need. Israelis with legal questions or Israeli-licensed attorneys who would like to get involved can visit israelbar.legal.
The platform will facilitate a virtual partnership to connect those seeking help with volunteers able to respond to the evolving situation in real-time.