Ep 077: A Coronavirus Success Story: How A State Bar and Two Legaltech Companies Partnered to Help the Unemployed

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today on LawNext: A coronavirus success story – how a state bar, anticipating a tidal wave of unemployment claims, partnered with two legaltech companies to launch a pro bono portal in barely more than a week. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On April 27, 2020, the New York State Bar Association</span> <a href= "https://nysba.org/new-pro-bono-initiative-helps-jobless-new-yorkers-secure-unemployment-benefits/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">launched a website</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">devoted to helping those who need unemployment assistance due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span> <a href= "https://nysba.org/unemployment-insurance-relief/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The site</span></a> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">provides assistance with filing an unemployment claim and access to pro bono attorneys for those whose claims are denied. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The launch came less than two weeks after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reached out to the bar, asking for its help in preparing for the anticipated onslaught of claims. The bar, realizing it would need help from a technology developer, reached out to practice management company</span> <a href="https://www.clio.com/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Clio</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, which in turn reached out to the pro bono portal company</span> <a href= "https://www.joinpaladin.com/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Paladin</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In barely a week, the three teams got the site up and running. On this episode, we hear the story of how they did that from three who were directly involved:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href= "https://www.gtlaw.com/en/professionals/g/greenberg-henry-m"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Henry M. (Hank) Greenberg</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, president of the NYSBA and shareholder in the law firm Greenberg Tr