Pro Bono Partnership Expands Services Into Northern New Jersey

The Pro Bono Partnership, a resource center that coordinates the efforts of lawyers wishing to provide volunteer legal services to non-profit community-based organizations, has completed plans to expand its service area into Northern New Jersey as of May 1. Richard S. Hobish, Executive Director of Pro Bono Partnership, reported that the Partnership's expansion to New Jersey was initiated by several Fortune 1000 companies located in New Jersey, most notably, Schering Plough, Honeywell International, Inc., and Prudential Insurance Company. "We are particularly appreciative of the leadership of John L. Sander, Staff Vice President & Associate General Counsel of Schering-Plough and Colleen D. Szuch, Assistant General Counsel, Specialty Chemicals for Honeywell International, Inc., both of whom played a critical role in securing the necessary resources to make the Partnership's expansion to New Jersey a reality," Mr. Hobish noted. Northern New Jersey is home to approximately 40 Fortune 1000 corporations and 17,000 nonprofit corporations (excluding churches). Mr. Hobish also announced that a New Jersey-based attorney, Jennifer Chandler Hauge, has been hired as Deputy Director to oversee its New Jersey programs. "Jennifer brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the Partnership which will get the New Jersey program off to a terrific jump start," Mr. Hobish said. Before being named a Deputy Director of the Partnership, Ms. Hauge maintained a private practice exclusively serving nonprofit organizations in New Jersey and New York. She was formerly associated with Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch in Morristown, NJ. Ms. Hauge is a member of the New York and New Jersey bars, and has published two guides for nonprofits on personnel practices. "I am thrilled that in my new position with Pro Bono Partnership I will continue to work closely with New Jersey's nonprofit community, and I look forward to helping the Partnership build meaningful connections between in-house corporate counsel, private attorneys and nonprofit organizations," commented Ms. Hauge. The Partnership's mission in New Jersey will be to match primarily inhouse corporate attorneys with nonprofits requiring legal assistance. The legal needs of the charity will be addressed by the volunteer lawyers, with oversight and coordination from the Partnership's inhouse legal staff. The Partnership already has requests from several New Jersey nonprofits for a variety of legal services. In addition to matching volunteer attorneys with charities, the Partnership's staff in both New York and New Jersey will continue to serve as a valuable resource to the nonprofit communities in Fairfield and Westchester Counties, and now those in northern New Jersey, offering educational workshops, responding to legal inquiries by telephone, and providing specific legal assistance. A newsletter will address pertinent legal issues for both nonprofits and volunteer attorneys. Assisting Richard S. Hobish, Executive Director, left, with plans for the Partnership's New Jersey expansion are board members Colleen D. Szuch, Assistant General Counsel, Specialty Chemicals, Honeywell International, Inc., and John L. Sander, Staff Vice President, Associate General Counsel, Schering-Plough.