Volunteer Spotlights

Jay Crowley, a solo practitioner based in Connecticut, has been volunteering with Pro Bono Partnership for nearly a decade. During that time, he has been an invaluable asset to many of the Partnership’s Connecticut-based nonprofits. Jay’s guidance on key employment and human resources legal issues has allowed our nonprofit clients to focus on achieving their goals and serving their constituencies.

Most recently, Jay assisted Friendship Service Center, a nonprofit that provides services ranging from basic outreach to permanent supportive housing options to individuals experiencing poverty and homelessness in central Connecticut. Friendship Service Center came to the Partnership seeking assistance negotiating a new union contract with its employees. By all accounts, this was an extremely challenging project, but Jay persisted and saw the project through to the end. Upon completion, Barbara Lazarski, Interim Executive Director at Friendship Service Center wrote “working with Jay Crowley has been a godsend for the Friendship Center. He is always available and eager to advise and has been a master teacher to me on negotiations… I could not imagine a better experience.”

Employment negotiations and contract negotiations are critical legal issues for nonprofits and can negatively impact an organization’s programming when it is necessary to pay for legal advice. We are grateful to volunteers like Jay who make time for pro bono projects to provide legal expertise that would not otherwise be possible. The Partnership and our nonprofit clients appreciate Jay’s expertise and dedication to pro bono work.