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ABA, AYF CO-HOST FREE LEGAL CLINIC FOR SOCAL COMMUNITY
Legal Monitor Worldwide
October 16, 2014 Thursday
Dozens of lawyers, law students, and community members gathered on
September 18, to participate in a free legal clinic reaching deep
into the Armenian community of Southern California.
We want to let the community know that we are fully invested in it,
and ready to meet their needs, said Haig Siranosian, a member of the
Montebello Vahan Cardashian chapter of the Armenian Youth Federation
(AYF).
The clinic took place at the local Armenian Center and was hosted
by AYF Montebello in collaboration with the Armenian Bar Association
and the Pepperdine University School of Law's Armenian Law Students'
Association (ALSA).
Armen K Hovannisian, Chairman of the Armenian Bar Association, stated,
With the rising currents of devotion of our world-class members,
the Armenian Bar Association has developed into a lightning rod of
positive energy. We continue to fulfill one of our primary missions
of offering legal guidance to those in need. This time, we had the
privilege of being welcomed into one of the most storied Southern
California communities-Montebello. This is where another generation
now stands proud and humble in the long shadow of earlier pioneers
who helped build the iconic Genocide Monument more than 45 years ago.
Attorneys from the Armenian Bar Association offered hours of free legal
consultations in the fields of immigration, landlord/tenant, labor,
criminal law and other areas, conducted in both English and Armenian.
Pepperdine's ALSA, along with law school students of different
backgrounds from Southwestern Law School, Loyola Law School and
other areas schools, assisted community members in communicating
their legal issues with the attorneys.
The collaborative effort between the Armenian Bar Association, the
AYF, and the ALSA enabled us to serve the Montebello community and
help people in a way we couldn't as individual organizations. We
hope to continue co-programming and innovating ways to serve local
communities, stated Tatev Oganyan, President of Pepperdine's ALSA.
The organizers felt that Armenian refugees who fled from upheavals in
Syria and Iraq would particularly need legal services as they navigate
the complex immigration system of the United States. And, in fact,
several of the public participants came with immigration-related
questions related to their and their families' exodus from these
regions.
Because of the cycles of dispersion caused by the Genocide and its
aftermath, our compatriots have found it necessary to emigrate to new
countries, Hovannisian of the Armenian Bar Association explained. When
they arrive in America, we will be waiting to meet them with what they
will need to know about their legal rights and responsibilities. I
am particularly moved by the great commitment of our partners in this
community-betterment effort, namely the law students and the young men
and women of the Armenian Youth Federation. The legal clinic with the
Armenian Bar Association is part of a larger goal among AYF Western
Region chapters to make a positive impact in their local communities.
AYF chapters currently offer services ranging from weekly special-needs
basketball programs to community health fairs in Pasadena.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation works to advance the
social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian
youth.
The Armenian Bar Association was formed in 1989 to provide an arena
for lawyers of Armenian heritage to come together socially and
professionally and to address the legal concerns of the Armenian
community.
The Armenian Law Students' Association at Pepperdine University School
of Law is dedicated to enriching Pepperdine's community understanding
and appreciation for Armenian history and culture. The ALSA works
closely with Armenian organizations at California law schools and
universities to expand, strengthen and establish professional ties
in the Armenian legal community. 2014 Legal Monitor Worldwide.
Legal Monitor Worldwide
October 16, 2014 Thursday
Dozens of lawyers, law students, and community members gathered on
September 18, to participate in a free legal clinic reaching deep
into the Armenian community of Southern California.
We want to let the community know that we are fully invested in it,
and ready to meet their needs, said Haig Siranosian, a member of the
Montebello Vahan Cardashian chapter of the Armenian Youth Federation
(AYF).
The clinic took place at the local Armenian Center and was hosted
by AYF Montebello in collaboration with the Armenian Bar Association
and the Pepperdine University School of Law's Armenian Law Students'
Association (ALSA).
Armen K Hovannisian, Chairman of the Armenian Bar Association, stated,
With the rising currents of devotion of our world-class members,
the Armenian Bar Association has developed into a lightning rod of
positive energy. We continue to fulfill one of our primary missions
of offering legal guidance to those in need. This time, we had the
privilege of being welcomed into one of the most storied Southern
California communities-Montebello. This is where another generation
now stands proud and humble in the long shadow of earlier pioneers
who helped build the iconic Genocide Monument more than 45 years ago.
Attorneys from the Armenian Bar Association offered hours of free legal
consultations in the fields of immigration, landlord/tenant, labor,
criminal law and other areas, conducted in both English and Armenian.
Pepperdine's ALSA, along with law school students of different
backgrounds from Southwestern Law School, Loyola Law School and
other areas schools, assisted community members in communicating
their legal issues with the attorneys.
The collaborative effort between the Armenian Bar Association, the
AYF, and the ALSA enabled us to serve the Montebello community and
help people in a way we couldn't as individual organizations. We
hope to continue co-programming and innovating ways to serve local
communities, stated Tatev Oganyan, President of Pepperdine's ALSA.
The organizers felt that Armenian refugees who fled from upheavals in
Syria and Iraq would particularly need legal services as they navigate
the complex immigration system of the United States. And, in fact,
several of the public participants came with immigration-related
questions related to their and their families' exodus from these
regions.
Because of the cycles of dispersion caused by the Genocide and its
aftermath, our compatriots have found it necessary to emigrate to new
countries, Hovannisian of the Armenian Bar Association explained. When
they arrive in America, we will be waiting to meet them with what they
will need to know about their legal rights and responsibilities. I
am particularly moved by the great commitment of our partners in this
community-betterment effort, namely the law students and the young men
and women of the Armenian Youth Federation. The legal clinic with the
Armenian Bar Association is part of a larger goal among AYF Western
Region chapters to make a positive impact in their local communities.
AYF chapters currently offer services ranging from weekly special-needs
basketball programs to community health fairs in Pasadena.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation works to advance the
social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian
youth.
The Armenian Bar Association was formed in 1989 to provide an arena
for lawyers of Armenian heritage to come together socially and
professionally and to address the legal concerns of the Armenian
community.
The Armenian Law Students' Association at Pepperdine University School
of Law is dedicated to enriching Pepperdine's community understanding
and appreciation for Armenian history and culture. The ALSA works
closely with Armenian organizations at California law schools and
universities to expand, strengthen and establish professional ties
in the Armenian legal community. 2014 Legal Monitor Worldwide.