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Suffolk 18B.org
| Introduction |
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| The Family Law Committee of the Suffolk County Psychological Association (SCPA) and Touro Law Center are providing consultations for attorneys, whose practice is in the area of family law, including matrimonial issues. Click here to find out more... |
Welcome to the Website of the Suffolk County Assigned Counsel Defender Plan.
Both constitutional and statutory law require New York to provide counsel to certain
individuals financially unable to obtain counsel. In Suffolk County, “mandated
representation” is provided under the Suffolk County Assigned Counsel Defender
Plan, which was devised by the Suffolk County Bar Association and the Suffolk
County Criminal Bar Association pursuant to County Law Article 18-B.
County Law Article 18-B authorizes Suffolk County to choose one or a combination of
several options for providing representation to eligible clients, including public
defender office; a private legal aid bureau or society or, in Family Court matters, any
corporation or voluntary association or organization permitted to practice law under
Judiciary Law § 495(7); or the assignment of private practitioners pursuant to an
assigned counsel plan. County Law § 722.
The objective of the Suffolk County Assigned Counsel Defender Plan is to ensure
high quality legal services for every individual represented under the plan. The
county is entitled to consider costs as a relevant factor in devising its representation
plan, but it cannot ignore its constitutional, statutory and moral duty to provide quality
counsel to those who cannot afford representation.
The Plan's intent is to provide representation to indigent defendants and provide
remuneration to counsel. The fee award provision is not intended to completely
eliminate the pro bono aspect of a lawyer's role in representing indigent defendants,
but to compensate the attorneys who accept such assignments at reasonable hourly
rates.
This website provides information regarding the 18B program, including our policies,
requirements, samples and procedures for compensation, as well as links to other
helpful websites.
If you are interested in becoming a member of our 18B program, please review our
qualifications.
If you qualify and would like to be considered for participation in the panel, download
the application and return it to our office.
Thank you to all of our participating panelists.
David H. Besso
Administrator
| On December 31, 2008, an Administration Letter was sent out which addressed re-occurring issues in billing. Please click here to read this important information. |
| NYS Defenders Association is Skills Program from June 7-13, 2009. To apply, send a completed application and resume to NYSDA by April 6, 2009. Applications can be obtained at our office. This program is designed to help attorneys with little or no trial experience. Click here to learn more. |
| Supreme Court in Suffolk County has opened a second Integrated Domestic Violence Court (IDV) in Riverhead in order to better serve the needs of litigants living on the East End of Long Island . If you would like to participate on this panel, please contact our office immediately. |
