In response to urgent legal needs among Israeli citizens arising from the Israel-Hamas war, the Israel Bar Association (IBA) has collaborated with the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and Paladin, the legal tech company, to launch a nationwide, emergency pro bono portal.

The law firms Greenberg Traurig and Paul, Weiss, along with the NYSBA, are providing financial support for the portal.

 Through the platform, israelbar.legal, Israeli citizens affected by the war are able to submit questions to the IBA, and volunteer attorneys can register their interest to help. Using Paladin’s technology, the IBA will then match individuals with a pro bono lawyer to provide legal assistance.

The IBA says it is currently receiving over 200 requests a week for assistance, spanning issues across social security, emergency relocation, and medical benefits.

The platform will also be able to gather valuable data about individuals’ needs to ensure resources are adequately allocated.

 “Lawyers are an essential part of emergency services, just like police and firefighters,” said Richard Lewis, president of the NYSBA. “When tragedy strikes, people need legal representation. Building on our experiences with providing legal assistance for people during the COVID-19 pandemic and working with Paladin on a collaborative pro bono portal during that time, we are proud to partner with Paladin again to support Israeli citizens in their time of need.”

“As a leading pro bono technology platform, Paladin is uniquely positioned to deploy tech that connects lawyers with those in need of urgent assistance,” said Kristen Sonday, cofounder and CEO at Paladin. “We are honored to have been asked to join this initiative, and other rapid response programs, to provide access to justice for those in need.”

To get involved, Israeli-licensed attorneys and individuals with legal questions can visit https://www.israelbar.legal/. By partnering virtually, we can connect those who need help with volunteers as the situation evolves in real-time.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.