Public Service Programs

Public Service Programs
Stepping Out

The Stepping Out Program is a community service offered free to local high schools by the Cumberland County Young Lawyers. A pair of young attorneys visit twelfth grade social sciences classes to deliver a talk about legal issues affecting the students. While there, the attorneys deliver the Stepping Out Booklet to each student. The YLD produces the booklet in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Bar Association. The talk given by the attorneys and the booklet itself generally cover four distinct legal relationships that may pertain to graduating seniors. Traditionally, the program has been an available community service of the Young Lawyers Committee since 1996. Anyone interested in bringing the Stepping Out Program to their high school can contact the Cumberland Co. Bar Assocation at (717) 249-3166.


V.I.P. (Very Important Papers) Program

In the event of sickness, a period of incapacity, or death in any family, the personal information of the stricken family member becomes very important. After a death, sickness or incapacity of a family member, loved ones often are uncertain as to how to handle the affairs of the ill. Failure to prepare for death or incapacity can be devastating for those who are left to care for the stricken family member. In 1995, The Young Lawyers' Division of the Cumberland County Bar Association recognized that many members of the Cumberland County community did not have their Very Important Papers in order. Very Important Papers were defined as Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorneys and Advanced Directives for Healthcare.

In adopting a program utilized by the Allegheny County Bar Association, the members of The Young Lawyers' Committee established the Very Important Papers (V.I.P.) program in Cumberland County. Members of the YLD volunteer their time to attend meetings at local churches, senior and community centers, and assisted living homes to discuss the importance of being prepared in the event of sickness, incapacity, or death. The YLD members stress the importance of having a Last Will and Testament, a Power of Attorney and an Advance Directive for Healthcare. The VIP Program, though not regularly administered today, is available for interested seniors.


Partners Program

The Partners program brings family law into the classroom to build awareness of the problems, which lead to marital breakdown, and hopes to instruct students on the legal ramifications of marriage. The goal of the program is to raise awareness of the issues that lead to marital discord in the hopes of easing the pressures which lead to the dissolution of the marriage. The interaction between the teachers, the students and the attorneys has been a very positive and rewarding experience for everyone.

In 1998, the first year we started this program, we had two schools in the Cumberland County participate and about 25 Bar members. The second year, 1999 we had 4 Schools participate and a total of 42 Bar members. As of 2001 we have 6 schools in Cumberland County participating and over 50 Bar members.