Central Islip, NY – Touro Law Center has established a new Mortgage Foreclosure and Bankruptcy Clinic that will serve members of the local community and offer students the opportunity to learn about New York foreclosure law and federal bankruptcy practice. To celebrate the establishment of the clinic, Touro Law is hosting an open house on Thursday, February 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the law school located at 225 Eastview Drive in Central Islip. Please join us to learn more about the program from: Touro Law Dean Lawrence Raful; Senator Brian X. Foley, who successfully secured major funding for the clinic; Executive Director of the Central Islip Civic Council Nancy Manfredonia; and Clinical Director Leif Rubinstein.

The only legal clinic of its kind in New York State, the Mortgage Foreclosure and Bankruptcy Clinic at Touro Law will allow students to work under the supervision of experienced faculty representing clients in a wide range of legal matters. Through training and weekly seminars, students will negotiate mortgage modifications, appear in New York State Supreme Court at Mandatory Foreclosure Settlement Conferences, research and draft litigation documents necessary for foreclosure defense, assist in the preparation and filing of both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy petitions and appear at hearings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

"This clinic is serving both law students and community members,” said Professor Rubinstein. “Local members of the community will have a place to turn and a resource to help them when facing foreclosure and bankruptcy while providing students with hands-on practice skills that will assist them in becoming experienced attorneys."

Clients for the clinic, which began on January 11, 2010, will come from the local community through referrals and word of mouth. Major funding for this clinic provided by: The State of New York, Office of Senator Brian X. Foley; Suffolk County; Capital One Bank (USA), N.A.; Bank of America. Additional funding provided by Citibank, N.A. and Astoria Federal Savings..