Attorney of the Month

Pro Bono Attorney of the Month-Suffolk

Nassau Suffolk Law Services honors Raymond Lang as Pro Bono Attorney of the Month for his hours of dedicated service to the Pro Bono Foreclosure Settlement Project.

Raymond Lang’s work with Pro Bono started with a particular interest in the economic crisis, analyzing the problem and possible solutions in dealing with the huge rise in mortgage foreclosures and unemployment. He founded Economic Recovery Advisors LLC, to advise governmental agencies and business enterprises to meet the challenges faced in the economic downturn. Through this firm, he had advised on foreclosure legislation at the national and state levels. He soon became involved with the Suffolk County Bar Association (SCBA) as a way to better network and get a grassroots perspective. After attending a foreclosure seminar sponsored by the Empire Justice Center, he was inspired to participate in the SCBA’s Pro Bono Foreclosure Settlement Project spearheaded by Barry Smolowitz. The Project, now being administered by Nassau Suffolk Law Services, is a based on a web-based software program initiated by Smolowitz, where pro bono attorneys who are interested in volunteering at foreclosure settlement conferences, can assign themselves to a matter for a single appearance or multiple appearances, at their choosing. Lang has been a CLE presenter and loyal volunteer with the Project for several years devoting thousands of hours and seeing hundreds of clients.

Mr. Lang shared two recent examples of how he was able to make a difference through his pro bono efforts. A senior citizen whose house was in foreclosure had not taken Social Security because he was afraid his creditors would take his retirement checks. Lang told him that the benefit could not be garnished to satisfy his credit card debt, and in fact that the Social Security income could help to qualify him for a loan modification. This advice helped to turn things around dramatically for the grateful client.

Another client suffering from muscular sclerosis had reluctantly stayed in his house while the rest of his family, including his three very young children, moved to North Carolina where his wife had an employment opportunity as a teacher. He stayed on Long Island because he was told that his mortgage lender would aggressively pursue his family’s assets if he left his house which was in foreclosure. He was living a very lonely and unhappy life until Lang told him that he had been misinformed and that nothing imminent was going to happen. He advised the client to reunite with his family and pursue a short sale instead. The client left in tears of gratitude and relief.

Notwithstanding his achievement on Wall Street and as an entrepreneur, Raymond believes that the most rewarding work of his career has centered around his participation in the Foreclosure Project. “My pro bono activities related to settlement conferences are the most rewarding work that I do, helping those who are burdened with the stresses of a losing home,” says Lang. “We are all in this together and doing pro bono work is rewarding and inspiring.” His philosophy is that if you give, you receive much more in many ways. Bringing faith, hope and positive energy to people through service in his law practices has become his ministry. We are very fortunate and inspired to have such a generous pro bono attorney working with the Foreclosure Settlement Project. Our congratulations go to Raymond Lang for this very deserved award.