Barton R. Resnicoff

Pro Bono Attorney of the Month Barton R. Resnicoff, Esq. It is with great pleasure that Nassau Suffolk Law Services Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) and the Nassau County Bar Association (NCBA) honor Barton R. Resnicoff as our most recent Attorney of the Month. Mr. Resnicoff, a solo practitioner in Lake Success, NY, specializes predominantly in matrimonial and family law. We recognize him this month for his steadfast dedication to indigent Nassau County residents, whom he has provided with pro bono legal representation through the VLP for over 20 years. In fact, he has committed to assisting at least one needy client at all times throughout most of his career.

Most recently, Mr. Resnicoff completed a multifaceted matter, in which he provided over 138 hours of free legal representation to a matrimonial defendant with minor children. This client was extremely grateful for Mr. Resnicoff’s diligence and expertise, and was able to secure a satisfactory settlement, child support and custody arrangements. Due to his assistance, she now has access to sufficient resources to be able to move forward in her life, rebuild her career, and care for her children.

As a veteran VLP attorney, Mr. Resnicoff was also honored as the Pro Bono Attorney of the Month in 2008. He was awarded the Pro Bono Service Award in 2005 by the Queens Volunteer Lawyers Project, where he also donates his services. He is active in the American Bar Association Family Law Section, where he has served on several committees over the course of his career. Mr. Resnicoff is a frequent contributor to the New York State Bar Reporter, analyzing interesting cases he encounters over the course of his practice.

Mr. Resnicoff graduated from City College of New York in 1970, and St. John’s School of Law in 1974. He is admitted in New York, the Southern and Eastern Districts of the US Federal Court, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and the US Supreme Court.

Upon graduation, Mr. Resnicoff served in the Army Reserves before he took his first job at the New York City Housing Authority. This experience sensitized him to the plight of less fortunate individuals, and motivated him to strive for a “fair solution.” It was then that he realized an obligation to give back to his community. He entered private practice in 1979, and found himself well suited to family law, enjoying cases involving interesting people and novel legal issues. While he honed his skills in the substantive practice of matrimonial law, he also learned the art of gauging and successfully dealing with both opponents and clients. He realized the importance of telling a client what the need to hear, and focusing on realistic goals.

He started his solo practice in 1991, and has been assisting pro bono clients ever since. “My commitment to assisting at least one pro bono client at all times allows me to know that I am doing something to increase access to justice for our low income Nassau County residents,” states Resnicoff. “If every attorney adopted this practice, we would be a lot closer to closing the justice gap.”

According to Susan Biller, Pro Bono Coordinator of the VLP, “Mr. Resnicoff is one of our most consistent and reliable volunteers who will assist expertly with any type of matrimonial matter, regardless of the issues involved. He believes very strongly about empowering his clients, encouraging their feedback at every juncture.”

Mr. Resnicoff has long been an avid runner, and completed approximately 10 marathons between the years 1980 and 1996. He also enjoys paddleball, swimming, and spending quality time with his wife, three children, and five grandchildren.

For his continuous dedication to helping needy Long Island residents obtain access to legal services, and for his outstanding professionalism, we are proud to honor Barton R. Resnicoff as our latest Attorney of the Month.

The Volunteer Lawyers Project is a joint effort of Nassau Suffolk Law Services and the Nassau County Bar Association, who, for many years, have joined resources toward the goal of providing free legal assistance to Nassau County residents who are dealing with economic hardship. Nassau Suffolk Law Services is a non- profit civil legal services agency, receiving federal ,state and local funding to provide free legal assistance to Long Islanders, primarily in the areas of benefits advocacy, homelessness prevention (foreclosure and eviction defense), access to health care, and services to special populations such as domestic violence victims, disabled, and adult home resident. The provision of free services is prioritized based on financial need and funding is often inadequate in these areas. Furthermore, there is no funding for the general provision of matrimonial, guardianship or bankruptcy representation, therefore the demand for pro bono assistance is the greatest in these areas.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Susan Biller, Esq. 516-292-8100, ext. 3136, or sbiller@nsls.legal.