Louis L. Sternberg, Esq.

The Suffolk Pro Bono Project is pleased to honor Louis L. Sternberg as Pro Bono Attorney of the Month. His selection as the latest Attorney of the Month is particularly noteworthy because Mr. Sternberg has been in private practice for less than four years. In this relatively short amount of time, and while busy establishing his matrimonial and family law practice, Mr. Sternberg devoted over 130 pro bono hours to successfully representing the Project’s clients in contested divorce matters. For this reason, we are extremely pleased to recognize Mr. Sternberg for his outstanding pro bono service.

Louis Sternberg is a graduate of Touro Law Center. After obtaining his undergraduate degree from the University of Buffalo, Mr. Sternberg attended Touro Law Center from 2006 to 2009. While a student at Touro, he participated in the Family Law Clinic as an intern and then a student attorney. It was through the clinic that Mr. Sternberg had his first experience representing clients in Suffolk County Family Court. Upon graduating in 2010, he was hired by Touro as a staff attorney in the Family Law Clinic. A year later, Mr. Sternberg left Touro to start a solo practice in Huntington. His practice centers primarily on divorce and family court issues. In addition, he represents clients in routine criminal matters.

Mr. Sternberg’s experience with the Pro Bono Project exemplifies how mutually beneficial pro bono service can be for both the attorney (especially those in the early stages of their careers) and the clients they represent. When Mr. Sternberg first started his solo practice, his work was primarily limited to Family Court matters. Wishing to expand his practice, he contacted the Pro Bono Project, hoping to work with clients in uncontested divorces. As he lacked prior experience with contested divorces, a mentor was made available to him through the Project.

Mr. Sternberg describes his pro bono work as providing “great learning tools and great networking tools.” He explains, “The pro bono cases gave me the opportunity to experience many different phases of a contested divorce case.” He equally values the contacts that his pro bono cases helped him to develop within the matrimonial bar. “In each case, I was introduced to judges and divorce attorneys I’d hadn’t yet met. These were great opportunities for me as an attorney just starting out on my own.”

Mr. Sternberg continues to accept client referrals from the Project as well as pro bono work from other sources. He also serves on the Suffolk County Bar Association’s Modest Means Panel, where he provides reduced-fee legal services in divorce and Family Court matters, and on the 18-B panels in Supreme Court and Family Court. On June 12, 2015, Mr. Sternberg will be sharing his knowledge and experience as one of several lecturers at the “Matrimonial Boot Camp,” a full day CLE program offered by the SCBA’s Suffolk Academy of Law for attorneys new to matrimonial practice.

On a more personal note, Mr. Sternberg is engaged and will marry his fiancé, Janna, in October. (Congratulations, Lou and Janna!)

The Pro Bono Project is grateful for the services Louis Sternberg has generously extended to our clients. It is, therefore, with great pleasure that we honor him as Pro Bono Attorney of the Month.

The Suffolk Pro Bono Project is a joint effort of Nassau Suffolk Law Services, the Suffolk County Bar Association and the Suffolk County Pro Bono Foundation, who, for many years, have joined resources toward the goal of providing free legal assistance to Suffolk County residents who are dealing with economic hardship. Nassau Suffolk Law Services is a non profit civil legal services agency providing 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 or bankruptcy representation, therefore the demand for pro bono assistance is the greatest in these areas. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Ellen Krakow, Esq. 631 232-2400 x 3323.