MIAMI, June 26, 2013 — The Center for the Protection of Athletes’ Rights, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charitable organization known as CPAR, has re-launched and is offering amateur athletes free legal services for sports-related legal dispute resolution. Athletes will qualify for free legal services based upon their financial status. CPAR operates throughout the United States.

“I am excited about the ‘relaunch’ of CPAR, which I started with fellow sports enthusiasts in 1994,” said Founder and President Jill Pilgrim, who has built a national reputation as a prominent sports and entertainment lawyer during her nearly 30 years in the amateur, professional and Olympic sports arenas.  “CPAR was in a hiatus for several years when I became an employee of sports organizations and could not also run my own nonprofit.  With this re-launch, CPAR fills a critical gap in protecting the legal rights of powerless amateur athletes who do not have the financial means to fight an alleged injustice. We are seeking to balance the scales of sports justice in favor of economically disadvantaged amateur athletes.”

CPAR’s first case was on behalf of a boy’s high school soccer team in Queens, N.Y., that was suspended from post-season championship play by the New York City’s Public School Athletic League.  CPAR prevailed in that case and today remains fervently committed to serving the legal needs of amateur athletes who cannot afford qualified legal services otherwise.

CPAR operates by recruiting qualified volunteer attorneys and volunteer law students who handle sports-related matters for eligible amateur athletes.  The amateur athletes can be high school or college students, independent sport league participants or Olympic or Paralympic sport athletes who have limited financial means.  To learn more about CPAR and the services it provides to amateur athletes who qualify based upon financial need, click about CPAR.

There are ample opportunities for attorneys and other legal experts to support CPAR’s mission.  Anyone wishing to support CPAR’s goals can make a charitable contribution here or may apply to join CPAR’s volunteer legal corps by submitting a volunteer application or contacting CPAR for additional details at info@athletesrights.org.

Posted by Jill Pilgrim on Friday, June 28th, 2013 @ 3:13PM
Categories: News, Uncategorized