Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) DC Office Introduction and Open House

Please visit KIND’s DC Field Office at 1411 K Street NW, Suite 200, Washington DC 20005 for an open house and introduction to KIND’s work and pro bono opportunities representing unaccompanied immigrant children! Learn more about the U.S. immigration system, getting advocacy experience, and providing valuable pro bono legal representation for a vulnerable child facing deportation. Lunch will be provided. Space is limited, so please register if you plan to attend!

Paths to Special Immigration Juvenile Status (SIJS) Relief in DC

Join KIND's DC Field Office for a webinar for a discussion regarding two primary paths to SIJS through the DC Superior Court. We will provide a brief overview of SIJS, review parental and third-party custody proceedings, and discuss the new DC Vulnerable Youth Guardianship (VYG) Protection Act. We will provide practice guidance on preparing pleadings,  filing in the Family Court of the DC Superior Court, and considerations for working with unaccompanied youth and their families. Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCPBW23.

Going Public, Staying Public

Pursuing a career in public interest allows advocates to support their community through direct, meaningful work. Now that student loan payments are starting again, how can those public interest attorneys continue doing incredible work while enjoying their life and paying back their loans? This is what we will discuss at Going Public, Staying Public, a candid conversation on navigating law school loans on a public interest salary. Our discussion will be moderated by Jennifer Tshirch (Georgetown Law) and our panel of experts includes: Stephanie Johnson, Director of Externships and Public Interest Programming, Howard University Aoife Delargy Lowe, Vice President of Law School Engagement and Advocacy, Equal Justice Works Deborah Cuevas Hill,  Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid DC Marissa LaVette, Assistant Staff Counsel, Center for Pro Bono, American Bar Association Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCPBW23.

It Takes A Village: Highlighting the Value of Pro Bono Representation in Family Law

Hosted by Children’s Law Center, D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, Mother’s Outreach Network, and Rising for Justice. Please join us for a lively panel discussion on the need for pro bono representation in cases impacting families. This panel will discuss challenges individuals face in securing representation and dispel myths about who our clients are. Panelists will share their experiences representing parents, third-party caregivers, and the best interests of children. We’ll also be joined by D.C. Superior Court Judge Wellner who will share his view from the bench. Come learn why access to justice in family law means everyone has a lawyer. Attendees will receive information about how they can get involved, ranging from limited scope to extended representation. Registrants will receive a Zoom link in advance of the event. Our discussion will be moderated by Jen Masi (Children’s Law Center) and participants will hear from the below panelists: Amanda Henderson (Rising for Justice) Jenadee Nanini (D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center) Melody Webb (Mother’s Outreach Network) The Honorable Steven Wellner (D.C. Superior Court) Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCPBW23.

D.C. Superior Court Open House

Have you ever been to D.C. Superior Court?  Have you met a Superior Court Judge?  Do you want to help DC residents of limited means in cases involving eviction, domestic violence, domestic relations, debt collection, or housing conditions. Join us for a D.C. Superior Court Open House where representatives from legal services organizations and experienced pro bono counsel will introduce you to one of the Court’s high-volume branches. You’ll observe court proceedings, speak with Superior Court Judges, and learn how you can help expand access to justice and improve the everyday lives of individuals and families in our community. On October 24, you can choose  to visit the Domestic Relations Branch, the Domestic Violence Division, the Landlord and Tenant Branch, the Housing Conditions Calendar, or the Debt Collection Calendar. On November 2, you can choose to visit the Domestic Relations Branch, the Domestic Violence Division, or the Landlord and Tenant Branch. Want to visit two different courts? Join us for both days! Please note this event involves a moderate amount of standing and walking inside and outside.  If attendees have any accommodation needs or questions, please contact Jodi Feldman at Jodi.Feldman@DCCSystem.gov. We look forward to welcoming you! Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCPBW23.

DC Pro Bono Week Expungement Clinic

Please join us for an in-person limited scope expungement clinic to help low-income DC residents seal their criminal records on October 25th from 9am -12pm at Fried Frank. Having a criminal record can negatively impact a person's ability to gain employment, pursue education opportunities, and their overall mental health. Sealing eligible records can help people pursue a much needed fresh start. Volunteers will work with clients from Christian Legal Aid of DC (CLADC) to gather relevant background information to be included in their motions to seal. We will provide training the morning of the clinic and will have CLADC staff available to answer any questions throughout the day. We welcome lawyers, paralegals, and law students to join us. All business professionals will be paired with a licensed lawyer. There is limited space available. We look forward to seeing you there! Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCPBW23.  

NVLSP Veterans Discharge Upgrade File Review Project Presentation

The National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) will present a one hour training on discharge upgrades and NVLSP’s limited scope discharge upgrade file review project. This limited scope pro bono opportunity enables volunteers to review and screen the files of veterans who have applied to NVLSP for pro bono assistance with a discharge upgrade. NVLSP’s Lawyers Serving Warriors® discharge upgrade program assists veterans in applying to upgrade their characterization of service, for example from “Other Than Honorable” (OTH) to a more favorable characterization such as “Honorable” or “General (Under Honorable Conditions)”. A discharge upgrade may help veterans receive VA benefits and health care, improve employment opportunities, and restore reputation and self-esteem. Many veterans served through this project have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), or other mental health conditions that are related to military service. Many veterans served through this program are survivors of Military Sexual Trauma. NVLSP screens every applicant to its discharge upgrade program before referring the matter to a pro bono partner for full representation. The file review project tasks volunteers with conducting a preliminary screen by reviewing and analyzing the files of clients who have applied for a discharge upgrade so that NVLSP screening attorneys are able to review the files more quickly. This project is primarily administrative in nature and can be completed by attorneys or non-attorneys alike. Pro bono volunteers create a Word table or Excel spreadsheet cataloging the client files and return the file review work product to NVLSP within about one month of acceptance of the matter. The project is remote and can be completed anywhere. Pro bono volunteers will agree to abide by the NVLSP confidentiality agreement. The estimated time commitment is 10-15 hours per project, and volunteers may work in teams. NVLSP’s DC pro bono week presentation is open to all. However, government attorneys may not accept NVLSP discharge upgrade file review matters and NVLSP discharge upgrade file review pro bono opportunities are limited. Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCPBW23.

Meeting Our Clients Where They Are: Serving Families East of the Anacostia River

Hosted by Children's Law Center at the Children's Health Center - Anacostia This event will provide participants with an opportunity to meet and engage in our client community.  CLC staff will discuss their legal services work east of the Anacostia River and the importance of pro bono in serving D.C. neighbors.  Participants will hear about CLC’s medical-legal partnership, how lawyers can address non-medical barriers to health, the benefits of co-locating legal services with non-lawyer professionals, and how you can get involved.  Space is limited. Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCPBW23.

Justice for All: Bridging the Gap Between Pro Bono & Low Bono Services

Join us on Friday, October 27, from 12:00-1:30 pm via Zoom to learn more about the broad landscape of legal services in the District of Columbia. Pro bono and public interest lawyers need to know where they can refer clients who earn too much to qualify to receive free legal services, and low bono lawyers need to know about resources that can help clients of all income levels. This fast-paced introduction to the work of several District legal services providers will put the facts you need to know at your fingertips! Don't miss this jam-packed hour of useful information! Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCPBW23.

Graphic: Liam Montgomery Headshot

DC Pro Bono Week 2022 Profile: Passionate Advocacy for Survivors

Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC) is proud to celebrate the dedication and commitment of our Board Chair, Liam Montgomery. Liam, an eleven-year veteran of United States Naval Aviation and a partner at Williams & Connolly LLP, has been a passionate advocate for survivors of crime, veterans, and numerous other pro bono causes. His leadership in pro bono work is an inspiration to others at his firm and throughout our DC community.
Photo: Group Of Georgetown University Law Center Students

DC Pro Bono Week 2022 Profile: Law Students Can Do Pro Bono Too!

Following the end of D.C.’s eviction moratorium, many residents were worried about falling behind on their rent and the looming threat of losing their homes. When the DC Office of the Attorney General planned pop-up clinics to help residents access emergency federal funding for housing and utility expenses, dozens of Georgetown students – including a Black Law Students Association contingent that made this a group pro bono project – joined the efforts.
Photo: Mary Gately Headshot

DC Pro Bono Week 2022 Profile: Pro Bono Work Comes in Many Forms

Maya Angelou profoundly said, “If you’re going to live, leave a legacy.  Make a mark on the world that can’t be erased.”  I am reminded of this quote when I reflect on Mary Gately’s profound service and deep commitment to the pro bono work she performs as DC Affordable Law Firm’s Litigation Director, a role she performs entirely on a pro bono basis.  Across the past three years, Mary’s work with and on behalf of DC Affordable Law Firm’s clients soared to unprecedented levels, leading to exceptional legal outcomes for dozens of DC Affordable Law Firm’s low- and modest-income clients while synchronously shaping and inspiring the careers of the next generation of public interest attorneys. 
Photo: Mariah Hines Headshot

DC Pro Bono Week 2022 Profiles: Helping Vulnerable Individuals in Our Community Across Practice Areas

It is inspiring to speak with Mariah Hines, an associate in Sidley Austin’s Healthcare group, about the quantity, variety, and impact of her many pro bono engagements. Her pro bono matters span across practice areas including disability benefits, immigration, housing discrimination, and more. Even more impressive is that Mariah has done so much to help others so early in her legal career, having graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2020.
Photo: Collage Top Right Clockwise, Justice Glazebook, Judge Whalen, Annie Helms, Karen Grisez, Justice Lynch, Judge Ruiz

DC Pro Bono Week 2022 Profile: Firms Come Together to Rescue Women Judges from the Taliban

On an early morning in January 2021, two women judges in Afghanistan were assassinated in their car on their way to court.  The other women judges, many of whom had tried or sentenced Taliban members, soon realized they were in serious danger and sought help from the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ).  That May, the IAWJ formed an Afghan Women Judges Support Committee which included leaders from New Zealand, the US, Australia, Canada, Spain, and the UK.  The Support Committee began exploring ways to support its sister judges in peril.   As Taliban control expanded and the Afghan government began to collapse, not only were the women judges stripped of their ability to practice their profession, but they began receiving threats, warning letters, and visits to their homes demonstrating that their lives were at risk.  Family members were abducted and beaten. By late summer, as the fall of Kabul approached and danger to the women judges escalated, the IAWJ asked two major law firms to join in the effort to assist them on a pro bono basis. 
Photo: Jeremy Calsyn Headshot

DC Pro Bono Week 2022 Profile: Crucial Pro Bono Leadership

Jeremy Calsyn has been a pro bono champion at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen, and Hamilton since he joined the firm in 1999, and especially since he became a partner in 2008. In his regular work in the antitrust space, Jeremy handles a broad range of matters, including merger reviews, criminal and civil government investigations, and complex class action litigations. However, in addition to his many professional accomplishments in the legal field, it’s Jeremy’s pro bono leadership and commitment to pro bono services that truly stands out. Not only does he regularly provide hands-on supervision of pro bono cases, but Jeremy also serves as Pro Bono Committee Chair in the D.C. office, supporting the work of the D.C. Pro Bono Attorney and offering guidance to the firm’s pro program as a whole.
Photo: Johanna Hickman & Christine Webber Headshots Collage

DC Pro Bono Week 2022 Profile: Helping Unaccompanied Minors Find Safety in the U.S.

The recent influx of migrants to the District has shined a renewed spotlight on the difficult immigration landscape of the past decade and beyond. (UCs) are expected to navigate the incredibly complex U.S. immigration legal system alone, placed in removal proceedings in immigration court without the right to counsel, and often forced to defend themselves against highly skilled attorneys representing the government. Central to their success is the need for zealous, high-quality legal representation, which could not be achieved without the involvement of pro bono attorneys. Christine Webber and Johanna Hickman of Cohen, Milstein, Sellers, and Toll, PLLC are two such stellar attorneys who have served as counsel for a KIND client since 2014.
Graphic: DC Pro Bono Week 2021

DC Pro Bono Week 2021: Eventful & Inspiring

That's a wrap on DC Pro Bono Week 2021! But the increased legal need for pro bono lawyers continues beyond Pro Bono Week. As we move into the next phase of the pandemic recovery, the unprecedented legal needs crisis will only increase. Now is the time to volunteer your time to help a neighbor in need. As lawyers, we have a duty and obligation to help bridge the access to justice gap. Whether it’s by taking on a pro bono case, volunteering for an advice and referral clinic, contributing to systemic advocacy, or financially supporting a legal services organization, we can all do something for the public good.
Photo: Coding Justice Panel Collage

DC Pro Bono Week 2021: Coding Justice

In recent decades, our society has seen a boom in technology advancement, seemingly with one goal in mind: to improve efficiency in every aspect of our lives, from things such as connecting with friends and family or shopping to political engagement around causes we care most about. But should efficiency be the primary goal of technology advancement? Can we trust that tech companies have the best intentions with the data they collect about us? What happens when that data is misused or abused? These are some of the questions raised in the Coding Justice panel held on October 25, 2021, during DC Pro Bono Week 2021. 
Photo Pro Bono Goes To School Panel Collage

DC Pro Bono Week 2021: Closing the Gaps in Public Education

Brown v. Board of Education, decided by the Supreme Court in 1954, unanimously established that segregation in education is inherently unequal and thus unconstitutional. “Separate but equal” had no place in our society, especially in the classroom. “Education is the foundation of good citizenship.” That ruling was over half a century ago. Yet today, according to Kent Withycombe, Director of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee Public Education Project, public schools in the District of Columbia and the surrounding region are more segregated, separate, and unequal now than they were in the 1950s. Brown v. Board of Education may have established equal access to education as a constitutional right, but it did not close the gaps in public education. Getting legal professionals involved in the school communities, to help close the gaps in D.C. public schools, was the focus of the panel discussion, Pro Bono Goes to School: Closing the Gaps in Public Education, held on October 29, during D.C. Pro Bono Week 2021.
Photo: Amazon Pro Bono Team Group Photo

DC Pro Bono Week 2021 Profile: Amazon & DC Pro Bono Center Collaboration – Partnership Aids D.C. Entrepreneurs, Nonprofits

Long before Northern Virginia was announced as home to Amazon's HQ2, many Amazon employees called a Ballston office building "work" and the D.C. metro area "home." In 2019, Aisha Gantt, Senior Corporate Counsel at Amazon Web Services (AWS), reached out to the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center to discuss how Amazon's legal team could use their skills to support the District’s nonprofits and small businesses. After reviewing the Center’s Nonprofit & Small Business Legal Assistance Program needs and the skills of Gantt and her team, the organizations partnered to launch a brand-new service: the Startup Legal Clinic for Nonprofits & Small Businesses.
Photo: David Fischer Elana Fowlkes

DC Pro Bono Week 2021 Profiles: New Tax Credits Project – A Bridge to Economic Security

On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) into law. Under ARPA, for 2021 the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Earned-Income Tax Credit (EITC) were significantly expanded and made refundable, greatly increasing the benefits available for low-income families and individuals, expanding the pool of individuals eligible for these benefits, and permitting cash payments regardless of taxable income. Recognizing the need to inform parents, other caregivers, and low-income families in the D.C. community of these expanded benefits, and to apprise them of the steps to obtain them, Melody Webb, Executive Director of Mother’s Outreach Network, teamed with Susie Hoffman, Public Service Partner at Crowell & Moring LLP, to identify support for a workshop for parents, ultimately named the “Parents’ Tax Workshop: The EITC and CTC.”
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