PROBONO Bulletin - Summer 2008 - (Page 13)

nATIonAL nEWS Supporting Families in Crisis, Homeless and Immigrant victims of Crime The need in many of our communities is so great, and our New York office exemplifies the ways we strive to address this need across many fronts. very day in New York City, thousands of individuals go to family courts seeking relief in a variety of forms, including child support, paternity determination and guardianship. For the past year, the New York office has been involved in an exciting new project supporting some of those individuals who otherwise would go without representation. DLA Piper lawyers interview clients, provide counsel and walk them through the petition process. After hearing countless stories of parents losing custody or using visitation as a device to punish their significant other, Danielle Diviaio (New York) knew she wanted to help. “The project has been so rewarding,” she says. “It is a great feeling when someone, who desperately wants to see their children and never thought it would be possible, now has a fighting chance to be a part of their children’s lives.” Last year the New York office also got involved with The Homeless Experience Legal Protection Program (HELP). The homeless, more than any other indigent group, have great difficulty obtaining access to justice. HELP was developed to provide lawyers the opportunity to volunteer in homeless shelters and assist homeless individuals with legal matters on a single consultation and/or limited basis. Lawyers provide assistance in such areas as public benefits law, immigration law, housing law and child support. They have helped homeless individuals obtain missing or lost identification documents and assisted with criminal justice matters. Hannah West (New York) says she got involved in the project to have an impact in the community and to work directly with clients. She says, “I had the pleasure to get to know and help a number of clients with very diverse needs. The project is a great way to make a big difference in a small amount of time.” E Recently, lawyers from DLA Piper assisted My Sister’s Place with its U-Visa Project. U-visas are special visas for immigrants who were the victims of crimes in the United States. The U-Visa Project helps eligible immigrant women and their children complete the extensive applications and prepare affidavits so they can remain in the US until they obtain permanent status. “As the clients I counseled recounted the crimes committed against them and the substantial harm (physical, mental and emotional) that they and their children had endured, I was incredibly impressed by their composure and resolve to move forward with their lives,” says Melinda Waterhouse (New York). “I could see the direct impact my legal assistance would have on these women and their children.” Finally, the office recently agreed to assist the New York City Law Department with a unique initiative that grew out of the strong interest expressed by law firms that aided the Law Department after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Law firms volunteer associate time to the Law Department by conducting depositions in tort cases. In turn, high-caliber lawyers give back to the City of New York while bolstering their legal skills. Tanya Gill, who helps facilitate the program, explains, “The deposition program will permit our associates to gain valuable litigation experience and an excellent opportunity to practice and hone their deposition skills. It will be a tremendous boon to their professional development and will permit them to reach their litigation benchmarks while at the same time helping the city.” SUMMER 2008 | 13

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PROBONO Bulletin - Summer 2008

PROBONO Bulletin - Summer 2008 Contents A Firm Response to a Natural Disaster Protecting Our Electorate National News An Interview with Sandy Gohn Mapping Impact FourThought Signature Project Update New Perimeter Launches Addis Ababa Law School Project Awards and Recognition What Our Clients Say About Us

PROBONO Bulletin - Summer 2008

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