Kaylin Bowen 2020-10-07 02:20:57
These three organizations are part of the Qualified Legal Services Providers (QLSP) approved by the Virginia State Bar. There are currently 46 QLSP organizations including the three featured here. All VSB-approved QLSPs in the Commonwealth may be found at vsb.org/docs/QLSP_list.pdf.
The Project for the Empowerment of Survivors
The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance is Virginia’s leading voice on sexual and intimate partner violence and covers a wide range of services, including advocacy on behalf of survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence. The Project for the Empowerment of Survivors (PES) is an initiative of the Action Alliance that is offered through the Statewide Hotline. The PES team provides trauma informed legal services and legal advocacy to callers from Virginia who are experiencing sexual or intimate partner violence, dating violence, human trafficking and hate crimes. All services are free and confidential. Additionally, the Statewide Hotline can direct callers to resources for legal aid, emergency shelter, counseling, crisis prevention and other general information.
The PES relies on a strong network of private referral lawyers who are willing to take cases pro or low bono. “This network of attorneys willing to fill the justice gap is absolutely crucial to survivors,” said Caitlin Bradley, the PES attorney at Action Alliance who gives legal advice to callers. “The private bar cannot rely on Legal Aid to fill the justice gap alone.”
Bradley explained the goal is to have private attorneys in all corners of Virginia available to refer survivors from underserved communities statewide who need help and can’t access free legal services elsewhere. Often, victims of sexual and domestic violence have a harder time accessing services due to safety issues or falling into the justice gap.
Currently, the Action Alliance relies on a network of roughly 60 lawyers willing to take on family, custody, immigration, divorce, and a myriad of other case types for their referrals. Any attorney or legal professional willing to volunteer their services will be trained to work with trauma survivors. Training is all online, with teleconference sessions and prerecorded lessons available.
“During the pandemic, we’ve seen an increase in domestic violence calls as many people are quarantined with their abusers,” Bradley said. “Sadly, the pandemic has also compounded barriers for victims attempting to escape these situations. A lot of victims urgently need legal help.”
To volunteer services or learn more contact Bradley at cbradley@vsdvalliance.org. To donate to Action Alliance and the PES initiative visit vsdvalliance.org. The Statewide Hotline can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-838.8238. Callers will be given immediate crisis support and will receive a call back within 48 hours for legal questions.
The Good Samaritan Advocates
Northern Virginia and Montgomery County, Maryland, are home to the seven legal clinics housed in local ministries and run by the Good Samaritan Advocates. The Christian Legal Aid organization serves clients regardless of religious affiliation. They offer legal advice on civil matters with a focus on total wellness and fellowship.
The GSA was founded by the Law Firm of Gammon and Grange in 2006 and has grown to provide advice and limited representation to the community clinics at churches, a homeless ministry, and a correctional facility in Northern Virginia and Montgomery County.
The volunteers are passionate in their efforts to assist the less fortunate. All the volunteers at GSA are Christians, dedicated to the cause.
“The Bible is full of verses calling for service to the needy and working for justice,” said Kenneth Liu, Esq., GSA President. “Lawyers have a unique ability to help pursue justice.”
While they do not provide full representation to clients at GSA, they have a small network of attorneys they refer people to who offer low or pro bono service.
“We don’t need only attorneys,” said Claude Allen, Esq., GSA board member. “We need people with language, budgeting, social service, and financial wellness skills. We want to offer as much expertise as we can.”
GSA has training to prepare attorneys and non-attorneys for the volunteer service. Volunteers can work as many clinics as they can manage with their schedule. Most of the clinics are open on Saturday mornings.
In the correctional facility, volunteers can help inmates with resource referral and managing their legal matters outside of the prison system. Currently, due to the COVID-19 the GSA has been unable to continue to go into the facility to assist inmates.
The GSA is operating virtually currently, and volunteers can help serve the community through video conferencing and email. “Currently, we have seen a dip in clients possibly because they are nervous or unable to meet online,” Liu said. “We would love to have more clients to serve virtually.”
Allen encouraged experienced attorneys to take volunteering a step further by considering opening a GSA clinic in their area and recruiting younger attorneys to try pro bono service. Anyone interested in learning more about GSA, volunteering or serving as a pro bono referral attorney, or donating can visit goodsamaritanadvocates.org.
The Eviction Diversion Program
The Greater Richmond Bar Foundation, in partnership with the City of Richmond, Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) and Central Virginia Legal Aid Society (CVLAS), is working to reduce the number of evictions in Richmond. The Eviction Diversion Program (EDP) is a pro bono service in the City of Richmond that facilitates the creation of payment plans between landlords and tenants.
“The goal for EDP is to have a payment plan ready before the initial court date,” said Sarah Warner, attorney and GRBF board member. “The payment plan covers past rent, allowing tenants to stay in their homes and the landlords to begin receiving their rent payments.”
Tenants and landlords interested in the program contact HOME for admission to the program. There are eligibility restrictions in place, which HOME facilitates in their vetting process. Then the EDP volunteers, acting as third-party neutrals, facilitate the creation of a payment plan.
“The number of cases we see currently varies greatly,” said Hannah Brechlin, EDP manager. “Some weeks it can be 30 or more, other weeks it’s less than five.”
EDP needs volunteers to help tenants and landlords agree on the terms of the payment plan and to get the plans signed. “The volunteer position itself is completely remote now,” Brechlin said. “You are not going into court right now to collect signatures.” Volunteers are trained on the eviction process and what is expected of them through video conferencing and online materials.
Warner said the primary job of a volunteer is to be patient and understand the need for research, background, and tracking down the needed materials. Flexibility is key, as some tenants are not reachable during the normal business hours. GRBF tries to pair all new volunteers with experienced EDP volunteers to show them the process.
Legal professionals interested in helping can learn more at grbf.org/edp or contact Brechlin at edp@grbf.org or (804) 780-2600 ext. 7. Volunteers who are registered in JusticeServer can also sign up in that system. Financial contributions to the GRBF can be made on their website, grbf.org/donate.
Published by Virginia State Bar. View All Articles.
This page can be found at https://virginialawyer.vsb.org/article/Pro+Bono+Pros/3783773/676369/article.html.