DC Volunteer Lawyers Project on Righteous Crowd this Week!

DC VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT

Providing Legal Services for People in Need

In Parashat Yitro, Moses seeks advice on leadership from his father-in-law, Jethro (Yitro). One of Jethro’s suggestions was to build a judicial system. Inspired by the idea of setting up a judicial system of governance, we are featuring an organization that provides pro bono legal services for victims of domestic violence, at-risk youth and other vulnerable individuals. Last year DC Volunteer Lawyers Project served 1,500 individuals in the Washington, D.C. area.

Thank you to Maryland-based Righteous Crowd member Susan Felzer for suggesting this week’s organization! 

Read our interview below with Executive Director Sara Bresnick Tennen.

What is the mission of DC Volunteer Lawyers Project?
Our mission is:
To ADVOCATE for domestic violence victims, at-risk children, and other vulnerable individuals through comprehensive, pro bono legal services;
To EMPOWER victims with knowledge, skills, and resources to make informed client-centered decisions; 
To BROADEN OUR IMPACT by supporting a strong and diverse network of volunteer lawyers.

Why was DC Volunteer Lawyers Project established?
DCVLP was established in 2008 to fill a gap in the legal services community. Many low income domestic violence victims and at risk children were in need of legal assistance and there were a large number of non-practicing lawyers (including many stay at home parents) who wanted to take a pro bono case, but needed the supports to do so. DCVLP was created to provide the infrastructure and support so that anyone can take a pro bono case. It is a brilliant model that uses an untapped resource of lawyers who want to take a pro bono case and want to get experience in a courtroom and we provide those lawyers with the training and support so that they can confidently and competently represent individuals who desperately need representation.

How would you connect your organization to a Jewish value?
I will never forget a meeting I had with a client when I realized that she was born two days before me. Our lives could not have been more different based solely on the families and lives we were born into. I will never forget how it unfair it felt at that moment and realizing the immense privilege I had, truly by sheer luck, to grow up in a family and home where I didn't have to worry about whether there would be enough food to eat, or if anyone would physically or sexually abuse me, or if one of my parents would abuse the other. I think of that client often and am reminded why I have an obligation to do this work. In the words of Hillel - If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when? As Jews, we have a longstanding commitment to help others and to contribute to tikkun olam. At DCVLP, we are repairing the world every single day, one client at a time.

Who or what has inspired you in the work that you are doing?
It is so hard to leave an abuser under the best of circumstances, but when you depend on that abuser for housing, benefits, your immigration status, or child care, and you don't have monetary resources or family support, it is nearly impossible. We have an opportunity as lawyers to use our voices and our knowledge of the legal system to help these victims navigate a really tough process. My hope is that through our work, we are disrupting the cycle of violence and helping these individuals obtain the legal relief that they need to build a new life of safety and stability for themselves and their children. The bravery of our clients inspires me every single day.

To learn more about DC Volunteers Lawyer Project, click here.