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 HAP Summer Associates Find out What They Don’t Teach You in Law School
Reed Smith LLP summer associate Sara Mo is no stranger to San Francisco. The Bay Area native and U.C. Davis law student has spent a lifetime enjoying the city, so it’s little wonder that she jumped at the chance to give back to her community: Sara went to work securing social security benefits for a disabled homeless man.
This summer, Sara and over 70 other summer associates and supervising attorneys from 12 firms participated in the Summer Associate in Public Service Program, a collaboration between BASF’s Barrister’s Pro Bono Issues Committee and the Volunteer Legal Services Program’s Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP).
Robert Depew, an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, and Chair of the Pro Bono Issues Committee, was the first speaker at the summer associates’ introductory training on June 1st. He reminded the soon-to-be attorneys of something many lose sight of when they enter the corporate world. “Every single one of us [attorneys] has an incredible privilege, we hold the keys that can bring justice within reach of those for whom it is inaccessible.”
The Program, now in its tenth year, places federal disability benefit and eviction defense cases with summer associates working in San Francisco law firms. Law students are given the opportunity to learn first-hand about the value of making pro bono work a part of their careers while addressing the shortage of legal advocates available to San Francisco’s low-income families and individuals.
Click here to continue reading "HAP Summer Associates"
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Volunteer Attorney Jonathan DeGooyer |
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP Team Builds Skills and Makes a Difference: A Volunteer Perspective
By Jonathan DeGooyer, Associate, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
In March 2006, I met my client outside Department 218 of the San Francisco Superior Court. John was just shy of 60 years old and a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic. Freshly-shaven and wearing an awkwardly fitted suit, he was in court because his landlord wanted to evict him. This was my second appearance as part of VLSP’s Courthouse Landlord/Tenant Project, which provides limited scope representation for pro per litigants facing mandatory unlawful detainer settlement conferences. Attorneys from Morgan Lewis have been volunteering in this project since January 2006.
My initial conversation with John revealed a gentle fellow with a keen sense of humor, visibly anxious about impending homelessness. John had lived in his apartment for years without incident, but John’s landlord sought to evict him because he had allegedly become a nuisance by knocking on tenants’ doors and verbally harassing them in the building lobby. Like many who suffer from paranoid schizophrenia, without proper medical treatment John was unable to manage his emotions, think clearly or interact with others. When close to homelessness once before, John met a social worker who helped him find a place to live and a physician to provide effective treatment. No longer trapped by his disease, John began to live his life again. But when his social worker went on vacation, John had to obtain his medication through a new person, and problems arose. Confused by the disruption of his routine, John failed to get his medicine. His symptoms returned. Unaware that circumstances outside of John’s control had conspired to leave him un-medicated, his landlord refused John’s rent for two months and initiated eviction proceedings.
Click here to continue reading "Morgan, Lewis & Bockius Team"
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Thanks to Recent Volunteers
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We'd like to say THANK YOU! to the following volunteers who took cases or participated in VLSP's projects and clinics in July 2006.
Family Law and VAWA Projects
Jennifer Aduen-de la Campa, Taghi Astanehe, Laurette Garcia, Betsy Johnsen, Jennifer Kim Letulle, Thellen Levy, Tamiko Moore and Lorie Nachlis.
Eviction Defense Project
Michael Blacksburg, Steven Adair MacDonald and Jeffrey P. Woo.
Courthouse Landlord/Tenant Project
Jessica Beckett-Walter, Paul Behrend, Floyd Chapman, Dolores Chong, Robert Douglas, Brenda Drake, Matthew Drake, James Richard Gabbard, Victoria Grand, Gerald Hall, Richard Hurlburt, Joan Kubota, Kelli Mallen, Jennifer Marone, Aaron Morrison, Jennifer Naegele, Adhitya Nagraj, David Pai, Linda Quinn, Frank Riebli, Timothy P. Shannon, Molly Stafford, Sinikka Suikkonen, Carl Switzer, David Tchack, Suzana Vianna and Dennis Wheeler.
Special thanks to the following firms and law departments who recently participated in the Courthouse Project: Farella Braun + Martel LLP and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
Community Organization Representation Project
Barbara Antonucci, Gregory Conklin, John D. Fredericks, Richard Gilbert, Jeffrey Maso, Talley McIntyre, Eric Meckley, Gregory Schopf, David Stoll, Gene Takagi, Cecily Waterman, and Melissa Wright
Homeless Advocacy Project
Vanessa de Brer.
Consumer and Tort Defense Projects
Stephen Finestone and Tony Rothschild.
Social Services Project
Marie Angell, LCSW, Dr. Al Ferrer, Dr. Ed Gould, Judi Iranyi, LCSW, Caroline Jacopy, Zora Kolkey, MFT and Ralph Notor, MFT.
Downtown Legal Advice and Referral Clinic
Attorneys: Brenda Altman, David Bigeleisen, Jessica Chylik, Miles Cooper, Corey Davis-Scida, Andrew Locke, Shawn Matloob, Charles McCarthy, Tom Paoli, Annie Thorkelson and Jim Weixel.
Interviewers: Kenneth Conyer, Jo Heinan, Chris Lavery, Ruchi Prasad, Annia Raysberg, Elizabeth Shanley, Victor Truong and Tina Twite.
Interpreters: Ricky Leung (Cantonese/Mandarin), Abner Morales (Spanish), Alcira Salguero (Spanish), Tommy Tang (Cantonese/Mandarin) and Karin Yuen (Cantonese/Mandarin).
Social Workers:Tom Hagan and Lisa Schore.
Letter Writer: Brittany Novotany.
Caller: Randy Otey.
Bayview Legal Advice and Referral Clinic
Attorneys: Brenda Altman, Marie Appel, Jessica Chylik, Miles Cooper, Frederick Craw, Julian Hultgreen, David Pai, Zadik Shapiro, Art Siegel, and Mike Turner.
Interviewers: Leonora Char, Kenneth Conyer, Lewis Franks, Kate Jeffries, Raj Paul, Annia Raysburg and Elizabeth Shanley.
Interpreter: Ruth Estrada (Spanish), Joyce Li (Cantonese/Mandarin) and Karina Winder (Spanish).
Interpreter Project
Jose Cardoza (Spanish), Wen Lei Johnson (Mandarin/Japanese), Richard Nunez (Spanish), Tommy Tang (Mandarin) and Karin Yuen (Cantonese/Mandarin).
Volunteers and Their Firms... Click here to see a list of firms represented by volunteers who participated in VLSP projects in July 2006.
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 | Volunteer Attorney Michael Nader |
Volunteer Spotlight: Michael Nader
Michael Nader Helps Nonprofits Play by the Rules
“I spent most of my youth playing baseball,” says Michael Nader, a volunteer attorney for VLSP’s Community Organization Representation Project (CORP). But this article isn’t about Mike’s love for baseball. It’s about his dedication to helping community organizations. Mike runs trainings for nonprofits to educate their staff about employment issues such as discrimination, managing within the law, and essential personnel policies. He also provides pro bono litigation and counseling services. His dedication to CORP makes him August’s Volunteer of the Month.
Mike is always ready to step up to the plate for nonprofits in need of help. When asked why he is so dedicated, he didn’t have to think twice. “The organizations I work with are contributing directly to the common good by providing services to the poor, the homeless, the disabled, and the elderly. It’s my hope that my seminars and counseling services keep those organizations free from legal disputes and thus free to focus on the important services they provide to the community.”
CORP is VLSP’s transactional and business law project. CORP assists community-based organizations serving low-income and disadvantaged communities in the Bay Area by matching them with pro bono attorneys that coach them on everything from getting incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit to labor, real estate and tax laws. Many small nonprofit organizations cannot afford professional legal advice, and it is volunteers like Mike who train them to stay prepared so they don’t get blindsided by a legal curveball.
"Mike is an insightful and engaging presenter, and we are lucky to have such a strong working relationship with him. He has educated hundreds of nonprofit staff on essential employment law topics, and his capacity building workshops help organizations avoid expensive mistakes," says Pierre Stroud, Community Programs Manager.
Click here to continue reading "Volunteer Spotlight"
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Calendar of Upcoming Trainings and Events
**Special note for Social Services volunteers: we now have our social services trainings available on videotape! See below for details.
All trainings are held at BASF/VLSP offices, 465 California Street, Suite 1100, San Francisco except where noted.
VLSP / Barristers Mixer
Join VLSP and the Barristers Club for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and dancing. Music provided by BASF's resident DJ.
Wednesday September 20, 5:30 – 8:00 pm
The Monte Cristo Café
Four Embarcadero Center
Promenade Level
Rsvp to Dana Justi at djusti@sfbar.org or email vlsp@sfbar.org for more information.
Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP)
Taped training
MCLE Credit: 7 hours
This taped training provides an introduction to poverty law and general homeless issues in San Francisco. Primary topics covered include public and disability benefits, immigration and eviction defense. Other topics include psychosocial issues related to homelessness and a description of HAP and how our holistic services work. We utilize volunteer legal and social service professionals to make a real difference in our clients' lives. This training is open to attorneys, paralegals and law students. A commitment to represent at least three HAP clients within the year following the training is required.
Email VLSP or call 415.782.8956 for more information.
Homelessness & Social Work
Taped Training
Provider #991, 2 hours of CEU for ASWs, LCSWs and MFTs.
Learn what distinct difficulties homeless individuals and families face. What can you as a provider do to address homelessness and advocate for those who are homeless? What legal remedies are available for those facing eviction and possible homelessness? This training examines many issues of homelessness in San Francisco and what you can do to better help your clients. Presented by Paul Boden and Dave Crow. This training is open to current VLSP volunteers and LCSWs, MFTs and ASWs who can commit to working with one VLSP client over the course of the next year.
Email VLSP or call 415.782.8956 for more information.
Alternatives in Psychotherapy: How to Use Expressive and Visual Arts in Therapy
Taped Training
Provider #991, 2 hours of CEU for ASWs, LCSWs and MFTs.
This two-hour workshop discusses Expressive Arts Therapy and how it is used. Case studies will be discussed as well. Presented by Mena Zaminsky, MFT. This training is open to current VLSP volunteers and LCSWs, MFTs and ASWs who can commit to working with one VLSP client over the course of the next year.
Email VLSP or call 415.782.8956 for more information.
APS and Guardianship
Taped Training
This training describes the services of Adult Protective Services - identifying elder abuse and neglect. When is it appropriate to call APS? What services will be provided? The training will also describe the use of a public guardian -- when should one be called and what is their role? Presented by Cindy Bircher, LCSW and Sharon Aurora. This training is open to current VLSP volunteers and LCSWs, MFTs and ASWs who can commit to working with one VLSP client over the course of the next year.
Email VLSP or call 415.782.8956 for more information.
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Double Your Impact - Donate Now!
This year, VLSP, with its partner the LRIS, together served 18,786 poor and low-income people in San Francisco. Of these, VLSP staff and 1,311 volunteers helped 7,511 clients with legal consultation and representation in every area of civil law. VLSP volunteers provided $9,882,883 in legal services.
Please make a donation today.
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VLSP Held its First Annual Volunteer Appreciation BBQ |
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VLSP held its first annual Volunteer Appreciation BBQ at Golden Gate Park on Saturday, July 29th.
Over 70 people were in attendance, including volunteers, board members and staff. Several people brought their families, and it was a great opportunity for everyone to mix and mingle. The BBQ was a huge success with delicious food, games and raffle prizes.
VLSP would like to thank all those that attended and we look forward to continue working with all of you.
Click here to see pictures from our 1st Annual BBQ
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