 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
|
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month Meet Legal Aid Attorney, Jenny Horne, a Woman with A Unique Understanding of Teen Parents 
For Legal Aid Attorney, Jenny Horne, these aren’t just statistics; they reflect her young clients’ reality and Jenny understands, perhaps better than most, just how deeply being that "one in five high school students who has been physically and/or sexually abused" can affect one’s whole life. Jenny began working with teen parents in 1994, a year after she graduated from Stanford Law School. She received a Skadden Fellowship Award to design and implement the Teen Parents’ Project at Legal Aid. Since then, the Teen Parents’ Project has become a permanent Legal Aid program and Jenny has helped over 1500 teen parents address legal issues so they can protect themselves and their children from abuse, continue in school, and obtain health care. Jenny’s approach is holistic in nature, “I try to wrap everything together so these young girls aren’t dependent in any way on their abusers and can make a future for themselves and their children. The work is often very rewarding because I really love many of my clients. When I first see them, many are in real crisis. Then, with a little help and support many really take off and blossom.” What makes Jenny so successful with her teen clients is her uncanny ability to understand teens; the way they think and how to connect with them on their level. As Jenny continues to talk about the rewards of her work, her cell phone rings non-stop; she apologizes, “The problem is, many teens really like texting – actually I do too, I can send them information right away and they can check it as soon as they are out of class,” Jenny smiles, “the problem is, then they have my cell phone number.” On any given day you can find Jenny in family law court, preparing immigration papers, requesting hearings about public benefits; meeting clients at home or school; speaking at local high schools addressing issues on date rape, rights to attend school when pregnant and the importance of staying in school. She also works closely with public health nurses, teachers and counselors to they can refer at-risk teens to her. As a result of Jenny’s outreach into the community, public health nurses and schools do refer many teen girls, but many clients are also referred by friends. “Teens are more likely to call if they know a face and a name instead of just a number to call. It’s easier to call if you can just ask for ‘Jenny.’” About The Teen Parents’ Project: The Teen Parents’ Project offers family law assistance and representation for teens seeking domestic violence restraining orders, custody, visitation, support, paternity, and divorce, immigration assistance and representation including U VISAS, VAWA, and SIJS for teen victims of abuse and crime, and legal help with education, health care, emancipation, guardianships, and public benefits (CalWORKS, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, child care). Back to top |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
Pro Bono Attorney Helps Mom Protect and Advocate for her Children 
When Crystal was 17 years old her parents consented to her marrying Rob, her 27 year old boyfriend. Within a few years, Crystal and Rob had two children but very soon after, Rob left Crystal to marry her cousin. Crystal and Rob spent a few years going back and forth in Court dealing with custody and support issues. Crystal could not afford an attorney and represented herself in Court while Rob worked with an experienced and aggressive attorney. During the Court process, Rob was able to obtain joint custody of the children, and was ordered to pay child and spousal support, but so far, never has. Crystal works two jobs so she can support the children and herself. Fortunately, Crystal has strong family support and her parents watch the children while she is at work. Recently, Crystal went to pick her 6 year old daughter up from school and drop her off at Rob’s home. Her daughter started to cry telling Crystal that she didn’t want to go see her father because he hits her. Crystal immediately went to Child Protective Services (CPS) to file a report against Rob. CPS interviewed both children and found that although their story was the same as Crystal’s, CPS could not confirm the allegations to be true. Crystal had no choice but to allow Rob to continue to see the children. When Rob found out the children told CPS he was hitting them; he punished them for lying with spankings. Crystal did not know what to do; she wanted to keep her children safe and did not want to make them go back to Rob’s. CPS gave Crystal information for filing a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Rob. When she went to the courthouse to get the necessary paperwork, the court referred her to Bay Area Legal Aid’s Temporary Restraining Oder Clinic. After Crystal obtained her TRO, she was referred to Legal Aid’s Director of Pro Bono, Janet Seldon, who knew exactly what law firm could help Crystal at her permanent restraining order hearing. Janet made a call to Latham & Watkins and attorney, Ashley Wagner, jumped right in. Ashley was able to take advantage of Janet’s guidance as well as a team of domestic violence experts that Janet has available to serve as a resource to all pro bono attorneys. “We had to consult with several certified family law specialists regarding our facts and what constitutes child abuse, and we knew the case would be an uphill battle.” said Ashley. “We went through several difficult hearings and the father’s counsel was extremely hostile toward our client and us. During the final hearing we were very close to having the Judge grant a restraining order, until opposing counsel provided the Court with the CPS Report. Even though the commissioner admonished the father for his parenting methods, she just could not find enough hitting of the children to amount to domestic violence, and therefore, could not issue a restraining order. The commissioner did tell Crystal there is now a legal record in the court file so if Rob does something similar again, a pattern of abuse had been established and Crystal should immediately file for another restraining order.” “I realize this is not the ideal outcome, but between the complex legal issues involved - standards of evidence and standards of child abuse, as well as the hostile counsel acting for Rob, in the end, we were able to get something for our client.” continues Ashley. “Crystal really needed someone to help her in court and this time she felt heard! Previously, she represented herself and Rob’s counsel steamrolled her. She was completely unable to advocate for her children because she didn’t understand the complexities of the legal system. It was a nice little victory for us, Rob’s counsel had to back track a little, and Crystal now knows how to navigate the legal system if this happens again.” Back to top |
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
Meet Pro Bono Attorney, Ashley Wagner  Interviewer: Ashley, I understand you started your pro bono work with Legal Aid in December of 2010 and since then have taken on four domestic violence cases, have supervised two other cases, and have donated over 180 hours. What motivated you to become involved with Legal Aid?Ashley: Volunteer work is part of my life. My parents always emphasized community service work. When I was looking to join a law firm, one of my criteria was that the firm support pro bono work. Latham & Watkins is extremely supportive. Every pro bono hour counts as if it were a billable hour. I’m encouraged to take on as much pro bono work as I want, there is no cap, but I’m also encouraged to find a balance. Interviewer: Working with domestic violence cases can not be easy. As a benefits and compensation attorney, how did you decide to focus your pro bono work in the area of domestic violence? Ashley: Actually, it was my mentor who encouraged me. She was the head of pro bono at Latham and because I was so terrified of public speaking she thought court experience would help me to get over that. My first case was very emotional. I was terrified; the Commissioner even had to tell me to slow down. I have to admit, going to court is getting easier, but it is still really hard to park my emotions and to separate my personal feelings from the legal standards. Interviewer: Legal Aid would not be able to take on the in-depth cases it does if it were not for pro bono attorneys like you. What advice would you give, or what would you say to other attorneys who are looking to do pro bono work on behalf of Legal Aid? Ashley: Get involved with any kind of pro bono work, but domestic violence cases are the most rewarding! You have so much personal interaction with your client, it can be very intense but once you get a restraining order, or help in any way, it is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Legal Aid is so helpful, they help out any time you need. Janet calls me after every hearing and asks: how did it go, how can we help? Other pro bono attorneys are available to help too – everyone is willing to help! Thank you Ashley and your team at Latham & Watkins … Job Well Done! |
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
Domestic Violence Collaborative Brings Critically Acclaimed Documentary "Crime After Crime" to Stanford University Law School  On Tuesday evening, October 25th, the Domestic Violence Collaborative of CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse), Bay Area Legal Aid and Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County brought Yoav Potash’s documentary, “Crime After Crime” to Stanford Law School for a special viewing by our community. This documentary, filmed in and out of prison for over five years, methodically documents Debbie Peagler, a woman imprisoned for over a quarter century due to her connection to the murder of the man who abused her. With exclusive access to Debbie and her pro bono attorneys from Bingham McCutchen, Crime After Crime tells an unforgettable story of a relentless quest for justice.This must see documentary, recently acquired by the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), will be televised this Thursday, November 3rd on the OWN Network. Check your television guide for the time and channel in your area. About the Domestic Violence Collaborative: The Domestic Violence Collaborative provides free limited scope representation at permanent restraining order hearings to low-income victims of domestic violence.
Legal Aid partners with Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) and Bay Area Legal Aid to train pro bono attorneys and mentor them through their cases. Since the project began in March of 2007, we have provided clients with pro bono attorneys to represent them at their permanent restraining order hearings. Most of these cases include child custody, visitation and support orders. A few have even included an entire divorce settlement. |
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
Legal Aid welcomes attorneys, paralegals, and law students who want to make a direct impact on the San Mateo community. In 2011, thanks to the efforts of nearly 400 volunteers, over 13,000 hours of legal representation was provided through our pro bono projects.