Pro Bono Honorees: June 2008
Shirley’s Small Army: Tenant Clinic Volunteers

Motivation

Every day of the week, housing attorney Shirley Gibson is swamped with paperwork and clients clamoring for her undivided attention. She loves the work, but soon after she started it became obvious she needed help.

After holding trainings and doing outreach in the legal community Shirley now has a small army of volunteers that adore her and enjoy working with disadvantaged low-income tenants in our community.

When asked what drew them to Legal Aid and work with tenants, the volunteers have varied responses. Some have volunteered at Legal Aid in law school, others worked with tenants at various organizations and many are studying to become paralegals and want experience. But all agree that it is an absolutely gratifying experience.  “Our legal system can be tricky to navigate, and even simple processes can be too complicated for a layperson to take on. Legal Aid gives me the chance to help people through some very trying times” said volunteer Flavia Berys.

What I’ve Gained

Apart from getting “instant gratification by giving someone guidance” as volunteer Ilana Landsman puts it, volunteers gain so much, personally and professionally.

Most don’t start out with knowledge of tenant law and pick it up along the way, at first relying heavily on housing attorney Shirley Gibson’s expertise but soon being able to handle most legal questions on their own. Volunteer gain confidence in working with tenants and helping them find legal solutions.

The clinics are also an opportunity for volunteers to brush up on their language skills, many of the clients they see are Spanish speakers.

It is also a chance to get to work “one on one with real people, with real problems that need real solutions on the spot” and “learn to think on your feet” says Julio Avalos. Attorneys that volunteer from large firms enjoy the opportunity to “interact with people from their community and help them out” and “get hands on”, something they rarely get to do in at the firms.

The Clients

Here are the stories of just a few of the clients our volunteers have helped as told by them.

Julio Avalos, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

I met three sisters that had just moved from Mexico three months ago. They had rented an apartment and were living together paying rent. The landlady decided she could rent the apartment for more money than the sisters were paying so she told them to move out even though they had paid the months rent. They could not call the police since they were undocumented and the landlady threatened to call immigration if they did not vacate the apartment within 24 hours. They came to Legal Aid for help and we discussed what course of action to take. We drafted a nasty letter informing the landlady of legal actions we could take against her and she soon showed up with the sister’s security deposit and some other money they had paid her for rent. Turned out great for the sister’s who could find a new place with the money that was returned to them.

Flavia Berys, DLA Piper US LLP

I will never forget this one couple who came to see us at an Eviction Clinic. I helped them with their problem even though it meant staying past the clinic hours. I had to walk them out afterwards because the front door was already locked for the evening. As they walked through the door, the wife stopped in the doorway, took my hand in both of hers. With tears in her eyes she told me “You are an angel. You and Shirley, angels.” She truly felt that way; I could see it in her eyes. They walked away feeling a lot less stress than when they had walked in. We had made a real difference.

Rima Maalouf

This one client came in who was being taken advantage of. He lived in an apartment with his wife and family where the landlord was giving them wrong information and scaring them. The family was also concerned about their immigration status and of course money was a big issue for them as it is for many of our clients. I let them know their legal rights in terms of housing and told them about how they could sign-up for free health care. They left the clinic relieved and grateful.

Ilana Landsman, Cooley Godward Kronish LLP

A couple weeks ago I did a settlement conference (court date for parties to negotiate before their case goes to trial). There was an elderly gentleman there that was being evicted. He came to the settlement conference with low expectations, hoping only to get some more time before the landlord evicted him. Not only did I negotiate a couple extra weeks for him to stay in the apartment and look for a place, I also negotiated two months rent forgiveness. He went away very pleased and relieved. 

Staff Raves

“There are volunteers from other big firms and it is really nice to work with them rather than against them like usual.” Julio

“Shirley Gibson is not only an extremely gifted attorney, but also a great friend to all the volunteers who have the pleasure of working for her. Her patience and calm demeanor under pressure always motivates and inspires me.” Flavia

“Shirley is a great supervisor and has always had faith in me and my abilities.” Rima

If you would like to join Shirley’s small but mighty army of volunteers contact info@legalaidsmc.org.

Thanks to All the Volunteers!

Monday Tenant Clinic at Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County

Pam Anderson, DLA Piper US LLP

Nancy Batts

Shannon Cassidy

Shanee Nelson, Paul Hastings

Laurie Scola, DLA Piper US LLP

Luzmaritza Suarez

Kim Zapata, McDermott Will & Emery

Tuesday Tenant Clinic at Daly City Community Services Center

Nancy Batts

Muhammad Iqbal

Tatiana Lens

Rima Maalouf

Friday Tenant Clinic at Fair Oaks Community Center, Redwood City

Elizabeth Angolo

Julio Avalos, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Nancy Batts

Flavia Berys, DLA Piper US LLP

Shannon Cassidy

Anna Doty

Rebecca Fewkes *helped start Fair Oaks clinic

Raechel Groom Ferreira, Cooley Godward Kronish LLP

Ilana Landsman, Cooley Godward Kronish LLP

Elizabeth Miles, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Daisy Poon, Paul Hastings

Brooke Roundy, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Gisu Sadaghiani, Paul Hastings

Thursday Settlement Conferences

Pam Anderson, DLA Piper US LLP

Julio Avalos, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Flavia Berys, DLA Piper US LLP

Keren Hu, Paul Hastings

Ilana Landsman, Cooley Godward Kronish LLP

Rima Maalouf

Luzmaritza Suarez