DC Volunteer Lawyers Project

Annual Repor t | 2015

DC Volunteer Lawyers Project

Free legal and social services for domestic violence victims and at-risk children in Washington, DC

© 2016 DC Volunteer Lawyers Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization All donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Federal Tax ID 26-1089584 | United Way No. 8863 | CFC No. 34927

All quotes reprinted with permission with minor changes to improve readability. To protect our clients’ privacy, we have not used real names and have changed case details; all “client” photos are licensed stock photos.

Inside

Leadership Letter DCVLP by the Numbers Our Programs Domestic Violence Program Support and Social Services Child Advocacy Program Who We Are Our Volunteers Our Partners Our Financials

Our Supporters

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Dear Friends,   2015 was another exciting year for DCVLP. As you will see from reading this report, we helped more survivors of domestic violence and at-risk children escape abusive or dangerous situations and find safety and stability in their lives than ever before. We are proud to report that in 2015 our volunteer attorneys donated a record 14,500 hours of pro bono service, providing legal services to over 600 survivors and children. In addition, DCVLP had a positive impact on over 850 children living with abuse. Stopping the cycle of violence and abuse is important not only for the victim but for the next generation. Witnessing domestic violence or being a victim of child abuse is connected with a wide array of health problems, and makes children more likely to engage violent behavior themselves.  At DCVLP, we are not only providing legal representation to help victims and children break free from abusive situations, but we are also connecting them with critical social services to help them rebuild their lives and recover from trauma. In 2015, we hired our first full-time licensed clinical social worker to provide case management, safety planning, and referrals for our clients. We also added even more community partners and strengthened those relationships to create a web of support for our clients.  However, our core mission at DCVLP remains the same — to provide high-quality, low cost legal services by relying on well-trained volunteers with a small but experienced staff. All of these accomplishments would not be possible without our donors, our volunteers, and our partners. Thank you for your support!  

With gratitude,   

Karen Barker Marcou Executive Director

DCVLP by the numbers | 2015

225 volunteers

14,500 hours donated

600 clients helped

Last year, DCVLP had a positive impact on over 850 children living with abuse.

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Our Programs

We work closely with our community and pro bono law firm partners to provide comprehensive

support and social services to our clients.

DCVLP's Ellen Opdyke, Jenny Brody, and Mary Ryan with My Sister's Place and DASH staff members—wearing purple in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October 2015)

330 84 374 Civil Protection Orders Family Law Cases Clinic Clients DCVLP lawyers represent victims in obtaining CPOs that order their abusers to stay away. To further safeguard the victim and her children, our attorneys request temporary child custody, child support, and safe visitation arrangements. We also request the removal of the abuser from the residence to protect the family from homelessness when necessary.

To maximize the long-term safety of domestic violence victims and their children, DCVLP lawyers represent clients in divorce and child custody cases. In order to ensure the financial stability of the client and her family, DCVLP lawyers address ongoing financial support and property division.

With My Sister's Place, District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) and The Anchor Fund, we provide legal services, housing assistance, counseling and emergency assistance at our weekly Domestic Violence Resource Clinic. Our walk-in clinic is child-friendly and accessible by public transportation. Services are available in Spanish.

330 first steps in breaking the cycle of violence

84 steps toward safety and financial stability

374 steps toward a stable, supported life

W O R K I N G

T O G E T H E R

Domestic Violence Program

Collette: Domestic Violence Survivor Collette’s mother was an alcoholic and her father spent much of her childhood in prison. When her 35 year-old boyfriend asked her to move in, she grabbed the chance to escape. However, after she became pregnant at age 17, her boyfriend choked her so that she passed out and required medical attention. For the next ten years, he verbally abused, controlled and threatened her. She tried to leave with their four children, but because she lacked money and an attorney, she always returned. This time Collette had DCVLP to represent her. As soon as Collette filed for a civil protection order (CPO), her husband filed for one against her. DCVLP attorneys brought friends and a police officer to testify on Collette’s behalf. The judge granted her CPO and denied his. Her husband was also ordered to pay temporary child support, utilities, and car payments, as well as to vacate the family residence. Collette’s husband appealed, but DCVLP lawyers arranged for a law firm to write a pro bono brief, and the appeal was denied.

However, that was just the beginning of an uphill battle. Collette’s husband failed to make payments, so DCVLP lawyers filed a contempt action to force him to pay. During that time, Collette’s minivan broke down, so DCVLP contacted The Anchor Fund which paid for the repairs. When one child began struggling in school, a DCVLP attorney met with school officials to arrange therapy and behavioral coaching for him. DCVLP lawyers also represented Collette in her contested divorce. After a five-day trial in which DCVLP lawyers called a psychologist as a witness, the judge granted Collette a divorce, sole custody of the children, alimony, and child support. Her protection order was also extended. When Collette secured housing, DCVLP, with Knock Out Abuse, rented a truck, helped her move in, and furnished her new home.

The family is now thriving and for the first time feels truly safe.

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Throughout the legal process, DCVLP's Case Manager and Client Advocate, a licensed clinical social worker, provides essential support and social services to our clients to ensure the best long-term outcomes. Our Case Manager and Client Advocate provides crisis intervention, safety planning, and case management services. She assists clients with the practical challenges of building a new life by helping clients to access public benefits, housing, medical care, and transportation to and from court. She also supports our clients emotionally by providing counseling and by referring clients to mental health services, especially those focused on trauma, grief, and loss.

Support and Social Services

You are truly a gem. It is especially comforting after having so many

doors slammed in my face and my life turned on its head.

— DCVLP client

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DC Superior Court judges appoint DCVLP lawyers to represent children at the center of high-conflict custody disputes who are being abused, neglected, or put at risk of serious harm due to parental substance use, mental illness, domestic violence, or incarceration. Our well-trained volunteer and staff lawyers conduct a thorough investigation of the child's home life. They interview the child, parents, extended family members, teachers, counselors, medical providers, and others involved in the child’s life. They also review police reports, criminal records, child protective service agency reports, educational records, and medical records. Throughout the course of the case, the lawyers attend hearings to present their investigative observations and make recommendations to the court regarding custody and visitation arrangements that are in the best interests of the child.

Thank you again. I truly treasured the opportunity to

serve the interests of this bright, heartwarming child.

— DCVLP volunteer

Child Advocacy Program

Our goal is to create a safe and stable home for every child we represent – from infants to teens. In 2015, we did just that for 102 at-risk children.

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Michael: At-Risk Child When Michael was born, he tested positive for PCP and had withdrawal symptoms. Even though his mother was addicted to PCP, she was permitted to take Michael home from the hospital. Police and child protection workers were called to the home on numerous occasions, but Michael was not removed until his mother lay unconscious on the front lawn after a PCP overdose. This time, the agency removed seven-year-old Michael from the home and encouraged his grandmother to file for emergency custody, which she did. Michael’s mother contested the claim. Two DCVLP lawyers were appointed by the judge to represent the best interests of Michael. The lawyers investigated and found Michael to be happy, safe, and well cared for by his grandmother. By contrast, they determined that Michael’s mother was a PCP addict, and her boyfriend was an abusive drug dealer who sold drugs out of her home. They also learned from Michael’s teachers that he was far behind his peers developmentally and academically, and that he came to school dirty and hungry when he was in his mother’s care.

At trial, DCVLP lawyers presented evidence that Michael’s mother was unfit, and that his grandmother was a responsible and loving caregiver. They also shared Michael’s message to the judge:

“Please do not send me back home with my mom.” The judge granted sole custody to Michael’s grandmother. Michael is now safe and thriving in his grandmother’s care, doing well in school, and making friends. His life is forever changed for the better because of the hard work of DCVLP lawyers.

Read our white paper on the negative effects of PCP on parenting at dcvlp.org/pcp.

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Who We Are

L to R: DCVLP attorneys Virginia Kling, Katherine Bradley, Marla Spindel, Sara Tennen and Tara Ravindra at DC Superior Court

Our small but experienced group of DCVLP attorneys support over 200 well-trained volunteers each year.

Management & Administration

Domestic Violence Program

Child Advocacy Program Law Fellows

Karen Barker Marcou, Esq. Co-Executive Director Jenny Brody, Esq.

Co-Executive Director Isabelle Johnson, PHR

Director of Operations Jackie Love-Baker, Esq. Director of Development Emilia Plater-Zyberk Volunteer Coordinator Robyn Philips, CNP

Dev. & Operations Assistant

Erin Byrne, LISW Client Advocate &

Case Manager

Virginia Kling, Esq. Legal Director

Sara Tennen, Esq. DRB Managing Attorney Ellen Opdyke, Esq.

CPO Managing Attorney Linda Kauskay, Esq. Supervising Attorney Lydia Watts, Esq.

Supervising Attorney Katherine Bradley, Esq.

Arsht Law Fellow Mary Ryan

Case & Clinic Manager

Marla Spindel, Esq. Managing Attorney Sara Tennen, Esq.

Deputy Managing Attorney Tara Ravindra, Esq.

Staff Attorney Vicky Taplin, Esq.

Arsht Law Fellow

Courtney Baker, Univ. of Minnesota Law School Julia Gonzales, Univ. of Texas at Austin Law School Victoria Hernandez, Catholic Univ. School of Law

Tram Pham, Georgetown Univ. Law Center  Shivani Shreedhar, Tulane Law School

Support & Social Services

L to R: DCVLP staff members Julia Gonzales, Robyn Philips, Linda Kauskay and Erin Byrne

at Voices Against Violence 2016

Thank you for your support, knowledge and help. People come and go. That is life, but you

will stay in my memory and heart forever. — DCVLP client Pa

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Advisory Board Adrienne Arsht

Amy Barker James R. Barker Mary Carpenter

Jonathan M. Dana Susan M. Hoffman

Melika Johnson Laurie S. Kohn

Thea Mason Diana Rubin Shirley Sagawa Harvey Schweitzer Cara Seitchek Marla Spindel Natalie Wexler Beverli Wynn-Euell

Board of Directors Barbara Garlock

President

Kathleen Biden Vice President

Nanci Bramson Secretary

Trish Kelly Treasurer

Dale Harburg Tom Hentoff Tisha Hyter Bill Isaacson Leslie Morgan Steiner Sharis Pozen Pam Sauber Karen Barker Marcou ex officio Jenny Brody ex officio

L to R: Board members Barbara Garlock, Nanci Bramson, Leslie Morgan Steiner, Jenny Brody, Tom Hentoff, Karen Barker Marcou, Dale Harburg, Tisha Hyter, Kathleen Biden and Trish Kelly at Voices Against Violence 2016

In 2 weeks of volunteer time, you

can change a person's life forever.

— DCVLP volunteer

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Our Volunteers

DCVLP’s dedicated volunteers make a difference every day in the lives of domestic violence

survivors and children at serious risk of harm.

L to R : Blair Decker, Hamida Owusu, Kelly Quinn and Deepika Ravi (volunteer lawyers from Hogan Lovells at Voices Against Violence 2016)

Pro Bono Honor Roll

High Honors Honors

Ilaria Bangara Marina Beckhard

Julia Bizer Nanci Bramson

Ra Shandra Caldwell Monica Dolin

Karen Foxman Julia Fuld

Dale Harburg Rosalee Hoffman Tammany Kramer Elizabeth Landau

Ann LaPorta Ashlie Lawton

Elizabeth Lietz George Marcou Diane Moir Seth Nadler Stephen Raptis Tara Ravindra Tom Renkes Pam Sauber Ellen Siegler Rebecca Simpson Jen Stillerman Nicole Tuchinda Nikita West Rachel Wolkinson Angela Yoo

Olivia Baker Rebecca Barnes

Anu Baron Diana Bedoya

Tony Biagioli Alana Brown

Kate Bushman Angela Cai

Rupa Chilukuri Stephanie Collins

Andrea Corrales Blair Decker Jim Douglas

Louisa Fennel Patrick Ferguson Jennifer Fischer

Donnequa Grantham Gary Gross Diane Holt

Priti Khanna

Alicia Kimi Ian Kitterman Dan Kovler John Langlois Kathryn Legomsky Katherine Lin Norman Pentelovitch John Powers Anne Quinn Kelly Quinn Adam Reide Shadi Salehi Tanya Senanayake Shivani Shreedhar Beth Stekler Shannon Taylor James Ton-That Stacy Tromble Charlene Whitman- Barr Ariel Xue Tracy Zorpette

Volunteers of the Year Volunteer Of Year

Julia Fuld Child Advocacy Program

Jennifer Stillerman &  Rachel Wolkinson (Proskauer Rose LLP)

Family Law Diana Bedoya & Tammany Kramer

Civil Protection Orders George Marcou & Tom Renkes

Law Firm Hogan Lovells - Kelly Quinn & Blair Decker

L to R : Sara Tennen with Diana Bedoya, Nikita West with Jen Stillerman, Julia Gonzales with Donnequa Grantham

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Our Community Partners Pro Bono Law Firm Partners A Wider Circle

Asian/Pacific Islander DV Resource Project AYUDA Community Legal Interpreter Bank

Community of Hope DC Survivors and Advocates for

Empowerment (DC SAFE) District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH)

Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse LIFT DC My Sister’s Place Suited for Change The Anchor Fund The DC Center for the LGBT Community The Person Center The Women's Center

Adduci, Mastriani & Schaumberg LLP

Arent Fox LLP Baker & McKenzie LLP

Bergstrom & Taylor BuckleySandler LLP

DC Affordable Law Firm del Cuadro-Zimmerman & Mount, PLLC

The Drazin Law Center Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver &

Jacobson LLP Hogan Lovells LLP

Johnson, Marcou & Isaacs, LLC King & Spalding LLP

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP Mayer Brown LLP McKinney & Associates Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP Morrison & Foerster LLP Paley Rothman Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP Pepper Hamilton LLP Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville PC Proskauer Rose LLP Ropes & Gray LLP Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Williams & Connolly LLP WilmerHale

Advocacy DCVLP uses its experience with victims and at-risk children to advocate for policy changes by being active members of the following advocacy groups: •  DC Consortium of Legal Service Providers •  DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence •  DC Victim Assistance Network •  Victim Legal Network of DC

Partner Spotlight: DCVLP's sister organization, The Anchor Fund, provides emergency financial assistance to our clients for expenses such as rent, utilities, and security deposits. The Anchor Fund also generously provides enhancement opportunities such as:

•  A dance class for a seventh grade girl; and •  A certified nursing assistant program for a recent high school

graduate; and •  A sewing machine for a budding young designer.

It feels good to know we made a difference in a child's life. — DCVLP volunteer

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Management & Fundraising

$402,685 8%

Direct Program Costs $810,790

17%

Donated Legal Services

$3,624,698 75%

Contributions $498,422 10%

Foundations $410,978 8%

Gov't Grants $366,806 8%

Donated Legal Services

$3,624,698 75%

Snapshot ✔️ 74% of our revenue is donated legal services. ✔️ Our other revenue is evenly balanced between government grants, foundations and individual contributions. ✔️ Only 8% of our budget goes to overhead expenses.

Revenue

Expenses

For more information, visit dcvlp.org/donate/FAQ.

Our Financials

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Our Supporters

Top Photo L to R: Kathleen Biden, Adrienne Arsht and Tisha Hyter Bottom Photo: DCVLP’s Champion of Justice for 2015, Senator Kristen Gillibrand at Voices Against Violence, May 2015

Thank you for your support, which allowed us to help 600 victims and at-risk children in 2015.

$100,000 or more $40,000 - $99,999 $25,000 - $39,999

Adrienne Arsht DC Office of Victim Services US Dept. of Justice: Office

on Violence Against Women

DC Bar Foundation Cedar Hill Foundation

Knock Out Abuse

Anonymous Clark Winchcole Foundation The Herb Block Foundation

Philip L. Graham Fund

$10,000 - $24,999 $5,000 - $9,999 $2,500 - $4,999

The Bergstrom Foundation Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP

The Community Fdn for NCA: Share Fund Eileen Fisher, Inc. Hogan Lovells LLP

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Verizon Wireless WBA Foundation

— Kaye & James Barker

Buckly Sandler LLP Corina Higginson Trust

FedEx Kolar Charitable Foundation

Morrison & Foerster LLP Ropes & Gray LLP

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Venable LLP

Williams & Connolly LLP —

Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba Barbara & David Garlock

Thomas G. Hentoff Karen & George Marcou

Sophia McCrocklin & William Isaacson Sharis & Thorn Pozen Allison & Chris Putala

Pamela & Richard Sauber Beth Wehrle & Matthew Miller

Natalie Wexler & James Feldman Mary & Jeff Zients

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP Coburn & Greenbaum, PLLC

K&L Gates LLP King & Spalding LLP

Penzance Sidley Austin LLP

St. John's Episcopal Church Wiley Rein LLP

WilmerHale —

Kathleen & Hunter Biden Susan Blaustein & Alan Berlow

Jenny & Peter Brody Lisa & Albert Dwoskin

Veronica Gomez-Lobo & Tom Fishbein Ann & Lloyd Hand Jane & Paul Khoury

Diane Millman Rhoda & Frederic Spindel

Katherine Weymouth

$1,000 - $2,499 3M Company Delaney McKinney, LLP J Choo USA Inc. Lloyd Hand and Associates LLC Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP Proskauer Rose LLP

— Olivia & Bill Baker April & James Barker Amy Berger & Glen Nager Lisa & Josh Bernstein Tracy & Adam Bernstein Carol & John Boochever Joan & John Bray

Nancy Taylor Bubes & Alan Bubes Mary Carpenter Cynthia Chance & Camilo Garcia Lisanne Crowley & Dwight Dickinson Daniel G. D'Amato Elissa & Thomas Davidson Catherine Flanagan Robin & Todd Galkin Betty Greenberg & The Honorable William Greenberg Lisa & Murry Gunty Dale & Stephen Harburg Anne & Scott Hefter

Shelley & Allan Holt Ivy & Horace Howells Tisha & Michael Hyter Nancy Itteilag & Jack Donnelly Mimi & Steven Kirstein Jackie & Steve Love-Baker Kate & Joe Margolis Colleen Martin & Martin Hahn Thea & Gary Mason Sandra & Tom McCoy Louise & Joe Micallef Cindy Moelis & Robert Rivkin Leslie Morgan Steiner Sarah Morgenthau & Carlton Wessel

Elizabeth & Robert Norton R. Lucia Riddle Ronald Rosenfeld Diana Rubin Beth & Randy Russell Hattie Ruttenberg & Jon Molot Nancy & Mark Ryan Alison & John Shulman Marla Spindel & Jonathan Peskoff Beth Stekler Alison Vest & Kenneth Cox Elsa Walsh & Bob Woodward Elizabeth Waters & Floyd Price Ilene Weinreich

$500 - $999

Amy Barker & Mike Moiseyev Melissa Belman & Steven Abeles Nanci & Jim Bramson Shirley Brandman & Howard Shapiro Soraya Chemaly Carolyn Temple Cohen & David Cohen Ana & Paul Collins Jonathan Cuneo Nancy-Ann & Jason DeParle Mary & Eugene Dionne Katherine Kelley & Robert Feinberg

Nancy Floreeny & David Stewart Katie & Steven Gewirz Amy Goldberg & Andrew Schwartz Frances Harburg Martha & John Harrington Susan & Larry Harris Elizabeth & David Haselkorn Beth Horowitz & Michael Kazin Vanessa & Ned Johnson Stephanie Loughlin & Robert Kaye Clay Kingsley Kathryn & Joseph Kolar

Desiree & John Magney Margaret Marcou Suzanne & Andrew Marcou Leeny & Keith Oberg Jocelyn Samuels & Tom Olson Lisa Paro & Carol Shannon Maggie Prieto & Mark Michael Eleanor Smith & James Slaughter Sharon Stoliaroff & John Stewart Steuart Thomsen Judith Zins & Joseph Shlaferman

I can’t believe someone went to that

extent for me. — DCVLP client

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OUR MISSION is to create, support, and utilize a network of volunteer lawyers to provide high-quality, pro bono legal services to low-income individuals in the District of Columbia who are domestic violence victims, at-risk children, or have other urgent family law needs.

DC Volunteer Lawyers Project 5335 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite 440

Washington DC 20015 dcvlp.org | info@dcvlp.org

(202) 885-5542

Be a voice against violence and become a volunteer. Visit us at dcvlp.org/volunteer to learn how.

Created by Jackie Love-Baker with Emilia Plater-Zyberk and Robyn Philips