The Legal Project, Inc. Pro Bono Corner Wendy Durand, Executive Director

Domestic Violence Legal Connection

All you volunteers out there know “the look.”It’s the indulgent look (usually saved for children) from friends and family that says that your ideals and volunteer activities are sweet and quaint but a little misguided.You can’t save the world, they seem to say, but it is so cute that you are trying.And it certainly isn’t real work, so we hope you aren’t changing any plans or being inconvenienced in any way.

At the Legal Project, we know that the pro bono work our volunteer attorneys do is very real, and increasingly important.We are pleased with the trust that domestic violence shelters and counseling programs have shown our Domestic Violence Legal Connection and with the increased number of requests for help.Tara, our intake coordinator, has noticed a trend toward more serious abuse and more serious injuries with each call.

A 49-year-old woman with three children was involved in a 20-year abusive relationship with her husband.Her abuser had raped her, threatened to kill her and became controlling to the point of taking away her car keys, flattening her tires, taking control of her money to prevent her from leaving and eventually turned off the electricity to their home.

A 34-year-old mother of three children suffered more than 13 years of abuse.Over those 13 years, her husband raped and sodomized here, repeatedly kicked her in the head and spine with boots on, and has threatened her and others with guns and knives.During one incident, he removed a metal part from his motorcycle and hit her repeatedly in the face, fracturing facial bones and teeth.That incident required reconstructive surgery, removal of all of her teeth and denture fitting.

A 33-year-old woman in an abusive marriage needed an order of protection and custody and support orders.Although not the only instance of abuse, her abuser tried to light a propane tank, located on the side of the house, on fire while she and her daughter were inside.

A 32-year-old woman was given a black eye and fractured nose while pregnant with their child.During another incident, her abuser assaulted her with a baseball bat while she lay sleeping.

Another victim suffered repeated severe physical and psychological abuse including being bitten, choked and hit repeatedly until bruises covered her body.During one such incident, her abuser threw her down onto a concrete floor, breaking her pelvis.After refusing to assist her since she was “over-reacting,” she was forced to drive herself to the hospital.

A 34-year-old woman suffered abuse in a violent relationship for over 11 years.Her abuser held her up to a wall, lifting her off the floor by her throat, choking her.On her birthday one year later, he raped her.He threatened her repeatedly with his guns and other weapons.

With the help of our volunteer attorneys, these women and others like them are able to take steps towards safety, independence and stability.These acts of volunteerism aren’t less than “real” work; they are the most important work.And they save lives.

Please join us in celebrating and supporting all of our volunteer attorneys.If you are a partner in a firm, consider having a pro bono policy that allows attorneys to volunteer to take a domestic violence case. If you are in private practice or work for a private or public employer, consider dedicating a pre-determined number of hours to pro bono work or taking a certain number of cases annually.

If you are an experienced family court attorney, consider joining the Domestic Violence Legal Connection and serving as a mentor to an attorney who wishes to volunteer but does not have specific family court experience.You not only help a survivor of domestic violence, but also contribute to the education of another attorney.

If you are dedicated to increased accessibility of the legal system, consider volunteering to be a Domestic Violence Legal Connection panel attorney.The case you take may very well be a life you save.