2016 Annual Report

Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association

Your Path to Pro Bono

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 1 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

As has been true since my arrival in Boston 25 years ago, I am awed by the commitment of the Greater Boston private bar to pro bono participation. When I began to observe this commitment in action, I asked a septuagenarian attorney I’d met while he was continuing to engage in pro bono assistance why he did so. He explained to me a “mitzvah“—an individual act of human kindness in keeping with the law. And although many of you would not define your work as a mitzvah, your pro bono assistance to the clients vulnerable to the unscrupulous is an act of human kindness. I applaud you, thank you and unabashedly ask you to keep it up.

By partnering with you, our volunteers, the courts, The Boston Bar Association, our legal aid colleagues, and social service and medical care providers, VLP exceeded our goals in the last year and continued to work toward our mission of quality pro bono representation for low-income residents of the greater Boston area.

In October 2016, VLP launched the Eastern Region Legal Intake (ERLI), which has provided intake for VLP and Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), and information and advice to eligible clients seeking legal assistance. Drastically lowering wait times for callers has enabled VLP and ERLI to assist more callers, moving the Eastern Region just that much closer to realizing the 100% access to justice envisioned by Chief Justice Ralph Gants of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. With the support and assistance of GBLS and all of our regional partners, this transition kept the intake lines open without interruption and has resulted in more efficient and more effective service.

With the invaluable support of now Supreme Judicial Court Justice Scott Kafker, and VLP’s able partners Susan Finegan and Mintz Levin, LLP, the Pro Bono Appellate Pilot Project gained momentum and has become a model in its own right. Mintz Levin generously committed the expertise and human capital that set this in motion. The continued backup of the firm has allowed more than 300 low-income litigants to get advice and representation before the appellate courts. Ten cases have gone before the appellate courts with full briefing and oral arguments. With the expertise of legal aid lawyers from legal aid offices across the state and the volunteer services of 135 private attorneys, this project has become what I call the perfect pro bono project.

In 1977, VLP was born of a study by the Boston Bar Association that showed that the need for civil legal service was greater than that which our legal aid attorneys could provide, and that a concerted, coordinated effort to increase and enhance their work with pro bono representation was needed. Forty years later, that is what we do, through our training and mentoring, through our Senior Partners for Justice, through our clinics, and now through our helpline. VLP is often held up as a model for the nation and regularly receives requests from other states to assist in the development of their own projects.

On this, Volunteer Lawyers Project’s 40th anniversary, we offer you our 2016 Annual Report in celebration of the results that can be wrought when we work together.

Gratefully, Joanna George Allison Executive Director | Volunteer Lawyers Project

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 2 Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors and Their Families

A CONVERSATION with David Emer and Alison Holdway: Georgetowne Homes Two LLC v. Pipkin

For Alison Holdway and David Emer, third-year litigation associates at Nutter, arguing before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) was an “extraordinary” experience that neither expected to have so early in their legal careers. Alison and David argued on behalf of Ms. Pipkin, a VLP client, in a case that could shape domestic violence protections for victims who are brave enough to try to escape their abusers.

ALISON HOLDWAY: It’s common in abusive rela- DAVID EMER: This case involved protecting tionships that the abuse is not only physical, domestic abuse survivors when they are most but also psychological and economic—the vulnerable and in the most danger: immedi- abuser attempts to prevent the victim from ately after they seek legal help to remove their having agency and control over important abuser from the home. aspects of their lives. In this case, the housing The case began in housing court, where a court and the appeals court took a very narrow publicly subsidized landlord brought an view of landlord/tenant law, finding that Ms. eviction action against Ms. Pipkin, alleging Pipkin was not a tenant because she was not that she was an unauthorized occupant of the listed on the lease, even though that was part apartment that she had lived in with her chil- of her abusive husband’s control over her and dren for half a decade. Ms. Pipkin’s abusive their finances. estranged husband had been removed from There is a federal law known as the Violence the home 12 days before the eviction action, Against Women Act, which protects domestic pursuant to an abuse prevention order that violence victims and their families by statutorily Ms. Pipkin had obtained in court. Her chil- preventing eviction that is a direct result of dren had always been authorized occupants domestic violence. and tenants on the lease, and her estranged husband did not show up in housing court, DAVID: In this case, the victim—Ms. Pipkin— but the housing court nonetheless denied Ms. had done the right thing. She had tried to Pipkin’s motion to intervene in the eviction protect herself and her children from her proceeding, which had been filed by VLP abusive husband by having him removed from attorney Milton Wong. the home, and tried to use the proper court

The VLP Civil Appeals Clinic

VLP, in collaboration with numerous Boston and procedure; advise the litigant in making Since the clinic moved to the Appeals Court law firms and the Appeals Court Clerk’s Of- the strategic decision to appeal or to con- in December 2015, 109 attorneys have vol- fice, operates a pro bono Civil Appeals clin- tinue seeking relief in the trial court; and unteered their time to assist 233 litigants, ic at the Appeals Court Clerk’s Office every provide and assist with self-help materials, and 10 cases were referred for full repre- Wednesday from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. other resources, forms and motions. sentation. With our limited staff, VLP could At the clinic, self-represented litigants who Volunteer attorneys also assess whether a not offer the clinic without the dedication of qualify for assistance meet with volunteer litigant’s case should be reviewed for further SUE FINEGAN, BRIAN DUNPHY and their team attorneys. These attorneys may, among oth- representation. If so, the volunteer may rec- at MINTZ LEVIN. Working closely with them er things: assess whether a final judgment ommend that the case be sent for a second are JEREMY MEISINGER and REBECCA CAZABON at exists and calculate any deadlines; give layer of merit-based screening by experienced FOLEY HOAG, JOSHUA BONE at GOODWIN PROCTER, general advice concerning appellate issues appellate attorneys and legal services experts. and JOSHUA DANIELS.

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 3 procedures to protect herself and her children, us a level of support that I could not have and she was now facing homelessness because imagined. Nutter partner Chris Lindstrom is the housing court had denied her motion to the supervisor on the case, and learning from intervene in the eviction proceeding. his extensive appellate experience has been incredible—he’s been there every step of ALISON: We got involved to help with the ap- the way, giving us advice. peal, in which we argued that Ms. Pipkin had a right to a jury trial in the case. We did not Barbara Zimbel, the housing unit chair at ask for a guarantee that she be allowed to GBLS, has also been involved from the begin- remain in the home, but rather just that she ning, providing mentorship and guidance. be allowed her constitutional right to a sum- Dick Bauer also reviewed most of our briefs, mary process jury trial in the eviction action. and organized a moot session to help us prepare for oral argument. A number of large Our argument before the SJC focused solely organizations also submitted amicus briefs on intervention. The statute setting forth in the case—the Women’s Bar Association, the requirements to intervene is very, very Casa Myrna (the largest provider of domestic broad—the intervener just has to assert an violence services in Massachusetts), Jane Doe, interest in the property, and Ms. Pipkin Inc., and Harvard Legal Services Center. intervened to further her interests and her children’s interests in the apartment, tied to ALISON: For any attorneys thinking about the Violence Against Women Act and her chil- getting involved with VLP or doing pro dren’s rights as listed tenants on the lease. bono work, the Civil Appeals Clinic is a very manageable amount of time, and for attor- DAVID: Arguing before the SJC—which Alison neys who don’t want to bite off more than and I did together—was an extraordinary they can chew, the training is brief, and the experience. People go to law school dream- commitment is really simple—there’s even a ing about being able to argue to expand civil guidebook there to flip through to help you. rights for protected classes and to help people You can be as involved as you want to be— in need, and that’s exactly what our work it’s just a really great way to get started doing with VLP gave us the opportunity to do. It immensely rewarding pro bono work. was definitely the highlight of my legal career.

ALISON: David and I have a connection to VLP through an appellate walk-in legal clinic at the Massachusetts Appeals Court, and along with other area attorneys, we volunteer to staff the clinic. Litigants—frequently indigent—who “People go to law school need help with the appellate process and in dreaming about being able determining whether they have a meritorious claim, will come to the walk-in clinic, and to argue to expand civil rights VLP screens their cases. If they meet eligibility for protected classes and to requirements, VLP will pass the cases on to help people in need, and that’s the lawyers staffing the clinic for the day. exactly what our work with DAVID: We’ve been so fortunate to work with VLP gave us the opportunity a terrific, diverse coalition to fight on behalf of Ms. Pipkin and all domestic violence survi- to do. It was definitely the vors in Massachusetts. And to have our men- highlight of my legal career.” tors at Nutter who have helped us so much —David Emer with the case. The level of support by the firm Volunteer VLP attorney in this case has been extraordinary. It’s been a tremendous amount of work, and Nutter’s pro bono chair, Ken Berman, and program director, Alexa O’Keefe, in particular have given

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 4 Alone in a Foreign Country: Finding Safety and Comfort with a VLP Attorney

Imagine living in a foreign country where Miryam, I finally felt safe. you didn’t speak the language and were raising a As a wife, and as a mother, I feel that I should child. And then finding out that your husband—a get something, not nothing. I know that Miryam successful professional and your only means of is doing the best for me. support—had a separate life and a secret second family, had filed for divorce, and now wanted MIRYAM: Would you encourage others to come to you out of the home to which he had brought VLP for help? you just a few years before. Now imagine being alone, trying to navigate a foreign legal system by FRANCISCA: Yes. Very few people in my situation yourself, in a language you don’t speak. are able to afford help, to have a voice, and to be able to say anything. Especially under my This wasn’t imaginary for VLP client Francisca. circumstances, where I didn’t know if I was going A few years after her husband brought her to the to be thrown out on the street or what was going United States from the Dominican Republic, he to happen to me and my son, I would never filed for divorce and tried to force her and their have been able to do this by myself. I would tell child out of their home. Fortunately, Francisca anyone in a similar situation to come to see you found Miryam Cissero, an attorney originally because you provide the support from South America who speaks Spanish and and the help. volunteers with VLP. MIRYAM: The first time I met Francisca, I told MIRYAM CISSERO: I am usually in Superior Court, her I was going to take care of her, and those working for clients in civil cases with financial words were priceless for her. She felt at ease and and business specifics at issue. The work I do for safe. I said, “I will fight for you, and I will do VLP is so different because we are talking about everything in my power to get you what you people, about emotional issues, and are changing deserve—don’t let anybody tell you what you lives. Especially as a Latina and an immigrant, I can or cannot do, or control you.” She is a great feel that the impact of my work for VLP clients woman, and has devoted her life to her son and is greater, and that I have a responsibility to the husband. I am always here for her. community to give back. These clients would have no one else to help them. It’s a moral obligation, FRANCISCA: Miryam is an amazing lawyer and but this work also helps develop our skills as law- does great work, and people like me, we don’t yers, and anyone who takes cases for VLP clients have the resources to fight, to obtain justice, will grow as a person. When I do work for VLP, I and be made whole without someone to help feel like this is why I went to law school. us. When I met my VLP lawyer, I was desperate. I had no idea what to do or how to proceed. With Francisca’s case, her husband’s attorney My husband had presented me with a piece of was very contentious and difficult, and Francisca paper saying the Dominican Republic gave him was not only dealing with the emotional devas- a divorce, and he is married to someone else and tation of having her husband file for divorce and is throwing me out, and that I had to get out of finding out that he had a secret second family, the house. but she was understandably intimidated by the U.S. legal system—it was a total maze for her MIRYAM: There are so many people like to navigate. I was able to help her, and turn the Francisca, who need help desperately, especially tables around. now. Kids and families are the most affected— I see young children who have come to this FRANCISCA: After I started working with Miryam, country and been abandoned by their parents or I felt so much better. I was finally in control of have had their parents deported. This is what we my life. Before that, they wanted to throw me are here for as lawyers. It is not just about the out of my home, they wanted to knock down money—it is about who we are as a people. VLP my door. I felt like all of my belongings were makes it possible for a business lawyer like me to going to be on the street. It was terrifying. With help people like Francisca.

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 5 Equal Footing: Helping a VLP Client Get Her Young Son — and Her Life Back

Frequently, the clients whom VLP attorneys help are on the short end of a power imbal- ance. This was the case for Ruckie, a home- less mother of a young son. Last year, Ruckie thought she was going to court to allow her son’s father—who works at a large Boston law firm—weekend visitation, and to obtain child support, which he had never paid. He was represented by an attorney, and she was rushed to sign paperwork she didn’t understand. That led to her unknowingly giving up custody, and los- I had signed said. He told the police that I was ing not only her son, but also her room at the kidnapping the baby, and that I had hit him. shelter where she was living, her son’s day care, The officer who came felt bad, but he said that and her place on a waiting list for an apart- I had to go to jail because the baby’s father has ment. With the help of her VLP attorney, Cindy full legal custody. So I went to jail trying to get Palmquist, Ruckie has her son back, and is well my baby back. on her way to getting her life back on track. CINDY: When did you sign the papers? RUCKIE: If I had had a lawyer from the start, none of this would have ever happened. I trust- RUCKIE: That was in June. From June to De- ed my baby’s father, and he made things up, and cember 29, my son was living with me at the had me sign things I didn’t understand. He lied shelter and seeing his father on the weekends. to me. Then all of a sudden, on December 29, my son’s father says he is going to keep him, and My baby’s father was seeing him on the week- that I don’t have custody of him. I didn’t see ends, and one day he told me we had to go to my son for a month. I would text and call— court so that he could support us. I said that I nothing. One time he let me speak to my son didn’t want my baby to have a part-time father, on the phone and my baby was crying, “I and he said, “Okay, then you have to come to want to see Mommy,” and his father hung court.” So I did. up the phone. I signed a paper. I didn’t understand what it CINDY: And because Ruckie is a legal permanent said. My baby’s father had a lawyer, and I resident, all of her benefits were tied to the didn’t. He and the lawyer were rushing me and child. Her ability to be in the shelter, to have said that if I signed the paper, he would have a day care voucher for the child—which was to give me support for the baby. He told me to allowing her to work five days a week—every- hurry up and sign everything so that we could thing was tied to the child. When the father get out of there and go to a birthday lunch, so removed the child from her care, she lost her I signed. day care voucher. Now she is on a waiting list I trusted him, and he tricked me. that can take up to a year, which means she has CINDY PALMQUIST, VLP STAFF ATTORNEY: no child care and can only work on weekends. How did you find out he had tricked you? And during all of that time, after you first went RUCKIE: We had an argument—he wanted to to court until now, did the baby’s father ever keep my son after the weekend and I said no, pay child support? he couldn’t, that my son has to go to school RUCKIE: No—nothing. and can’t stay with him. He said, “I am going to take him, he is mine,” so I called the police. CINDY: The baby’s father works at a large Bos- When the police came, he showed them the ton law firm, and makes almost six figures. He court papers and they arrested me. It turned told Ruckie that they’d go to court so he could out he had custody—that’s what those papers pay support, and said “It’s almost the baby’s

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 6 third birthday—we will go out to lunch after- in resources and representation. On one side, ward to celebrate.” She had no idea she was you have a person who is making almost six signing over custody. And although we have a figures, working at a large law firm, represented child support order now, it is for $267 a week. by a lawyer from that firm, and that person is Ruckie, how much is day care? not paying child support and does not take care of or have physical custody of the child, yet he RUCKIE: It is more than $500 a week, and we can go into court and get a court order saying lost our voucher. We moved to Milford, and he has sole legal and physical custody of the I got a library card, and we go to the library child. Then you have someone who does not a few times a week and for story time, and I speak English as a first language, is struggling got him books at Walmart, but my son misses to work a full-time, minimum-wage job that school and his friends there. He always says he is entirely dependent on the child being in day wants to go back to school, and he is so little, I care, and she doesn’t have an attorney. And the can’t explain it to him. His father lied and said other party is always telling her—Ruckie, do he was taking him to school, but he wasn’t, and you remember what he always said to you? that is why he lost his spot there. Now it’s hard to find a day care that can take him, and they RUCKIE: He always said, “You’re so naive.” are so expensive. He is about to be four and he And I didn’t even know what that meant. needs to be in school. I had to ask you! He said to me, “You’re so naive. You let me take your baby, and no one CINDY: The first thing we did was file an emer- is going to listen to you. No one is going to gency motion for immediate return of the child. believe you. You don’t know anything, and We were able to get Ruckie joint legal custody, I have a lawyer, and you have no one.” and Dad has the child on the weekends. We also filed to have child support made retroactive, CINDY: So this is the perfect case to illustrate and were able to obtain a new child support the need to have equal footing. Without repre- order. Ruckie, do you remember how we met? sentation, she lost custody, lost her child, her housing, her child care—everything. Just RUCKIE: es. After I was arrested, I had a law- Y by having our clinic in the courthouse, we were yer, and he felt so badly for me, but he couldn’t able to intercept the case, and put it on track help me with the custody issue, so he told me to for a fair and just outcome. go to family court, and that is how I met Cindy. She was there, and really helped me get my son. Without her, I don’t know what I would have done. I am smiling now, but it was really tough.

CINDY: The case is ongoing, and trial is sched- uled for September. We are hoping to reach a “He said to me, ‘No one settlement, and minimizing the fighting between is going to listen to you. the parents would be the best, so that the child doesn’t feel that tension. No one is going to One of the most rewarding things that we at believe you. You don’t VLP do as an organization is be present where know anything, and I the cases are, via our court-based clinics. If we have a lawyer, and hadn’t been there that day, it’s not clear whether Ruckie would have gotten the help that she you have no one.” needed to get her son back. The court can help Ruckie her fill out forms, but they can’t tell her what VLP client they mean or what to write on them because they don’t give advice. She needed more than just help with forms. In this case, there was just such a huge disparity

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 7 Eastern Region Legal Intake: VLP’s Client Access Success Story

Having a successful intake system that is easy for potential clients to navigate is essential at VLP. If clients can’t get in touch with VLP and our regional partners, we cannot help them. In 2016, VLP made the decision to bring the intake, advice and referral function in-house. In October 2016, VLP launched its Eastern Region Legal Intake unit (VLP/ERLI) and markedly improved client access to services. We achieved greater access by staffing VLP/ ERLI with AmeriCorps Legal Advocates, law students, and volunteers in addition to staff handled more than 10,000 calls in its first attorneys and paralegals; by posting intake nine months of operation. staff at VLP’s court clinics; and by shifting lengthy advice consultations from the call As we reach VLP/ERLI’s one year center to pro bono advice panels. As a result anniversary, we will continue our innovative of this improved design, wait times for callers approach to providing high quality intake, are typically under ten minutes. VLP/ERLI advice and referral to our clients.

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 8 DENIS MAGUIRE Pro Bono Award Denis Maguire, who served as the treasurer of both the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) and Boston Bar Association, personified the commitment to public interest for which Boston lawyers are noted. VLP established the Denis Maguire Pro Bono Award in 1989 to honor the work of outstanding members of its pro bono panel and to commemorate Denis Maguire’s commitment to VLP and access to justice through pro bono efforts.

STEVEN POHL Pro Bono Bankruptcy Project

Steven Pohl is a partner in the Bankruptcy Steven is a big presence in pro bono, as well. and Corporate Restructuring practice at Brown Since he began volunteering with VLP in 2010, Rudnick LLP. He concentrates his practice he has handled 48 pro bono bankruptcy cases. in the commercial and insolvency areas, He eagerly takes on challenging cases, including focusing on the representation of interested those seeking discharges of student loan debt. parties in bankruptcy proceedings and His success obtaining student loan discharges on lending institutions in commercial finance the basis of disability as well as a “totality of the transactions. Recognized by Chambers USA: circumstances” has made him a national resource America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in in these cases. Steven has been a pro bono role the area of bankruptcy law, Steven is regarded model and mentor for other attorneys at Brown as “a very straight shooter and a big presence Rudnick. The Bankruptcy Court in Boston honored in the room.” him with its Pro Bono Recognition Award in 2013.

CAROL ENNIS Pro Bono Bankruptcy Project

Carol Ennis is a senior bankruptcy paralegal success of Brown Rudnick’s pro bono bankruptcy at Brown Rudnick LLP with over 30 years of efforts with VLP and other pro bono programs. experience. She works on large cases in which She coordinates the distribution of VLP cases the firm represents official and unofficial throughout the firm and works on numerous pro creditor and equity committees. She also assists bono cases with Brown Rudnick attorneys. In with the preparation of bankruptcy petitions and addition to her pro bono work with VLP, Carol schedules, and provides invaluable support to volunteers with the Lawyers Clearinghouse legal the attorneys in substantial Chapter 11 debtor clinics at Pine St. Inn and St. Francis House. proceedings. Prior to coming to Brown Rudnick in January 1998, Carol managed the legal department in Carol began working with Volunteer Lawyers two substantial Chapter 11 proceedings that were Project on pro bono bankruptcy cases in 1999. under the administration of a court-appointed For 18 years, she has been instrumental in the Chapter 11 trustee.

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 9 YVETTE C. MENDEZ Award The Yvette C. Mendez Award was created to recognize a member or project of the Greater Boston Bar that has made an extraordinary contribution to furthering equal access to justice in ways beyond a traditional law practice. The award was established in honor of Yvette Mendez, an African American woman who was president of the Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys, a litigator, teacher, civil rights advocate and VLP board member. The Yvette C. Mendez Award is a distinguished honor that is not awarded annually. The award has only been bestowed four times, and the previous recipients were attorney Wayne Budd, the Hon. Jeffrey M. Winik and the Hon. Raymond G. Dougan, Ret.

SUE FINEGAN Pro Bono Appellate Project

Sue Finegan is a partner in the Litigation bono hours at legal services organizations, Section and Chair of the Pro Bono Committee at nonprofits, and the courts. Mintz Levin. Appointed the firm’s first Pro Bono From 2004 to 2007, Sue served as legal Partner in 2007, Sue serves as lead counsel director of the Victim Rights Law Center, on numerous high-profile pro bono litigation overseeing free statewide civil legal services to matters. She also manages the firm’s pro bono sexual assault survivors and providing training to efforts and advises firm clients on developing legal aid attorneys nationally. While previously and sustaining pro bono programs. at Mintz from 1993 to 2004, Sue handled As a member and current co-chair of the complex commercial, white collar, defamation, Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission, land use, and insurance defense matters in Sue has been a tireless and innovative advocate both state and federal trial and appellate courts. for low-income people in Massachusetts and She also performed extensive pro bono work, beyond. She has spearheaded creative funding including oversight of the firm’s Domestic mechanisms to support legal aid organizations Violence Project. and developed the statewide civil appellate pro Following law school, Sue served as a law clerk bono program for self-represented litigants. Five for the Honorable Andrew A. Caffrey at the U.S. years ago, she co-founded the Access to Justice District Court for the District of Massachusetts Fellows program, in which over 70 retired and and for the Honorable Francis P. O’Connor at retiring lawyers have devoted over 55,000 pro the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 10 GIDEON’S TRUMPET Award The Gideon’s Trumpet Award was established in 2003 to honor the outstanding work of a member of the pro bono panel of VLP’s Senior Partners for Justice project. The award is named after the book Gideon’s Trumpet by Anthony Lewis, which chronicles the establishment of the right to counsel in criminal cases at all levels of the American judicial system. The award honors those striving to provide similar access to justice in civil matters.

HON. EDWARD M. GINSBURG Senior Partners for Justice Founder

On the 15th anniversary of Senior Partners for Judge Ginsburg has worked tirelessly for 15 Justice, we honor its founder and guiding light, years, recruiting volunteers for Senior Partners, Hon. Edward M. Ginsburg (Ret.), with the cajoling retired lawyers and judges out of Gideon’s Trumpet award. Judge Ginsburg retirement, meeting with the courts to set up founded Senior Partners at VLP in 2002 on the innovative pro bono projects, meeting with law day after his 70th birthday, when, as he says, schools about internships, finding speakers he became “constitutionally senile” (translation: for and holding monthly luncheons, drumming reached the mandatory retirement age). The up financial support and goodwill for Senior idea for Senior Partners had been percolating for Partners, personally calling and thanking 25 years while Judge Ginsburg sat as a Probate each attorney who volunteers his or her time, and Family Court judge. He saw more and more and much more. Thanks to his efforts, Senior people trying to present their cases without Partners now includes more than 1,000 lawyers lawyers and he vowed to do something about it who have provided legal assistance to more than when he retired. 5,000 clients. There is no one more deserving of the Gideon’s Trumpet Award than Judge Ginsburg.

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 11 42% 22%

Income & Expenditures

Ordinary INCOME/EXPENSES JAN – DEC 16 January 2016 - June 2017 Client Services INCOME Grants and contracts 2,251,632 Cases Referred by Eastern Region Legal Intake (ERLI) TOTAL 7546 Contributions 161,282 Other Income 7,026 3% 6% 5% 2% Interest 405 4% 2% 1% TOTAL INCOME 2,420,345 18% Carry forward 383,112 2,803,457 9% EXPENSE 40% Lawyers 645,158 11% Paralegals 227,650 Administration 205,613 Payroll taxes and fringe 269,548 ■ Housing 3234 ■ Health 178 Space 200,102 ■ Benefits 826 ■ Individual Rights 358 ■ Family 1361 Printing and supplies 21,056 ■ Consumer/Finance 637 ■ Criminal 47 ■ Juvenile 51 Repair and maintenance 46,763 ■ Education 27 ■ Miscellaneous 463 ■ Postage 2,473 Employment 364 Insurance 14,623 Telephone 12,409 Cases Closed TOTAL 5926

Library 9,106 2% 3% 2% Audit 21,486 3% 4% Training and recruitment 19,919 Staff/board travel and training 11,197 Litigation 1,455 5% 6% Other and program services 196,449 42%

Depreciation 3,448 7% Subgrants 292,239 8% TOTAL EXPENSE 2,200,694 18%

Funding what’s important ■ Housing 2348 ■ Employment 204 ■ Family 1338 80.3% ■ Individual Rights 150 ■ Benefits 549 ■ Unemployment 133 ■ Guardianship 459 ■ Miscellaneous 86 ■ Consumer 362 ■ Willis 71 ■ Bankruptcy 226 15.9% 3.9% Between January 2016 and June 2017, Program Management Fundraising participating attorneys donated over & General 22,500 hours, which we conservatively value at $5,625,000.

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 12 Attorneys Who Donated Their Services in 2016

Nikolas Abel Rachel Bussey Raymond Dougan Rachelle Abrahami Julie Butner Meredith Douglas Marjorie Adams Nicole Cabrera James Downes Melissa Alden Julie Callahan Jessica Dubin John Allen Lisa Callahan Stuart Duncan Smith Wendy Allis Michael Campinell Russell Dunning Leila Ameli-Grillon Christopher Candon Brian Dunphy Samuel Ames Ida Candreva Jennifer Durand David Amico Daniel Carragher Sultan Durzi Laurie Antone Alison Casey Annette Eaton Leslie Arsenault Joshua Caswell Pauline Edmonds Tristan Axelrod Paul M. Cathcart Caitlin Egleson Thomas Ayres Rebecca Cazabon Ashly Eikelberg Sandra Badin Nadine Champagne Jasmine Elatab Steven Ballard Philip Chan Jennifer Elcock Hans Banitt Jeanne Charn Nan Elder Megan Barriger Christopher J. Cifrino David Emer Dick Bauer Miryam Cissero Richard Evans David Bean Jennifer Clapp Diana Fantasia Joshua Bearce Christopher Clark Al Farese Thomas Beauvais Rose Clinch Natalie Feigenbaum Amber Beaverson Ian Coghill Matthew Feiner Michael Belair Heather Cohen Shelah Feiss Elaine Benkoski Ben Conery Peter Fellman Gretchen Bennett Brian Conley Elisha Figdor Anne Berger Mary Connaughton Susan Finegan Neil Berman Sheila Corkhill Kevin Finnegan Arlene Bernstein Andrew Cornell Kellie Fisher Lisa Bernt Mark Cotton Deanna Flaherty Roger Bertling Benjamin Cox Justin Florence Pavel Bespalko Kelly Crisp Daniel Fogarty Stephanie Biggs Michael Croteau Katherine Foote Peter Bilowz Tania Curley Lucas Fortier Christina Bitter Elizabeth Currie Jennifer Fournier Amanda Blaske Patrick Daly Monica Franceschini Jesse Boodoo Milton D’Andrea James Franchek Sarah Boonin Josh Daniels Sara Frazier Larry Booz Andrea Delaney Don Freedman Amiel Bowers Alexis Demirjian Geoffrey Friedman Kristin Braithwaite Emily Derr Daria Frost Monica Brettler Maureen Devine Brendan Furey Alissa Brill Vikas Dhar Karen Galat William Brisk Brenda Diana Rebecca Gallup Rebecca Brodie Iliana Diaz Lois Galluzzo Matthew Brooks Jennifer DiCarlo Elizabeth Gansler Jade Brown Julie Dick Joel Gardiner Lisa Brown Christine Dieter Andres Garron Angelina Bruce-Flounory Eleanora DiLorenzo Kevin Gaughen Janet Brussard Mary DiMaiti Ezra Geggel Karen Buckley Anna DiMaria Roger Geller Natalia Bukhanova Anna Dodson Poppi Georges-Massey Robert Burdick Caroline Donovan Nashwa Gewaily Laura Burnett Audrey Donovan Emily Gianetta Edward Burns Sean Donovan Michael Giarrusso Matt Burrill Caroline Donovan Gabriel Gillmeyer Jerald Burwick Jessica Doucette Philip Gindi

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 13 Attorneys Who Donated Their Services in 2016 (continued)

Shanna Giora-Gorfajn Ki-Chan Jeon Sarah Lim Gale Glazer Kristen Jiang Amy Lipman-White David Goldman Jeffrey Jonas Linda Liu Angela Gomes Sara Jones Elizabeth Loranth Emmanuel Gonzalez Sharon Jones Julie Lowre Daniel Goodrich Martsyl Joseph Jessica Lu Richard Goulding Maureen Joyce Anna Lumelsky Sean Grammel Veronica Kane Corrine Lusic Emily Grannon Fox Alexis Kaplan Kyle MacDonald Mindy Green Aaron M. Katz Michael MacDonald Taurean Green Aya Kawaguchi Jenevieve Maerker Courtney Greenberg Noor Kazmi Jessica Mahon Scoles Kari-Ann Greene Hunter Keeton Stephanie Mandell Steven Greenzang Bridgette Kelly Paula Mangum Richard Gruenberger Justin Kelsey Jennifer Manning-Zoll Jonathan Guest Alycia Kennedy Justin Marble Steven Gurdin Susan Khurshudyan Harry Margolis Alisa Hacker Jennifer Ann Kirby Cynthia Martin David Haffner Kevin Kirby Matthew McCook Caroline Hanania Geoffrey Kirsch Brent McDonald Celia Harnson Ilene Klein Lisa McGovern Michael Harriman Ted Koehler Grace McGuire Celia Harrison Philip Kolb Brian McLaughlin Christopher Hart Natalia Kolyada Jeremy Meisinger Susan Hartnett Panagiotis Konstantilakis Heather Melito-Dezan Steve Hassink Steven Kornstein David Menchaca Robert Hatfield III Emily Koruda Marc Migliazzo Meredith Havard Kate Kramer Alan Minuskin Bonnie Heiple Ryan Krupp Rebecca Mitchell Meredith Hendrix Peri Kutchin Caryn Mitchell-Munevar Wendy Hickey Raymond Kwasnick Joseph Molina Flynn William Hickey Brian Kydd Rosanna Molinaro Eric Hight Candace Labbe William Moore Ezekiel Levenson Hill Esther Laine Evelyn Moreno Karen Hoffman Joseph Lally Victoria Moreno-Jackson Alison T. Holdway Karen Lane Joanna Morris Alana Holly Ian Lane Madelyn Morris Nicholas Horan Mitchell Langman Matthew Morris Robin Houston Donald Lassman John Morrissey Susan Howards Elisia Lau Greg Moscatel Scott Hubbell Terrance Lavier Joanne Moses Rizwanul Huda Matt Lawlor Ryann Muir Katherine Hughes Peter Lawlor Kristofer Munroe David Hunt Brian Lee Robin Murphy Regina Hurley Helen Lee Justin Murphy Maegan Hurley Yvonne Lee Sarah Murphy-Holroyd Katherine Insogna Beth Leonard Wendie Murstein Sarah Ireland Laura Lerner Lynne Myhre Maya Jachimowicz Steve Levine Joshua Nadreau Christie Jacobi Jacqueline Levy Suma Nair Lisa Jacobson Michelle Lewis Fernanda Naspolini Brendan T. Jarboe Natasha Lewis Muska Nassery Jasmine Jean-Louis Tyler Lewis Edward Naughten Kerline Jean-Louis Jing Li J.P. Nealon Andrea Jennings John Lim Linda Neary

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 14 Attorneys Who Donated Their Services in 2016 (continued)

Yavor Nechev Jessica Rosenfield Robert Thomas Kate Nemens Vickie Rothbaum Samuel Thompson Katherine Newman Sylvain Rouleau Kristin Thurbide Kate Nicholson Gail Ruscito Chetan Tiwari Nathalie O’Callaghan Martha Rush O’Mara Sharon Toffler Kathleen O’connell Lou Saban Ladawn Toon Kait O’Connor Donna Saber Karl Topor Vanessa O’Connor Robert Sable James Tourkistas Nnena Odim Soraya Sadeghi Kelly Towns Elizabeth O’Flaherty Ryan Sakoda Claire Tutweiler Alexa O’Keefe Brian Salisbury Susan Tvrdy Elizabeth E. Olien Zaheer Samee Matthew Tymann Francis Olivieri Jaime Santos Olivia Uitto Mara O’Malley George Schneider William Valletta Judy O’Neil Terry Schnicker Andrew Varshavsky Walter Oney Iris Schnitzer Judith Vassilovski Barbara Oro Arielle Schwartz Christopher Versfelt Nicholas Ortiz David Schwartz Anthony Visconti Gail Otis Jenna Scinicarello Adrienne Walker Holly Ovington Rachel Shack Shima Walker Sofia Owen Alexis Shapiro Tia Wallach Darius Pakrooh Timothy Shea Kevin Walsh Andyeliz Papaleo Joseph Sherman Leann Walsh Amy Parker Julie Shields Teresa Walsh Nina Parker Bilal Siddiqui Michael Wang William Parks Michelle Sideris Heather Ward Kimberly Parr Joshua Silverstein Neil Warrenbrand William Patton Elizabeth Silvestri Kristin Weberg Lee Peterson Jeanna Simeone Richard Wheeler Julia Peyton Jacob Simon Amanda Whelan Katuscia Pierre-Charles Moira Smith Emily Whelan Nicholas Planty Sandra Smith Donald Whitmore Steven Pohl Debra Smith Betsy Whittey Thomas Polito Elizabeth Smith Aaron M. Williams John Polley Stephen Smith Jennifer Williams Stephen Provazza Brian Snell Kevin Willis Rebekah Provost Jeffrey Soilson Lisa Wilson Rosemary Purtell Sharyn Sooho Sean Wilson Theresa Ramos Danielle Spang Jaime Winchenbach Liz Ranks Victoria Spetter Lawrence Wind Jacob Raver Kerry Spindler Neal Winston Gregory Rees Austin Steelman Keri Wintle Brittany Rehmer Meredith I. Stivers Tsering Wongmo Lei Reilley Marybeth Stramaglia Rachael Wurtman Kenneth Reisman Andrew Strehle Charles Wyzanski Lola Remy Steven Striffler Kathryn Yates James Richards Carl Studlar Shawna Yen Michael Riley Tamara Sturges Sandy Yeung Pamela Ring Michael Sugar Nicholas Yiannias Tom Ritter Sara Suleman Mary Zdanowicz Elizabeth A. Ritvo Kevin Tagliaferri Catherine Zhang Lucinda Rivera Glen A. Tagliamonte David Zieja Timothy Robertson Monica Teixeira de Sousa Ajay Zutshi Anita Robboy Kathryn Terrell Joanne Romanow Lisa Terrizzi David Rome Belinda Teye

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 15 OUR PARTNERS in 2016

PATRONS Andrew Cohn McGrath & Kane Raymond Kwasnick

BENEFACTORS Boston Bar Foundation Donna Hanlon Nutter, McClennen & Fish LLP Brown Rudnick Fidelity Charitable Ropes & Gray Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Goulston & Storrs Wilmer Cutler Pickering Peisch & Ford, LLP Joseph Kaigler Hale and Dorr LLP Deborah Bornheimer Michael Pappone Wolf Greenfield & Sacks

SUPPORTERS Ned Abelson Barry Cotton David Grossman Maureen McDonagh Mary Ryan Leland Adams Jill Crockett John Grumbacher Kathleen McGrath Diana Santiago Marjorie Adams Katherine Crossman Marc Gudema Josephine McNeil Thomas Sartory Samuel Adams Andi Curcio Isabel Guerra Howard Medwed Iris Schnitzer Joanna Allison Timothy Dacey Robert Guttentag Alan Minuskin William Seuch Amazon Smile Daniel Dennis & Laurie Hall Alejandra Miran- Alexa Shabecoff Anderson & Kreiger Company Roy Hammer da-Naon Seyfarth Shaw Chari- Kori Anderson-Deasy Joshua Davis Lisa Hartwick Thomas Monti table Foundation Maria Arlotto William Dillon George Heaton Jr. Michael Moran Amy Siegel Tristan Axelrod James and Deborah Meredith Hendrix Joanne Moses Barbara Siegel Darren Baird Dittmar/Kay Ingrid Hillinger Angel Mozina Judith Siegel Daniel Bancroft Steven Donovan Julian Houston O’Brien & Levine Karen Siegel Timothy Bancroft Lee Duncan Douglas Husid Kevin O’Flaherty Miles Siegel Lynn Barenberg Nancy and Lee Terrell Iandiorio Daniel Ossoff Soros Charitable Dunham Peter Barlow Linda Illig Cindy Palmquist Foundation Jason Dunn Dick Bauer Lisa Jacobson William Patton Harold Stahler Sultan Durzi Paul Beckwith Emily Jarrell David Pearson Charles Steenburg Laurence Dworet Chris Bergen Fanny Johnson Victoria Pellegatto Gayle Stone-Turesky Eastern Bank Walter Bernheimer Judith Kanter Susan Pereira Kate Thurman Matthew Epstein Roger Bertling Carole Katz and Maribeth Perry Neal Thurman Connie Escobar Pavel Bespalko Jonathan Levy Scott Pomfret Pamela Torpey Siobhan Fanning Stephanie Biggs Sarah Kelly Lonnie Powers Sharon Toulotte Donna Farrelly Peter Bilowz Sheila Kelly Karen Quandt Paul Tremblay Henry Finch David Bohan Denis King Michael Rader Katherine Triantafillou William Fitzgerald Diane Boulay Patrick King Kenneth Reich Bruce Tribush Magda Fleckner Jean Bowe Laredo & Smith LLP Erika Rickard Laura Unflat Albert Fortier Emily Brown Mary Lee Lynne Riley Dolph Vanderpol Reg and Barbie Foster Stephanie Bruce Timothy Lee William Roberts Christopher Vaughan Martha Frahm Burns & Levinson LLP Barbara Lenk Peter Robertson James Wallack Donald Freedman Lisa Callahan Martin Levin Michael Robinson Katherine Ward Marjorie and Len Scott Lewis Dana Rodin Virginia Weisz Andrea Carrillo Freiman Julia Livingston Carolyn Rosenthal Wells Fargo Hsindy Chen Monqiue Garrity Locke Lord Kopans Justin White Francis Chin Andres Garron Alex MacDonald Douglas Rosner James Whitters Christopher Clark Gregory Getschman Robert & Judith Mack Stuart Rossman Ferd Wilder Lewis Cohen Risa & Zev Gewurz Pam MacKenzie Victoria Rothbaum Martha Williams Tara Colby Edward Ginsburg Anthony Martin Dan Rottenberg Joanne Winchenbach Patricia Comfort Cecilia Gordon Peter Marx Andrew Royce Lawrence Wind Wilbur Commodore Lauren Graber Richard McCarthy Stephen Russo William Wise Meg Connolly Janice Gross William McCarthy Eric Rutt Jeffrey Wolfson Peter Corbett Jill Grossberg Andrew Cornell Diane McDermott Adam Ruttenberg Tamara Wolfson

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 16 GRANTS American College of Bankruptcy Bank of America Boston Bar Foundation Executive Office of Elder Affairs Legal Services Corporation Field Grant Legal Services Corporation Pro Bono Innovation Grant Legal Services Corporation Technology Initiative Grant Liberty Mutual Foundation Massachusetts Bar Foundation Massachusetts Equal Justice Fund Mifflin Memorial Fund Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance National Consumer Law Center

VLP/ERLI STAFF

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 17 Volunter Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 2015 - 2018

CHAIR Raymond M. Kwasnick, Esq.

VICE-CHAIR Josephine McNeil, Esq.

TREASURER Andrew H. Cohn, Esq.

Kori Anderson-Deasy, Esq. Richard J. McCarthy, Esq.

Sarah Beigbeder Petty, Esq. Ms. Mary Moore

Deborah Hill Bornheimer, Esq. Michael J. Pappone, Esq.

Mr. Lee Myers Duncan Mr. David Pearson

Brian Dunphy, Esq. Carla A. Reeves, Esq.

Ms. Fanny Johnson William (Rob) Roberts, Esq.

Ms. Mary Frierson Stuart Rossman, Esq.

Joseph M. Kaigler, Sr., Esq. Jose P. Sierra, Esq.

Sarah Kelly, Esq. Albert Wallis, Esq.

Mr. Timothy Lee Mr. Cameron Wilder

Ms. Daphne Lopes

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 18 The best time to plant

a tree was 20 years ago.

The second best time is now.

-Chinese Proverb

If you have been thinking about doing pro bono work, the best time is now. The time commitment is finite —the rewards are endless.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TODAY www.vlpnet.org

Volunteer Lawyers Project | Annual Report 2016 | 19