Make a Difference in the Life of a Domestic Violence Victim

The State Bar of Michigan's Open Justice Commission (OJC) is sponsoring a "Pro Bono Project for Domestic Violence Victims" to increase the availability of legal services to victims in civil legal matters directly related to domestic violence.

The OJC will sponsor a FREE, statewide training seminar on Thursday, May 31, 2001, which is open to all attorneys who are interested in offering Pro Bono representation to domestic violence victims. "This program will save lives," said attorney Jeffrey Nutt, member of the Pro Bono project team. "Our goal is to get 360 attorneys enrolled in this project and provide them with free training to assist domestic violence victims. This means 360 victims will be able to regain control of their lives and their futures."

Michigan attorneys willing to represent domestic violence victims on a Pro Bono basis will be recruited, trained, and mentored in an effort to increase the number of qualified legal professionals capable of representing battered women in civil legal matters and various situations including:

• Obtaining, modifying, and enforcing personal protection orders
• Divorce, annulment, and separate maintenance
• Spousal and child support
• Employment/unemployment issues
• Related torts, including wrongful death, assault and battery, trespass, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress

Additionally, attorneys who agree to provide at least 30 hours of Pro Bono victim representation or other assistance will receive the following FREE items:

• Live videotape of the training on 5/31/01 (12 sites)
• FOC benchbook
• D.V. benchbook
• CD-Rom (with SCAO forms)
• Sample pleadings (with mentoring)
• Manual (covering domestic torts)

Attorneys at any level of experience and in any field of practice are welcome to participate in this program. Even those who practice in areas other than family law can benefit from learning how to recognize and address domestic violence. Experienced attorneys are needed both to provide services and to mentor other participants.

For more information, or to sign up for the Pro Bono Project, please contact Judy Hershkowitz at (800) 968-1442, ext. 6335 or jhershkowitz@mail.michbar.org.