Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Her Justice connects domestic violence victims to volunteer attorneys and pro bono programs across all five boroughs of New York City. Last year, Her Justice secured life-changing results for over 7,500 women and children, including Myrna Niez. |
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Originally from the Philippines, Myrna Niez came to New York to be with her American husband, who became emotionally, financially and physically abusive toward her. With the help of Her Justice and a team of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP volunteers led by Associate Kate Powers, Myrna applied for and received a U-Visa, work authorization, a divorce, and eventually a green card. Kate also worked to reunite Myrna with her four sons, who had been living with their late father's family in their native Philippines and finally joined her in New York earlier this year. |
Watch the video below to hear from Kate about her experience assisting Myrna
Click here to watch the whole video Myrna Niez: A Story of Strength and Resilience
Kate Powers is an associate in the litigation department at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. She holds a J.D. from Cornell Law School where she served as a Notes Editor of the Cornell International Law Journal. Including Myrna's case, Kate has taken on two other pro bono cases with Her Justice, both immigration matters. |
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Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP has been consistently active in the Her Justice pro bono program since 2000, handling more than 300 family, matrimonial and immigration law matters for women living in poverty in New York City. In August 2012, the firm established an externship with Her Justice and, since then, 13 talented and dedicated Akin Gump attorneys have worked full-time at Her Justice, on a rotation basis, providing a broad scope of assistance to clients with immediate needs and complex legal issues. The firm has demonstrated unequivocal support for the externs and other attorneys at the firm who help women secure orders of protection, child and spousal support, custody and safe visitation arrangements and fair divorces, as well as the right to live and work in the U.S. Each volunteer has done outstanding legal work, shown compassion and commitment to the families Her Justice serves and has been a valued member of the Her Justice team. Watch this video to hear from Kim Koopersmith, Partner and Chairperson of Akin Gump and Her Justice Board Member, on the nature of the pro bono partnership between Akin Gump and Her Justice. |
Pro Bono Net is a national non-profit dedicated to increasing access to justice through the innovative use of technology. Probono.net, a program of Pro Bono Net, a national, online community for pro bono and civil legal service attorneys, law professors and students, and related social services advocates with a network across 23 states, as well as national and international practice areas.
Interested in volunteering? Check out our "Volunteer Tools" page to learn about the range of resources we have at Pro Bono Net to help mobilize and engage pro bono volunteers, or start searching for opportunities right now by using our national Pro Bono Opportunities Guide!