June Volunteer Feature: The City Bar Justice Center Recognizes Paul Weiss Attorneys for their Work on Behalf of Survivors of Human Trafficking
An astounding 27 partners, associates and paralegals from Paul Weiss' corporate department are working with the City Bar Justice Center's Immigrant Women & Children Project ("IWC") to assist survivors of human trafficking with their applications for lawful permanent residency. IWC's Director, Suzanne Tomatore, and Rebecca Behr, the firm's Pro Bono Attorney, organized a training at Paul Weiss in March. Since then, these corporate attorneys have been working together and sharing information over an internal listserv to provide the best possible service to their clients.
Two associates, Elizabeth Veit and Ruth Wahl, have been working on a challenging case where the client lives in another state. They stay in touch with her via phone and have helped to keep her spirits up while she is dealing with a health issue. Ruth (pictured at left) called the experience "not only rewarding due to the impact it had on the lives of the individuals we represented, but also because [the] work was in some ways ground-breaking. This is a new and emerging area of immigration law and to be involved in its nascency is incredibly stimulating."
Other associates found their work with the Project fulfilling as well. "After working on this matter, I came away with a renewed sense of appreciation of how pro bono work can make an immediate and profoundly positive impact on people's lives," says associate Steve Kim (pictured at right). "I look forward to working on similar projects in the future."
"My experience working with Rebecca and the associates has been overwhelmingly positive," says Suzanne Tomatore. "The firm's support and enthusiasm for this project has been fantastic. All of our clients are very happy and they are getting not only top-notch legal assistance, but a warm reception from the firm."
"We are thrilled we were able to work with the City Bar to obtain lawful permanent residency for our clients," says Rebecca Behr. "The expertise and guidance from the City Bar was essential in ensuring a rewarding experience. Our work with the Immigrant Women and Children Project exemplifies our commitment to pro bono work on behalf of individuals."
The City Bar Justice Center is delighted to be able to honor Paul Weiss and the dedicated attorneys working on this project, and would particularly like to recognize the work Rebecca has done in her crucial coordinating role. The firm's commitment to pro bono is clear, and the Justice Center looks forward to a continued relationship working on behalf of the City's most needy.