DVLSR

1
DVLSR

• DVLSR
• Legal Representation
• for Both Sides of the
• DV Family
• Fariba Soroosh, Family Law Facilitator,
• Santa Clara County
• Julie Saffren, Esq.

2
What is DVLSR

• A collaborative model to bring volunteer
  attorneys and certified law students into Family
  Court
• If a party meets the financial eligibility
  requirements, they may get an attorney in
  restraining order matterswhether they are
  Petitioner or Respondent
• Attorneys and law students are trained in DV and
  have real time mentoring by experienced mentor
  attorneys

3
DVLSR Collaborators

• Pro Bono Project of Silicon Valley
• Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence
• Members of the Santa Clara County Bar
• Santa Clara University Lincoln Law School
• .with key assistance from Santa Clara County
  Superior Court
• Hon. Mary Ann Grilli
• Fariba Soroosh, Family Law Facilitator

4
DVLSR Funders

• Santa Clara County Bar Associations Family Law
  Executive Committee
• FIRST 5
• Blue Shield Foundation
• Donors to Pro Bono Project of Silicon Valley
• Blue Shields significant funding was based on
  the fact DVLSR assists both sides of the DV
  conflict

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Courts support this model

• The Judicial Councils Domestic Violence Practice
  and Procedure Task Force issued Draft Guidelines
  and Recommended Practices for Improving the
  Administration of Justice in DV Cases in January
  2007
• DVPA Orders Guideline 4, Legal Services Each
  court shouldexplore options with the bar and
  other agencies to foster increased representation
  to both parties in domestic violence restraining
  order cases.

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Benefits of DVLSR

• Family-centric orders
• Improved comprehension of court orders and the
  court process
• Reduces need for future law enforcement
  intervention
• Improved access to services
• Reduction in economic instability
• Containment of violence

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Risks and concerns

• Some Legal Services or DV agencies do not agree
  with providing an alleged abuser with an attorney
• handing the abuser another tool to
• re-victimize the victim
• Any Legal Services agency that speaks to both
  sides has to carefully avoid conflicts of
  interest
• Courts cannot appear to favor any particular
  program
• But DVLSR really needs the courts help in
  connecting litigants to our information

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The Model
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Making a Difference

• DVLSR fills an important gap in the services
  available to the families affected by domestic
  violence
• Since court orders may be long-term, DVLSR
  enhances overall care management service delivery
• Safety
• Comprehension
• Stability
• Resource referrals

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What Weve Learned

• Recruiting harder than we thought!
• Collaboration requires representation from all
  players
• RO process is very procedural court involvement
  is important
• Respondent representation presents unique
  challenges
• You can't do it all with volunteers some funding
  was crucial

11
Ideas to inspire you to provide neutral services

• Look to your local Bar, DV agencies, legal
  services providers and law schools
• Start small consider providing non-attorney
  resource specialists
• Offer Petitioner/Respondent workshops
• Order After Hearing translators using community
  volunteers or students
• Attorney for the day using limited scope
• DV Compliance review calendars using volunteer
  attorneys as pro tems