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A Note from Our Executive Director, Sara B. Tennen
Friends,
Spring is a season of growth, and at Volunteer Legal Advocates, we are experiencing just that. We are excited to welcome two new Roxana Cannon Arsht Fellows to our team: Leslie Hawes, focusing on domestic violence in Maryland, and Kaylyn Chatman, who joins our Child Advocacy Program in DC. Their expertise and dedication will help us serve even more survivors and children and, in turn, strengthen access to justice in our community. Read on to learn more about them!
We are also busy preparing for our Annual Benefit on May 7, and we would love to see you there. This fundraiser is more important than ever. Even as we expand our work to reach more survivors, we have also learned of planned cuts to both government and corporate funding. Our sponsors ensure that we can continue to provide free, high-quality legal representation to those who need it most. Please consider becoming a sponsor or buying your tickets today.
Thank you, as always, for standing with us. It’s only with volunteers and supporters like you that we can continue to protect, empower, and uplift the survivors and children who depend on us.
With gratitude,
Sara
| | Volunteer Opportunities & Updates | |
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Calling all active volunteers!
It’s time to submit your volunteer hours. Please refer to your original assignment email. If your actual hours differ significantly, please email your updated total to our team at hours@volunteerlegaladvocates.org
Recently closed a case or staffed a clinic? Please share your feedback! Your input helps us better support you and our shared clients. Share your thoughts
| | | | Admitted to the Bar Outside of DC or MD? You’re still covered! If you have active membership in another US state, you may practice in DC under the current Rules of Professional Responsibility and in MD under MD Rule 19-218. | | Use your legal skills to help survivors and children build safe, stable futures. Every Volunteer Legal Advocates pro bono lawyer receives training, resources, and 1:1 support from a Supervising Attorney throughout your case. | | Volunteer at a Legal Clinic | Provide brief legal help to survivors and families in need in community spaces or virtually. Our free weekly walk-in legal clinics are a vital first step for clients seeking safety, stability, and support. Every volunteer receives 1:1 support. | | | |
Exciting News!
Our Executive Director, Sara Tennen, has been appointed to the Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. Sara will bring frontline survivor advocacy directly into local policy and coordination efforts.
We are thrilled to continue growing our presence in Maryland and deepening our commitment to survivors.
Learn more
| | | All Volunteer Legal Advocates pro bono attorneys are paired with an experienced Supervising Attorney who co-counsels on every case to provide support and backup. | | |
Represent a Spanish-speaking Survivor in Montgomery County, MD, Custody Case
Virtual scheduling hearing: 4/20/2026 at 8:30 AM
Provide limited representation for a survivor of physical and emotional abuse in her custody case against her abuser. Parties have one child in common. Her abuser has filed for custody and is being represented by an attorney, and the survivor is concerned about the safety of the child. The survivor would benefit from a Spanish-speaking pro bono attorney or one willing to use LanguageLine.
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Serve as Guardian ad Litem for a 3-year-old
Next hearing: 6/4/2026 at 10:30 AM
Advocate for the best interests of a 3-year-old in this third-party custody modification case. Mom is 18 years old, and Dad is incarcerated. A permanent custody order awarded the paternal grandfather (PGP) and his wife joint custody with visitation for Mom. PGP was arrested in early March for drug charges and is currently in jail. Paternal step-grandmother lives in Baltimore, and mom lives in DC. Mom is represented and seeking sole custody. All other parties are pro se.
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Serve as Guardian ad Litem for two children
Next status hearing: 9/9/2026 at 12 PM; trial is set for 1/21/2027 and 1/22/2027
Advocate for the best interests of a 16-year-old and a 10-year-old in this mom v. dad custody modification case. A permanent custody order was issued in 2022, awarding the parents joint legal and physical custody. The case was reanimated after mom’s husband allegedly stabbed dad at a custody exchange. Mom is represented and lives in MD, and Dad is pro se and lives in DC.
| | Meet Our New Roxana Cannon Arsht Fellows | | Volunteer Legal Advocates is honored to host the Roxana Cannon Arsht Law Fellowship and to celebrate Judge Arsht’s groundbreaking achievements as Delaware’s fifth female lawyer and first female judge. We proudly recognize her pioneering spirit and enduring legacy through this two-year program empowering female attorneys returning to the workforce after a career break. | | |
Meet Leslie Hawes
Leslie Hawes joins Volunteer Legal Advocates as our new Maryland Roxana Cannon Arsht Fellow. Her background spans general litigation, legal writing, and more than a decade of nonprofit leadership, most recently as Executive Director of Court Watch Montgomery.
We spoke with Leslie about her career path, what drives her work, and the impact she hopes to make in this role.
Get to know Leslie
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Meet Kaylyn Chatman
Kaylyn Chatman joins Volunteer Legal Advocates’ as our new DC Roxana Cannon Arsht Fellow* on the Child Advocacy Program team. Kaylyn recently completed law school after a decade in law enforcement and holds a master’s in human services counseling.
We spoke with Kaylyn about her background in public service and what she’s looking forward to in this role.
Get to know Kaylyn
| | Upcoming Trainings & Events | | | |
DC Superior Court Pro Bono Open House
April 7 | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Moultrie Courthouse, 500 Indiana Ave NW
Join our Legal Director, Aida Vindell, for an inside look at the Domestic Violence Division, one of the Court's busiest branches and greatest unmet needs. Observe live proceedings, meet judges, and learn how to start representing petitioners seeking Civil Protection Orders. Hosted by DC Superior Court and Washington Council of Lawyers, and co-sponsored by Volunteer Legal Advocates.
| | | Kudos to our March Volunteers | | To our volunteers: we’re deeply grateful for all you do to support survivors and children. Special thanks to those listed below for closing cases or serving at legal clinics in March. | | |
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz P.C.: Mya Green
Covington & Burling LLP: Emily Pehrsson and Moriah Daugherty
Covington & Burling LLP: Florina Lam and Joanne Grossman
Department of Veterans Affairs: Marla Woodarek
Everytown Law: Sana Mesiya
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver, & Jacobson LLP: Max Demers and Morgan Kurst
Hogan Lovells LLP: Lizzie Spaeth, Nicki Ghazarian-Foye, and Cassady Cohick
Latham & Watkins LLP: Lauren McGuire
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Morrison & Foerster LLP: Emani Walks
The Bruman Group, PLLC: Blake Hite
Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP: Lisanne Crowley, Benjamin Duwve, Barbara Etkind, Sahara Shrestha
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Christopher Pascual
U.S. Department of Justice: Candice Geller
U.S. House Office of the Legislative Counsel: Allison Gilley
US House of Representatives: Brenna Culliton
Williams & Connolly LLP: Sylvia Zhou
Unaffiliated: Laura Griffen, Sharelle Love and Jill Sayenga
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Capital One: Sheena Rangroo, Katie Sint
Cooley LLP: Zhipeng Zheng
Dechert LLP: Theresa Hyatte
DLA Piper LLP: Selase Butasi, Morgan Schick
Hogan Lovells US LLP: Kristen Boone, Alessandra Carozza, Julia Diaz, Deborah Wei
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP: Rachel Saltzman
King & Spalding LLP: Janese Duley, Erin Sullivan
Latham & Watkins LLP: Vanessa Le
O’Melveny & Meyers LLP: Kimberly Sudakow
Paul Hastings LLP: Elisabeth Ryan
Parker Simon Law, LLC: Julian Moss
Perkins Coie LLP: Maggie McCallister, Caroline Mew
Raytheon: Craig Dubishar
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Reed Smith LLP: Alexa Chronister
Rubiner Strategies LLC: Laurie Rubiner
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP: Drake Carden, Laurel Fresquez
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP: Laura Muñoz, Shloke Nair
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP: Alex Reilly
U.S. Department of Defense: Sakeena Farhath
U.S. Food & Drug Administration: Theresa Kim
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP:
Amy Baldillo, Amy Gopinathan, Josh Mogil, Rhonda Schmidtlein
World Bank Group: New-Doe Kaledzi
Unaffiliated: Jenny Brody, Katie Bacharach, Hedda Garland, David Kanstoroom, Soo Min Lee, Emily Reuter, Colleen Robbins, Jay Stephens, Daphna Sher, Liz Symonds, Tracy Wirth
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From Abuse to Citizenship: Rosa's Story
When Rosa came to our walk-in clinic, she was fleeing an abusive husband who had used her marriage-conditional green card to keep her from leaving. Our pro bono attorneys secured her divorce, filed a battered spouse waiver to free her immigration status from her abuser's control, and ultimately guided her through the naturalization process when she became eligible. Today, Rosa is a U.S. citizen, no longer bound to her abuser and free to build a safe, stable future.
Read Rosa's and other powerful client stories
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