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A Note from Our Executive Director, Sara B. Tennen
Friends,
It has been a heavy and clarifying few weeks since our last newsletter.
We have been mourning Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax, dentist, mother, small business owner, and community member in Fairfax County, VA, who was murdered in her home by the husband she was in the process of divorcing. Much of the news coverage focused on Dr. Fairfax’s spouse, his career, and his legacy. But the press attention obscured what we know to be true.
75% of domestic violence homicides occur after separation. The risk of violence increases by 75% for at least two years once a survivor attempts to leave. A gun in the home raises the risk of homicide for women by 500%. More than 40% of Black women have experienced domestic violence. Over 50% of Black female homicide victims are killed by intimate partners.
Dr. Cerina Fairfax was not a statistic. Neither were Barbara Deer, Pastor Tammy McCollum, and Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen, all Black women murdered in recent weeks. But the pattern that ended their lives is one we know and must name loudly and clearly, because it continues every day. According to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, while homicides in DC have decreased overall, the share attributed to domestic violence is the highest it's been in 12 years.
These statistics underscore how essential our work is for survivors of domestic violence, which is why we are closely watching the DC FY27 budget process. Mayor Bowser’s proposed budget would devastate core components of the public safety infrastructure that DC relies on to respond to violence and maintain stability. The projected cuts would also decimate all three of our program areas, impacting thousands of survivors and vulnerable children. I hope you’ll join us in taking action at this pivotal moment. Please read on to learn how.
I look forward to seeing many of you this Thursday night as we gather for our 2026 Annual Benefit. Clearly, our work is more important than ever for the survivors and children we serve. I am deeply grateful to all of you for making it a priority and for showing up with your time, talent, and resources to care for our community.
Warmly,
Sara
| | We need your voice! Help Protect Access to Justice & Victim Services in DC’s FY27 Budget | | |
Mayor Bowser’s proposed FY27 budget cuts to Access to Justice Initiative and Victim Services funding would result in fewer shelter beds, reduced legal support, and longer waitlists, leading to more people being turned away when they need help most.
If you live or work in DC, please contact your councilmember. Our toolkit has ready-to-send emails, social posts, and graphics. Together, we can urge our leaders to restore this essential funding and keep our community safe.
| | 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. | | 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 survivor in a Custody Case in Montgomery County, MD
In person hearings: 8/6/2026, 9/3/2026 and 12/1/26-12/2/26
Take the case of a Bengali-speaking survivor of domestic violence in her custody and child support case against her abuser. The parties have a child with special medical needs in common. Her abuser has filed for custody and threatened to have the survivor deported. The survivor would benefit from a Bengali-speaking pro bono attorney or a pro bono attorney willing to use LanguageLine to assist in preparing for a custody evaluation and represent her at pendente lite and settlement status hearings and her custody trial.
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Represent BC in a Family Law Case
In-Person hearing: 5/22/2026 at 2:30 PM
Take the case of a survivor who has a pending Civil Protection Order case against her abuser, who has a criminal history and substance abuse issues, and has broken into the survivor’s home. The abuser currently has supervised visitation at the supervised visitation center and has filed for custody of their one minor child. The survivor is seeking full representation as she pursues sole custody and child support. The case is currently set for mediation.
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Represent MB in a Family Law Case
In-Person hearing 6/8/2026 at 10 AM
Take the case of a survivor with a pending Civil Protection Order case against her abuser, who has made threats to kill her. She has filed for custody of their minor child and is currently pregnant with their second child. She is seeking full representation as she pursues sole custody and child support.
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Represent KT in a Family Law Case
In-Person hearing 6/5/2026 at 10 AM
Take the case of a survivor against her abuser, with whom she has two children in common. Her abuser owned many guns when they lived together, and while he previously paid child support voluntarily, he is no longer supporting the children. The survivor is seeking full representation as she pursues full sole physical and legal custody of the children.
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Represent BB in a Civil Protection Order Case
Remote hearing 5/15/2026
Take the case of a survivor seeking full representation in a civil protection order case against her abuser. In recent incidents, the abuser physically assaulted the survivor and threatened to kill her.
| | Upcoming Trainings & Events | | |
Litigation Skills Lunch & Learn: Working with Expert Witnesses
June 10, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | In person and virtual options
Join Volunteer Legal Advocates and attorneys from Fried Frank for a lunch & learn on working with expert witnesses. Learn to prepare experts for testimony; use expert testimony persuasively and effectively; and cross-examine the other side’s experts.
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Navigating Child Sexual Abuse Lunch & Learn: Disclosures and Investigations
July 15, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Virtual
Join attorneys from Volunteer Legal Advocates’ Child Advocacy Program for a virtual lunch & learn on navigating child sexual abuse disclosures and investigations.
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Language Access Best Practices Lunch & Learn
August 12, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Virtual
Join Volunteer Legal Advocates and Ayuda for a virtual lunch & learn on working effectively with Ayuda, including scheduling, interpreter best practices, a LanguageLine demo, and how to apply these guidelines when volunteering with us.
| | Kudos to our April 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 April. | | |
American Federation of Government Employees: Caroline Trabucco
Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP: Maryanne Magnier, Duncan Weals and James Attridge
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP: Kate St. Romain, Molly Diamondstein and Shawn Lavi
Knobbe Martens: Ari Feinstein and Bailey Arenberg
Latham and Watkins LLP: Jeremiah Davis, Raven Earnest, Shannon Lydon, Anne Malinee, Christopher Turner, Annabel Steele
Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd: Mason Naverrette
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Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd: Mason Naverrette
Paul Hastings LLP: Shannon Sylvester and John Gasparini
TD Bank: Sophia Siddiqui
U.S. Department of Justice: Lily Cusack and Nereida Lopez Favella
U.S. Department of the Treasury: Nicole Keenan
U.S. International Trade Commission: Cayla DeJaco
Williams & Connolly LLP: Sylvia Zhou
Unaffiliated: Karen Marcou, Colleen Robbins, Whitney Taylor
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Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP: Amy Elliott
Baker & Hostetler LLP: Cynthia Eapen
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP: Scott Cloutier, Andrew Narod, Amy Rose
Capital One: Nisha Prabhu
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Sandra Parker
Cooley LLP: Tamara Chin Loy
DLA Piper LLP: Emily Campo, Jennifer Don, Traneke Hamrick, Corey Mirman, Jack Morgan, Katherine Sawczyn
Ericsson: Seth Bastianelli, Roxana Mondragon-Motta, Jenna Ross
Exelon: Daniel Rubin
Fenwick & West LLP: Nikki Seichepine, Hamdi Soysal
Goodspeed Merrill: Luca Jobbagy
Hogan Lovells US LLP: Natalie Lake, Ali Morris, Erica Shuler
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP: Andrew Pecoraro
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King & Spalding LLP: Sabahat Chaudhary , Janese Duley
Latham & Watkins LLP: Vanessa Le, De Vann Sago
Perkins Coie LLP: Maggie McAllister
Pfizer: Anna Chau
Reed Smith LLP: Alexa Chronister
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP: Laura Munoz, Shloke Nair
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP: Alex Reilly
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP: Miranda Alexander, Minji Doh, Ruth Gitau, Shelley Grostefon, Alexandra Murray, Colette Torunyan, Mili Yoon
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP: Josh Mogil
US Bank: Holly Coppens. Kennedy Tatum
Unaffiliated: Katie Bacharach, Jenny Brody, Deniz Ergener, Hedda Garland, Soo Min Lee, Jon Pifer, Colleen Robbins, Jocelyn Samuels, Daphna Sher, Jay Stephens
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A Brighter Future: Lauryn's Story
When her parents' conflict left Lauryn struggling in school and emotionally unregulated, your support and our Guardian ad Litem team ensured she received legal advocacy.
Today, after years of support, Lauryn is reading at grade level, thriving, and living a happy, stable life.
Read Lauryn's and other powerful client stories
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