Northeastern CLRN Testimonial

Northeastern Project Member Feedback

Domestic Violence (DV) Project Member Feedback

When asked what was best about being a member of the network, members stated that it has proved to be a successful vehicle for training and inspiring practitioners to engage in pro bono domestic violence work. The practitioners who had served as faculty-mentors spoke about the fact that they too learned from their involvement in the project both from each other as well as from the junior practitioners and students. This, they felt, made them better practitioners. The students spoke about the value of having the opportunity to work with experienced practitioners which enabled them to "dive right into the work" when they served as interns. The mix of theory and actual hands-on experience proved highly beneficial.

Members also spoke about the fact that participation in the project diminishes isolation of solo and small-firm practitioners, especially those who work in the domestic violence area. And, because the project provided support for practitioners new to domestic violence work, they felt it is helping them continue to work in the field, rather than merely taking on one pro bono case. Among the support that participants felt was important was: 

• having access to centralized information and mentors; 
• having time to brainstorm with practitioners who have lots of experience in family law and being able to check what they are doing with experienced practitioners;
• obtaining practical advice and support from experienced practitioners with regard to strategy, procedure and substantive issues; and 
• the connection that enabled solo and small-firm practitioners to feel that they are part of a common endeavor with others.  They enjoyed feeling connected to a community of attorneys who share the same reasons for engaging in domestic violence work - they are all dedicated to eradicating domestic violence. They found the affiliation with like-minded professionals to be motivating as well as a wonderful source for obtaining strategic and procedural advice.

One member stated: 

"[The network is a] wonderful and creative project with a lot of potential for positive social impact. I probably would have discontinued my work representing victims of domestic violence if I did not have the support of the [network] as I found it to be very difficult to financially maintain my practice by doing this work. The network has helped me by making me feel less isolated and providing me with case referrals, etc. I am a solo practitioner. The network has connected me to other practitioners doing this work, which has been a wonderful resource. While the network has helped me to keep my business alive while doing work that has a positive social impact, it is still difficult financially for me."

When asked what they would like to quoted as saying about the project, they said: 

• it is "inspirational;" 
• it "connects people who have not been connected before;" 
• it is a "super efficient way to learn because of the concentration of expertise in one place;" 
• it provides "community and continuity;" 
• it is an "effective way to teach the practical side [of domestic relations work] at the same time that students are learning substance;" and
• it enables individuals to "learn what it feels like to handle domestic violence cases" and to "learn what clients are feeling as a domestic violence victim as well as a domestic violence litigant." 

When asked to distinguish the project from memberships in bar associations and other professional organizations, participants spoke about the fact that bar associations provide "one-time, one-shot" courses whereas this project was a "different and unique experience" that actually connected practitioners on an ongoing basis, going into depth and involving high quality professionals in an inspirational manner.

Participants pointed out that even the Women's Bar Association Family Law Pro Bono Panel has been unsuccessful in establishing a sense of community among its the panel members. It was felt that the time commitment involved in participating in the seminar as well as the existence of the web site is what makes the difference. Participants also noted that the project's work is collaborative while engaging in pro bono work through a bar association is done independently. Individuals who took on pro bono work through the project were given support they would not otherwise received from the bar association. Also, unlike bar association trainings, this project provided participants with important information about the perspective of victims of domestic violence. And, practitioners involved in the project share the common mission of engaging in domestic violence work - one participant said the project is "like a mini domestic violence bar association."

Participants also pointed out how valuable the project was in other ways. It is considered unique because it starts students thinking about law practice management - something that is not available in the curricula of most law schools. One participant who is not a private practitioner noted that even though she was involved in a fellowship program and had an infrastructure, she was basically practicing alone and, therefore, found value in obtaining information about such things as software, etc.

Another participant felt that the project serves as a valuable community-organizing tool that enables programs that require the aid of pro bono domestic violence practitioners to continue to recruit such volunteers. This, he felt, will help individuals obtain pro bono service in the long run. He also noted that practitioners often take on one pro bono domestic violence case find it to be complicated and difficult, resulting in their not taking on any more such cases. But, because the project provides support for these volunteers, he feels they may be more likely to continue to do such work.

One participant noted that her involvement in the project gave her the courage to handle domestic violence cases because she had access by telephone to all the support she needed. Similarly, another participant noted that being plugged into a network of experienced professionals has enabled her to accept challenges because she knows she has a skilled group of people behind her who are willing to share advice. Another member stated: "the network was invaluable to my training, overall knowledge and support system. I got a lot out of participating."

When asked how participation in the project has helped members in their attempts to help society, they responded that it: 

• energizes them to enable them to keep doing the work;
• has made them into better lawyers both because of substantive learning and because it provided models on how better to handle cases, approach the work, and deal with the stress; 
• has enabled them to serve more people; and
• makes it possible to do pro bono and low fee work that would not otherwise be possible without the backup and support. 

Participants felt the project was creative. They felt that it was important that the project served not only to train lawyers to be lawyers, but to train them to understand domestic violence victims and their particular needs. Student members enjoyed the fact that the seminar provided them with access to "high-level shop talk" and a "real concentration of strategy and practice pointers organized thematically." Senior practitioners stated that despite the time commitment involved, they would gladly participate again because it enabled them to ask each other questions and learn from each other as well as from the junior practitioners and students as each member brought a different perspective to share. 

A junior practitioner noted that it was great as someone new to the field to be able to observe a number of senior practitioners and come to realize that there is no "right" way to practice and that you need to develop your own style and realize that all the great practitioners do it differently. One student felt that it was important to participate both I the seminar and the coop experience because it made the experience more complete and enabled her to "dive right in" to the work. Members agreed that the requirement that students have some prior domestic violence experience was important. Another student noted that participation in the project confirmed her commitment to practice in this area, thereby crystallizing her decision to remain in this field.


Northeastern Economic Development (ED) Project Member Feedback

When asked what was best about being a member of network, meeting participants mentioned: 

• "networking with other members so that you know you are not alone;" 
• "meeting and sharing experiences;" 
• "being able to bounce ideas off of other people;"
• "encouragement from other members regarding running a practice;" 
• "seeing that other people are able to run a small practice and how it is possible;" 
• "the fact that it decreases their sense of isolation;" 
• "being able to talk with other members and get a reality check by finding out what fees they charge and what they feel it is fair to charge;" 
• "having the resources that the Law School provides;" 
• access to the project's services which include research assistance and computer training, substantive training on small business representation and small business management, access to the Library, continuing legal education free of charge (which they noted would otherwise be prohibitive for a solo or small-firm practitioner), substantive area outlines and other materials provided by the student interns; and training on marketing and billing; 
  · the fact that because of the resources that the Law School is providing (powerpoint, CD-rom, etc.), when they do the outreach project they are pulling together, they can make presentations with the same quality that the large firms can produce - the resources help provide the veneer of larger firms and help the members build a professional profile; 
  · the emphasis on using technology; 
• "being able to share war stories about practice and the law business, especially the challenge of representing small businesses that do not have a budget for legal services;" and 
• some case referrals between members.

One member noted that the network's requirement that all participants use email and the Internet forced him to move faster in the technology area than he might otherwise. Members pointed out the benefit of the technology that has been subsidized by the project (including free provision of Amicus Attorney case management software, voice recognition software, and Y2-K-related software).

Another member noted that being a network participant "empowers" him to approach groups and individuals because he can say that he has resources behind him and that he is part of a group. Because of the support he receives from the network, he said, he can "dare to think" about things he would not otherwise have been able to do. Another member mentioned that networking with a group of committed individuals who have similar experiences tends to empower you. An additional member felt that it was valuable to be a part of a university committed to being a good neighbor in the community. He felt that the relationships that the University has built will bear fruit for the network.

When asked what they would like to be quoted as saying about the network, network members made the following comments:

• "It is hard to find lawyers who are committed to social justice issues…[the network] is a combination that tries to bring together lawyers committed to social justice issues while having to face the economic realities of practicing law…large law firms do pro bono cases and receive awards for doing them, when we do pro bono work, it is a real sacrifice and this group supports the sacrifice - moral support is not insignificant;" and
• "[The network] provides support for the notion that lawyers can do good and do well. It is easy to find people to support you in a quest to make money or in a quest to do all pro bono work. But, it is not easy to find someone who will support both needs. [Group members] have a shared philosophy of doing good and doing well."

The desire to and focus on creating systemic change was striking in this group. Members made the following statements:

• "Members of our group are committed to civil rights in its dynamic form and today the battle ground and the frontline for civil rights is economic development because the welfare of any community is based on its economic standing. Our group is in the forefront of that battle and it enhances our ability to wage that struggle because we receive resources that enable us to provide services to clients even though they are undercapitalized. Small businesses may be small but they have complicated issues. The nature of their problems is the same as for large businesses - tax, permitting, landlord-tenant, etc. Getting resources through the Law School can at least decrease barriers to their access to legal services in a realistic way. Many of us probably could do well in a personal injury or worker's compensation practice. Those are simpler practice areas in which to be successful because they have a ready-made market while what we do goes against the grain. But, with the commitment we have, we can realize our goals. Because of the resources we receive, we do not have to answer the call of easier markets. It is important that attorneys of color work in areas in which we do not traditionally find them, especially activities like economic development that have an enormous effect on communities. We should be part of that. Nothing disappoints me more than seeing a major economic development project in Roxbury worked on by major mainstream law firms, not law firms of color or even attorneys of color from the large firms, because these are opportunities of empowerment;" and
  
• "As a practitioner, I came to the law to try to help clients build their business but with an eye toward empowering the community as a whole. This group provides a resource to help us to explode the potential of some of these small businesses and as a result provide a resource to the community to enable it to develop critical infrastructures. This group helps us market the concept of why lawyers are important in a way that is less threatening to small businesses and helps them understand that the investment [in legal services] is a write off and helps build their business."

When asked how the network compares to other legal organizations such as bar associations and Inns of Court, members stated that it is not duplicative in any way. They noted that they do not believe there are any organizations currently in existence that have as their mission making the practical connection between doing good and making a living. Even public-interest specialty bar associations, such as the Lawyers Guild, focus on doing good without combining it with a focus on making a living. They do not perceive most lawyer groups as being community minded. 

Participants also noted that the network also has a specific emphasis on helping inner city businesses with the idea that they could potentially become employers in their community. As one member noted, they are "one group with one focus, heading in one direction." One member noted that as time goes by his membership in bar associations has been dwindling. Members also pointed out that at bar associations, there is a great deal of "posturing and politics" while in the network, members are honest and do not posture about how much they know. This, they found, makes it easy to be upfront about what you do not know and ask for help and advice when necessary. They also experience the network as more egalitarian than bar associations tend to be.

When asked how they felt participation in the network enables them to help society, members pointed out that work in the economic development area has great potential to have positive impact on communities. Members also felt it was important that, as a group, in developing their planned series of outreach to small businesses, they are taking into account the entire picture - the complexities and multiple issues that are unique to small businesses (i.e., culture, language, immigration issues, and other factual issues). 

They are developing a program tailor-made for small businesses in Boston-area communities rather than merely adapting the "standard Business 101 course." They exchange ideas based on their own experience and are more informed as to the needs of the communities they wish to serve. This, they feel, enables them to have a greater positive impact. They feel there are few others who share their goal of trying to develop small businesses from sole proprietorships to meaningful economic forces in the community, enabling a broad community impact. One member noted that his clients are better off as a result of his involvement in the network because they now have a different view of the possibilities available to them.

What asked what was important to continue as a part of the project, members felt having someone in the role of Project Director was essential for enabling the group to stay together as a cohesive group. They also valued the input of one project staff member who, because he is as an experienced practitioner, is able to share with group members his "street sense" and knowledge of practice. In addition, he makes possible better communication with community organizations, etc. It was also pointed out that the network's emphasis on technology and making it a condition of membership had a positive impact.

Other members commented as follows:

• "I have enjoyed participation in this group, good collegial spirit, and tremendous potential to have major impact in economic development in many of the neighborhood communities of Boston;"
• "I think the network has the potential to build and to provide more value to its members and the community;"
• "This has been a great first step [that] needs to be continued and expanded;"
• "[T]his is a very worthwhile endeavor;" and
• "I believe that the team working on the Economic Development Project is working constructively and concretely to help meet project goals…I am excited about the outreach initiatives and the potential to build awareness on the utility/advantages to retaining counsel to enhance economic reality."