This year, Gibson Dunn, one of our pro bono partners, represented Martha, a survivor of domestic  violence, in her DVRO case. After being assigned the case and speaking with the client, the Gibson Dunn team found through their holistic legal assessment that client would benefit from additional relief that she didn’t initially request in her petition. OP had already filed a response, so they worked to get leave to amend and were able to file an amended petition prior to the hearing.

In the last year, LACLJ has begun extending our Community Advocacy (CA) services to pro bono cases to ensure that all our clients receive the benefit of supportive services. CA services delivered by our social workers allow the client an opportunity to participate more fully in their legal matter and to improve long- term outcomes beyond their legal case. In this instance, LACLJ CA, Bryant, was informed that Martha was experiencing panic attacks and required support. Bryant arranged to contact Martha at a time that was convenient for her in order to prepare emotionally for court.

Bryant spoke with Martha for over an hour in order to provide her with crisis support, de-escalate her anxiety and introduce coping strategies to reduce her crying spells triggered by fear. Bryant worked with Martha to recall her preparation with her Pro-Bono attorneys that included answering questions she could anticipate having to answer on the stand. Martha cried and shared how she did but could not get over the images in her head of the alleged crime scene.

Through Bryant’s intervention, Martha became better regulated and her insecurities around speaking in front of a crowd disappeared. He also worked with Martha to have her identify what questions and concerns she had that needed to be answered by the end of the court hearing. Part of this process included Bryant working with Martha to list questions she had for her attorneys such as, “when can I have my car back?” and “can we move back into our home?” Bryant documented all of Martha’s questions and worked with her and the pro bono attorneys to have them answered and translated for Martha so that she could then be mentally present at the hearing.

While working with Martha to prepare for court, Bryant learned that Martha had not
started therapy but was enrolled in a group where she learned new coping skills that included listening to the ocean and fidgeting with objects manually. She reported that these interventions regulated her more than deep breathing. Bryant found this information helpful during the accompaniment. He prepared a backpack with a cartoon character that Martha and her child recognized as a conversation starter and included sensory items to engage both Martha and her child – Martha utilized slime and her child’s dinosaur eraser the entire time.

At court, Martha was visibly shaken and nervous before the courtroom opened for the day. Bryant coordinated with Martha and her attorneys to allow Martha time to walk down the hallway to work through her dysregulation. Bryant was able to monitor when Martha’s case was called.

While walking, Bryant addressed concerns Martha had. Bryant explained that at times hearings can be extended without any progress being made and how this is not a reflection of Martha’s case or Martha. Martha, feeling at ease with Bryant, discussed parenting and employment interests. She shared that she was interested in construction, a business she had been exposed to through her father before he passed. She went on to reminisce on how she enjoyed opera with her father and how she now enjoys opera with her son. Bryant was able to identify and connect Martha with free or low-cost community resources to support his client’s interests.

Martha’s hearing came up for review multiple times, but the opposing party was not present and had connectivity issues. Bryant informed Martha he would be sitting in the front row modeling deep breaths and smiling at Martha throughout her hearing. He also reassured Martha and communicated to her legal team that he would not leave her side until Martha had gone home for the day. Bryant’s interventions helped relieve some of Martha’s anxiety while also allowing the legal team to strategize and focus on the hearing.

When the time came, the pro bono legal team from Gibson Dunn represented client at the hearing and were able to get all requested relief, including sole legal and physical custody, professionally monitored visits to OP and a move out order (which was only added after the amendment). Client was so thrilled and asked to take photos with her legal team.

Following the hearing, pro bono counsel specifically told our pro bono manager, Amanda, how invaluable it was to have Bryant at the hearing to help support the client so that they could focus on the legal case. They felt very at ease knowing the client was in Bryant’s good hands!