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BBVLP announces the 2016 Champions for Justice!
Donations from law firms and corporations are the number one funding source for the BBVLP. Without this financial support, the BBVLP would be unable to provide programming that results in local volunteer attorneys helping upwards of 2,000 low-income clients a year.
Please join the law firms listed below who are Champions for Justice because they have made three-year financial pledges that begin in 2016 to the BBVLP. To become a BBVLP Champion for Justice, please make your commitment to support the BBVLP today by clicking here.
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2016-2018 Champions for Justice
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Leadership - $35,000
Baker Donelson
D. Keith Andress
Balch & Bingham
Alan T. Rogers
Bradley Arant
J. Beaulieu Grenier
Burr Forman
W. Lee Thuston
Maynard Cooper & Gale
Mark L. Drew
| Directorship - $22,500
Carr Allison
Thomas C. Logan
Thomas L. Oliver, II
Lightfoot Franklin
Wynn M. Shuford
Sirote Permutt
Robert R. Baugh
Starnes Davis Florie
W. William Bates
| Pacesetter - $15,000
Christian & Small
Deborah A. Smith
Cory Watson
Ernest Cory
Leila H. Watson
Hare Wynn
D. Leon Ashford
Marsh Rickard Bryan
David H. Marsh
| Sponsor - $7,500
McCallum Methvin
Robert G. Methvin, Jr.
Sponsor - $5,000
Butler Snow
A. David Fawal
| Supporter - $3,000
Alabama Power
J. Houston Smith, III
Bainbridge Mims Rogers
Bruce F. Rogers
Dominick Feld & Hyde
Gregory D. Hyde
| Supporter - $3,000
Friedman Dazzio
Jeffrey E. Friedman
Jones & Hawley
Greg H. Hawley
G. Douglas Jones
Littler Mendelson
Jay D. St. Clair |
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Your pledge is essential to keep the BBVLP operating at the levels it has in previous years. The firms who have already made commitments have pledged $355,500 over three years, which is extremely generous. However, the previous three-year campaign to the BBVLP, which ends this year, resulted in a $391,100 financial commitment. What that means is without additional pledges to the Champion for Justice campaign equalling at least $35,600, the BBVLP will need to decrease its level of service. "I would like to encourage every firm in Birmingham to make a contribution to the BBVLP," said Sam Franklin, partner at Lightfoot Franklin White, and a BBVLP board member and development committee member. "As lawyers, we are committed to providing justice to all people. One of the best ways to do this is to support an organization such as the BBVLP that makes it easy for volunteer attorneys to help low-income and poor citizens overcome legal roadblocks." Anthony Joseph, shareholder at Maynard Cooper Gale and the BBVLP development committee chairman, said that firms contributing to the BBVLP have the satisfaction of knowing their funds are being put to good use. "A recent survey showed that for every $1 invested in the BBVLP, the Birmingham community receives $12.38 in benefits," Joseph said. "By supporting the BBVLP, a firm is making an incredible difference in the Birmingham community." When you make your pledge today by clicking here, your firm will be recognized at the Birmingham Bar Association annual meeting on December 11th as being a Champion for Justice. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Yarbrough, BBVLP executive director, at 205-250-5198, option 1 or at nyarbrough@vlpbirmingham.org.
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Why should you work the Domestic Relations Help Desk?
By working at a Help Desk, you will make a difference in the life of a client, such as Jane Doe (name changed as client is a domestic violence victim), who called the BBVLP yesterday to express her sincere thanks of volunteer attorneys Matt Griffin and Ashley Rhea, Maynard Cooper & Gale, as well as BBVLP staff attorney Heather Bussey.
Jane came to the Domestic Relations Help Desk earlier this month and met with Griffin, who gave her advice and told her what she needed to do to get out of a marriage with a spouse who had, in Jane's word, "controlled my every move." Jane could not afford an attorney and instead had suffered in an abusive marriage for 16 years. "But in less than a week, I had Mr. Griffin provide me excellent advice and then Heather Bussey came in and was a wonder woman with helping me and finding me an attorney, who is Ashley Rhea, and she is already helping me," Jane said. "I know that if they did all that for me, they are doing this for many more people who do not have the means to get legal help. What they have done to me has been life changing, and I just wanted to say, 'thanks.' "
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Two clients in need of help
15-0004718
Elderly widow needs help with probate
This elderly widow lost her husband in September. She needs to probate his will. Please contact Katrina Brown to help this client.
15-0003417
Please help mother defend child support modification
Mother's ex-husband is behind in child support but he has filed a petition to decrease his child support. She cannot afford to represent herself because her ex-husband is not current in child support or alimony. Please contact Heather Bussey to help this client.
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**The Help Desk will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday for the Thanksgiving Holidays. They will resume November 30th.**
Thank you to the attorneys who closed extended representation cases this week:
Robin Burrell, Najjar Denaburg
Benjamin D. Cohn, Williams Elliott & Edwards
Edward B. Strong, Strong Law Firm
Thank you to the attorneys that volunteered at a Help Desk this week:
Civil Help Desk: 29 clients on Monday and Thursday
James D. Bedsole, Bressler Amery & Ross
Joshua Daniel Jones, Bressler Amery & Ross
William Ryan Myers, Cory Watson
William Preston Martin, Bressler Amery & Ross
William F. Procsh, Jr., Procsh Law Firm
Kayla Schoen, Bressler Amery & Ross
Donald F. Winningham, III, Bressler Amery & Ross
Domestic Relations Help Desk: 33 clients on Wednesday
April Bauder, Merrell Law Firm
Amy E. Glenos
Leon Johnson
Thank you to attorneys who worked the Saturday Faith Chapel Homeless Clinic
Attorneys Ann Gathings, Monica Agee, and Alan Garner spent last Saturday morning providing legal help to more than 12 homeless clients in Linn Park who were taking part in the Faith Chapel Homeless Clinic.
Thank you to the attorneys that accepted extended representation cases this week:
D. Tara Middleton
Alan Garner
Twala Grant Wallace, Trinitas Legal Group
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
EBRIEF WILL BE OFF IN CELEBRATION OF THE HOLIDAY NEXT WEEK.
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Birmingham Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program
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