Despite this trauma, Diana was a straight A student in high school and, after graduating, moved to attend a prestigious university. Tragically, the threats and abuse from her grandfather did not stop and even escalated to include harming the people Diana loved.
Diana eventually summoned the strength to file a restraining order, and with the help of the Victim Rights Law Center (VRLC), which provides legal assistance to sexual assault survivors, secured a one-year order against her grandfather. As the order was due to expire, Diana was connected with Mintz, and a team of attorneys and a project analyst prepared a detailed supplemental affidavit for the court advocating for a permanent restraining order.
The vast majority of survivors do not have an attorney to represent them, and when litigants show up alone, many are completely intimidated by the judicial system. If they’re going up against a lawyer who understands the process, they’re immediately at a disadvantage. Our work is very important to even that playing field.
Associate
Daniel j. Goodrich
Ensuring a Safe Haven for a Sexual Assault Survivor
Pro Bono Team
Camille C. Herring
Former Senior Project Analyst
Janki H. Viroja
Associate
Daniel J. Goodrich
Associate
Katharine K. Foote
Associate
The Mintz team also carefully counseled Diana, preparing her to testify in court against her grandfather. At the hearing, after being subjected to a nearly hour-long cross-examination and vigorous defense delivered by her grandfather’s prestigious attorney, the judge granted a rare permanent restraining order.
Now protected by the permanent order providing her safety, Diana is studying for a master’s degree in social work to help others in crisis.
mintz
pro bono portfolio
//
2023
learn more about this Important work
Volunteer Spotlight
View the 2022
Pro Bono Portfolio
© 2024 Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo. P.C.
Collaborating to Improve
Lives and Communities
Pro bono service is at the heart of Mintz's culture and identity. Together, we provide individuals with life-changing assistance and support the nonprofit organizations that care for our communities.
Learn More
Beginning at age five, “Diana” endured daily physical, sexual, and mental abuse while in the custody of her grandparents. Throughout her childhood, Diana’s grandfather sexually assaulted her, sold explicit photos of her, and eventually began trafficking her.
Victim Rights Law Center (VRLC)
© 2024 Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
View the 2022
Pro Bono Portfolio
Collaborating to Improve Lives and Communities
Pro bono service is at the heart of Mintz's culture and identity. Together, we provide individuals with life-changing assistance and support the nonprofit organizations that care for our communities.
Learn More
mintz
pro bono portfolio
//
2023
Ensuring a Safe Haven for a
Sexual Assault Survivor
For the past 15 years, the Association of Corporate Council’s Northeast Chapter (ACC-NE), in partnership with Mintz, Corporate Pro Bono (a project of the Pro Bono Institute), and Lawyers Clearinghouse, have hosted Clinic in a Box®, a half-day pro bono clinic providing legal advice to Boston area nonprofit organizations. This annual event provides a meaningful opportunity for in-house legal department volunteers to give back to their communities, as well as expand their portfolios of pro bono work.
This past year, 35 in-house attorney volunteers donated their time to the event and 12 local nonprofits attended. During the first half of the day, Mintz attorneys Geri Haight and Emma Follansbee, along with attorneys from the Lawyers Clearinghouse, trained volunteers on the topics of nonprofit bylaws and COVID-19 employer guidance. Armed with this knowledge, volunteers were then paired with attending nonprofits to consult with them on their individual needs. At the conclusion of the event, the nonprofit clients left with valuable legal guidance and resources.
To date, more than 300 in-house lawyers have participated in this annual clinic, a highlight of the firm’s pro bono work each year.
Victim Rights Law
Center (VRLC)
learn more about this Important work
“A lot of the attacks on Asians have been on women or the elderly. It just breaks my heart to think about how the people harmed could have been my grandparents, aunts, or uncles. Being able to give back in a way that I can make someone comfortable speaking a language that’s their first language is so rewarding.”
Associate
Amanda
Mei
Volunteer Spotlight
Pro Bono Team
Katharine K. Foote
Associate
Daniel J. Goodrich
Associate
janki h. viroja
Associate
camille c. herring
Former Senior Project Analyst
Beginning at age five, “Diana” endured daily physical, sexual, and mental abuse while in the custody of her grandparents. Throughout her childhood, Diana’s grandfather sexually assaulted her, sold explicit photos of her, and eventually began trafficking her.
Despite this trauma, Diana was a straight A student in high school and, after graduating, moved to attend a prestigious university. Tragically, the threats and abuse from her grandfather did not stop and even escalated to include harming the people Diana loved.
Diana eventually summoned the strength to file a restraining order, and with the help of the Victim Rights Law Center (VRLC), which provides legal assistance to sexual assault survivors, secured a one-year order against her grandfather. As the order was due to expire, Diana was connected with Mintz, and a team of attorneys and project analysts prepared a detailed supplemental affidavit for the court advocating for a permanent restraining order.
The Mintz team also carefully counseled Diana, preparing her to testify in court against her grandfather. At the hearing, after being subjected to a nearly hour-long cross-examination and vigorous defense delivered by her grandfather’s prestigious attorney, the judge granted a rare permanent restraining order.
Now protected by the permanent order providing her safety, Diana is studying for a master’s degree in social work to help others in crisis.