10th Anniversary Celebration for the Family Protection and Legal Assistance Clinic

Last night, I attended a very special gathering to honor the Family Protection and Legal Assistance Clinic at UC Davis School of Law.  The goal of the event was to celebrate the clinic's 10 th Anniversary and acknowledge a special gift from the Verizon Foundation. 

The event was well-attended by faculty, alumni, donors, and friends of King Hall.  It was held in Downtown Sacramento inside a beautiful space provided by the California Dental Association.

The keynote speaker, State Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg '84, spoke about the importance of public service and the critical role played by our legal clinics.

Senator Steinberg

Assembly Member Mariko Yamada presented a resolution to the clinic.

Group with resolution
Resolution

Clinic client Theresa G. spoke from the heart, recounting how the students and attorneys helped to keep her children safe, securing a restraining order and protecting them from their abuser.  She was joined by Raquel Silva '05, who worked at the clinic

This is the second time Verizon has presented the Family Protection and Legal Assistance Clinic with a grant.  In 2008, the clinic received a $35,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic branch of Verizon Communications.  A new grant for $60,000 will go toward operating expenses and allow the clinic to investigate uses of technology to aid more victims of domestic violence.  I extended special thanks to King Hall graduate and Verizon vice president for legal and external affairs Steve Zipperstein '83, who wanted to join us but had to work in New York; and Verizon vice president for strategic programs, Elva Lima.  Verizon is a corporate leader in the issue of domestic violence prevention and now one of the Family Protection Clinic's biggest financial supporters.  Thank you, Verizon Foundation!

The Family Protection and Legal Assistance Clinic was established by Professor Martha West in 1999.  It got its start with "seed money" grants from the U.S. Department of Justice under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  Now, in its tenth successful year, the clinic is the only resource providing free family law representation to low-income victims of domestic violence in Yolo County, where more than 18 percent of the population lives below the federal poverty level.

Stay tuned for a news story and more photos on the King Hall website!