Pillowcases

Had some time to kill before clinic tonight.   The last one at this location, we lost our funding.   If anyone knows of a grant that supports pro bono work let me know.

This was a little project I had been waiting on, so I whipped it out.    Isn't the fabric great for a pillowcase.   Makes you want to take a nap right now.

My local quilt shop Prints Charming collects pillowcases for Conquerr Cancer.  The pillowcases go to brighten the day of a chronically ill child.    Most quilt shops are a drop off point for one charity or another, my local one chose this.    The pattern was really simple.   I fell in love with the fabric (and I have leftovers).   I don't think I will do pillowcases on a regular basis, but this was fun, easy and quick.   I also know I will never buy pillowcases again.   I can get the look I want on my own.

Actual Law Post

I promised my next post would be about my law practice,not my quilting.    I was a little stuck on what to do then the universe intervened.

A little background.   I practice family law in Montgomery County, Maryland.   This covers divorce, custody, child support and protective orders.   Most of my practice is divorce or custody.   I focus on providing services to low income people because you really need representation in family law cases.  So much emotion is involved you just can't think straight.   One of the very first cases I did, I represented the mom.   The dad was self-represented.  We were at the temporary access hearing (it has a formal latin name but you don't care about that).   The Master asked him what schedule he wanted for a toddler.  Dad said he wanted a week on and a week off.   This is what most people who don't know the law think the schedule should be when they are asking for joint custody.   I don't know about other places but in Montgomery County that schedule is rarely ordered because it is too much time away from the other parent, especially for a toddler.   The Master said he wouldn't recommend that schedule.   He asked Dad to suggest another schedule.  Dad was so stuck on what he wanted, that he would not.   I mean he was told that he would not get that, but he would not change because he was so emotionally involved in that schedule.   Attorneys are not emotionally invested in any schedule, alimony amount, property division, (child support is a math formula that is rarely deviated from so no big fight there usually), etc.   We just want what we see as fair to our clients.  A judge says we aren't getting that, we can regroup and come up with an alternative.  So, I fashion my practice to help those who can't otherwise afford an attorney.

This weekend while getting ready for the Lion's Golf Tourney, I took a couple of minutes to read the local bar newsletter.   Buried in the back was an announcement of a free training on Protective Orders, U Visas (victims of domestic violence) and VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) cases.   All I have to do is agree to take 2 pro bono cases in the next 12 months.   Bwahahahahaha.   Yeah, no problem there.  The training is offered at our wonderful one stop shopping for domestic violence help Family Justice Center by two terrific organizations Catholic Charities and House of Ruth.   I interned with both during law school, although I was in the policy department of Catholic Charities working on human trafficking laws.

I do know what to do with protective orders.   But a training never hurts.   And we had some changes to the law this year.  Maryland finally joined the rest of the US and lowered the standard of proof for a final order to preponderance of evidence.   This easier standard may make it easier for people who really need a final order to get one.  

As for U Visa and VAWA, I know what they are, but that is it.  Looking forward to learning more.  New skills are a good thing.  

Looking forward to the training.   Glad the universe made sure I saw the ad and that I had an opening in my schedule when it was offered.   I'll let you know how it goes.

Clinic Night 6/6/2013

Had a very long day in court today.   Longer than it was supposed to be due to an emergency motion.   I was tired out by the time I got back to the office.   But my day wasn't done.   It was Pro Bono Clinic night.

I love doing it Clinic.   It's a walk in clinic in Montgomery County.   We have several around the county every month.   This particular one is the first and second Thursday of every month at the East County Regional Service Center.   Anyone with a legal problem can walk in and get basic advice.   We don't represent the folks.   They either get referred to the Pro Bono Program or another agency.    But it's anything goes:  traffic, bankruptcy, landlord-tenant, criminal, debt collection, whatever.

I do family law.   You would think after a long day I would be too worn to muster the energy.   But honestly, it is the most energizing thing.   People come in with their problems, you help them a bit.   The whole reason most lawyers went to law school.

You get the most bizarre twist on cases.   Which is why I love family law.   Put family law and clinic together and you never what you will get.   Heck even if it old dogs up to the same old tricks, it still can be fun.   I love telling someone -- yeah that pension your spouse said you would never get, it's half yours.   Oh your spouse thinks income can be hidden to avoid child support, good luck with that one.   Then seeing the sign of relief when they realize that the court system is not how the other person said it was, makes all the tiredness disappear.

Clinic is not all excitement.   Sometimes you have to tell people "No you are not going to get joint custody of the child you haven't seen in the last 5 years."  "No joint custody does not get you out of child support."  But whatever.   I ain't here to be Little Ms. Sunshine.   My job is to educate people about how family law works in the state of Maryland.   You might not like it, but you will get the truth from me.

All in all a good night.   Which is what I am saying now because after the adrenalin rush of clinic comes the crash.