2015 Annual Report - Legal Services of Northern Virginia

Legal Services of Northern Virginia
2015 Annual Report
35 Years of Access to Justice
“LSNV appears to be a highly motivated legal services program.
It has established strong ties with court systems in the service
area, the private bar, community organizations, other legal
services providers, and statewide partners. As a result, the
program is a highly respected law firm in Northern Virginia
and throughout the state.” – Legal Services Corporation
Letter from Jim Ferguson
We are proud to share the FY 2015 Annual Report of Legal Services of
Northern Virginia (LSNV) with you, our invaluable supporters. Since our
beginning 35 years ago, LSNV’s staff and pro bono volunteers have helped
people throughout Northern Virginia who had nowhere else to turn. Since
1980, we have handled an incredible 145,000 cases! The LSNV team is
amazingly productive and efficient. During the past year, our staff of 32
attorneys, 22 paralegals and administrative professionals, assisted by
several hundred volunteers, handled more than 5,700 cases that directly
helped almost 14,000 people.
As those numbers make clear, LSNV justifies your investment and the faith
you put in us. Last fall, LSNV had a periodic review by the Legal Services
Corporation (LSC), a major funder. LSC’s report concluded that LSNV “is a
highly respected law firm in Northern Virginia and throughout the state.”
Just as important, however, is how our clients feel about us. The 73 most
recent responses that LSNV received to Client Satisfaction Surveys were
overwhelmingly positive. Sixty-nine of those 73 clients rated our services
as “Excellent” overall, and the four other clients all rated our services as
“Good.” All 73 clients indicated that they would use our services again if
the need arose and that they would refer others to LSNV.
Of course, our work would not be possible without your generous support.
Thanks to financial and in-kind support from the community, as well as a
strong commitment to be good stewards, we have the resources to fund our
programs and reserves to help us continue our operations in an emergency.
More importantly, we have the vision and determination to do even more
in the future to provide legal assistance to Northern Virginians who need
it, and we look forward to sharing our plans with you. We invite you to
find out more about our work in the pages of this report, on Twitter and
Facebook, and on our website www.lsnv.org. We are grateful for all that you
do to make our work possible.
Sincerely,
James A. Ferguson
Executive Director
Jim Ferguson
Civil Legal Aid &
the Work of LSNV
LSNV is the law firm for clients who cannot afford a lawyer. Our staff
and volunteers strive every day to make the justice system work.
Family Law
Consumer Advocacy
Housing
Elder Law
The Family Law Unit handles various domestic
relations issues including child custody, visitation,
support, and divorce. The unit’s highest priority is
representing survivors of domestic violence.
LSNV’s Housing Law Unit helps clients who are in
danger of losing their home through foreclosure or
eviction.
Public Benefits
LSNV’s Public Benefits Unit assists clients, many of
whom suffer from a physical or mental impairment
in obtaining and keeping critical public benefits such
as TANF, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and Social Security
Disability. We offer support for Veterans, people living
with HIV/AIDS, and others.
The Consumer Law Unit represents individuals in cases
targeted at protecting the client’s limited income and
property. We also assist clients with bankruptcy and
income tax disputes.
LSNV’s Elder Advocates provide specialized services for
persons over sixty, including medicare, nursing home
disputes, wills, advanced medical directives, powers of
attorney and guardianships.
The Law Center for Children
The Law Center for Children (TLC) specializes in the
unmet legal needs of children. TLC has a special focus
on representing children in need of special education
services.
Employment Law
LSNV assists with unemployment compensation claims
and other matters.
Client Spotlight
Meghan Zimman, Managing Attorney
for LSNV’s Fairfax Office, shared how
she was able to help a client avoid
foreclosure, a process that took almost
two years.
“The client came to LSNV in 2013 for
assistance with her mortgage. She had
fallen behind on her payments due to
a disability and an increase in her cost
of living. LSNV helped her to apply
for a modification of her mortgage
that she had already been denied. We
worked tirelessly to obtain an approval
on a modification. Finally, after almost
two years of work, we received final
modification papers. Through the FHA
Home Affordable Modification Program
(FHA-HAMP), our client’s interest rate
and term were modified to bring her
current and make her payments more
affordable. Her new payment is $460
less than her previous payment. The
client is very happy to avoid foreclosure
on her home and will be able to
maintain the new payments without a
problem.”
During the past year, our 32 staff attorneys,
and 22 paralegals and administrative
professionals, assisted by hundreds of pro
bono volunteers, closed 5,750 cases that
directly benefited 13,928 people.
Cases
by type
104
2672
313
61
368
60
903
1121
Family
Individual Rights
Employment
Consumer
Income Management
Health
148
Education
Housing
Miscellaneous
Pro Bono
“In my job, I do deals worth millions of dollars each, but the most
important and meaningful work I have done as a lawyer was the
pro bono work for my LSNV clients.” – Pro Bono Volunteer
385 pro bono attorneys accepted
698 cases in FY 2015
LSNV extends its reach through the use of volunteer lawyers. In the
last year alone, almost 400 attorneys took at least one pro bono case.
In all, pro bono attorneys donated time worth $463,000 in FY15
(July 2014-June 2015).
Jim Ferguson with Susan A. Wuchinich, a 2015 pro bono
honoree, and Judge Daniel Ortiz
The free legal services provided by our pro bono volunteers cover a
variety of substantive civil legal areas such as consumer advocacy
(including bankruptcy and debtors rights), employment law, family
law (including domestic violence cases), wills and more. Through our
innovative Attorney of the Day program, LSNV ensures that victims
and survivors of domestic violence and their families have the legal
representation they desperately need in court to ensure their safety.
Our pro bono partners allowed LSNV to accept 698 cases last fiscal
year that we could not have done otherwise.
Pro bono attorneys donated
time worth $463,000 in FY15
Technology Innovations
“Thank you to all the people who donate to this amazing
organization.” – LSNV Client
LSNV is a leader in the use of technology to enhance legal aid work.
This past year, LSNV launched a new, more user-friendly website, which
is ADA-compliant, and grew our social media presence, particularly on
Facebook and Twitter. The website features an online application that
is user-friendly and gives people the ability to apply for legal services
anytime, anywhere.
LSNV was the first legal aid organization in the country to have an
automated Appointment Reminder System. The ARS, linked to our case
management system, sends out automated text and voice reminders of
office appointments and court hearings. The goal is to reduce the number
of client no-shows and increase efficiencies in the intake and client
service delivery process. Since the project went live in October 2014, we
have reduced no-shows by 45%.
LSNV is currently working with several other legal aid programs in the
state to create the VA Legal Aid Help 2 Go project. We are developing
a mobile-friendly platform that will provide legal information in video
format to the public. This project will allow users to select legal content
via SMS text messaging and view brief, informational videos (in English
or Spanish) that will be optimized for viewing on a mobile device.
The videos will provide information about common topics in family,
consumer, and housing law. After watching the video, a link will redirect
the user to the Virginia statewide legal aid website and provide the
contact information for the appropriate local legal aid provider.
LSNV is grateful to the Legal Services Corporation whose
Technology Initiative Grants (TIG) made much of this
work possible.
FY15 Financials*
89 cents of every dollar spent is used to provide legal
assistance for our clients.
Support & Revenue
Federal grants
State & local grants
Other support
Interest income
Contributions
In-kind support
Other income
$2,077,560
$2,346,655
$193,167
$1,968
$174,284
$582,794
$200
Total Support and Revenue
Total Revenue less in-kind support
$5,376,628
$4,793,834
Income
14%
3%
44%
In-kind & Other Support
Contributions & Other
39%
State & Local Grants
Federal Grants
Expenses
Program Expenses
Legal assistance
$4,796,793
Supporting services
Management and general
Fundraising
$519,301
$77,709
Total Expenses
$5,393,803
$4,811,009
Expenses
89%
$(17,175)
$1,702,764
$1,685,589
Legal Assistance
Fundraising
Management & General
1%
10%
*Year ended June 30, 2015. Detailed audited financials for FY15 are available on-line at www.lsnv.org and upon request.
FY15 Grants & Contributions*
$1,000,000 and up
Legal Services Corporation
Legal Services Corporation of VA
$100,000-999,999
City of Alexandria
Arlington County
CHEP Grant (ACA)
Fairfax County
HealthCare Navigator Grant
Prince William County
Ryan White/NVRC
$25,000-$99,999
McGuireWoods LLP
Meyer Foundation
Alexandria Title III
DOJ Domestic Violence Grant
Fairfax Mental Health
Fairfax Title III
GMU/DV Fellowship
In-Person Assistor Grant (ACA)
Loudoun County
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
Safe Haven (Fairfax County)
$10,000-$24,999
Arlington Title III
Cafritz Foundation
Exxon Mobil
Fairfax City
Carolyn Grimes
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Hunton & Williams
LSC TIG Grant
City of Manassas
Morrison & Foerster Foundation
United Way
Venable Foundation
$2,500-$9,999
Arlington Cty Bar Fdn
Anonymous
Blankingship & Keith
Mark Colley
Crowell & Moring Fdn
Dimuro Ginsberg
Dingman, Labowitz
DLA Piper LLP
City of Falls Church
Cheryl Gaertner
Aaron Goldsmith
Hewlett Packard
Hilton Worldwide
Lieblich & Grimes
Loudoun Title III
Prince William Title III
Luise Welby
Womble Carlyle
Zelnick & Erickson
$1,000-$2,499
Alexandria Bar Foundation
Arlington Community Fdn
Bean, Kinney & Korman
Boeing
Andrea Bridgeman
Peter Broida
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
Colten Cummins Watson & Vincent
Corporate Counsel Association
Finnegan
Kevin Greenslade
Miles & Stockbridge Foundation
Williams Ford
$250-$999
Albo & Oblon
Anonymous (2)
Daniel Borinsky
Thomas Connally
Curcio Law
Anna Dvorchik
James Fullerton
Jeanne Franklin
Greehan Taves Pandak
Kenneth Labowitz
Peter Leibold & Elizabeth McCloskey
Timothy Lyden
Peter & Louise McCloskey
Nichols Zauzig Sandler
Sharon Pandak
Rich Rosenthal Brincefield Manitta
Kenneth Stoller
ShounBach
Stephens Boatwright Cooper
Harry Thomas
Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian
Carole Woodward
$249 & Under
Jesena Alonso
Arthur Amchan
Alan Anderson
Walter Baumann
Larry Becker
Wayne Berthelsen
James Brincefield
Patricia Broida
Christopher Brown
William C. Burris
Carluzzo Rochkind & Smith
Compton & Duling
Causetown
Construction Risk Counsel
Curran & Whittington
Robert Dickerson
Robert Dunn
John Frey
Anne Fowler
Victor Glasberg
Andrew Goodman
Robert Gregory
Robert Hall
Michael Hatzimichalis
Mildred Hollins
Carla Holt
IBM
Samuel Jackson
Marline Khalil
Susan Lane
Steve Luxford
The McCammon Group
M S McHugh
Alison Medina
Susan Nolan
Mark O’Hara
Jack Owen
Vilma Paek
Thomas Palmer
Jane Lemley Rasmussen
Rowan Associates
B Pittman
Craig Reilly
Michael Rosas
Barry Schneiderman
Dan Schy
James Scruggs
Arthur Shipe
Chloris Simpson
Scott Tanner
Todd Tabor
Ellen Thomas
Kay Tibbits
John Tolleris
Jeffrey Tureck
West Lake Legal Group
Joseph Wholey
Robert Wooldridge
Zavos Juncker Law Group
Thank You
*July 2014-June 2015
We thank the members of the LSNV Campaign for Equal Justice who give
generously of their time, talent and treasure to help LSNV reach its goals.
Andrea L. Bridgeman, Esq., Freddie Mac
Thomas J. Curcio, Esq., Curcio Law
Bernard J. DiMuro, Esq., DiMuroGinsberg, PC
M. Melissa Glassman, Esq., McGuireWoods LLP
Michael W. Graff, Jr., Esq., McGuireWoods LLP
Jeffrey S. Poretz, Esq., Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
Robert J. Stoney, Esq., Blankingship & Keith, PC
Barbara S. Williams, Esq., Williams Ford
LSNV Board & Staff
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kenneth E. Labowitz, Esq.
President
Mitka Baker Esq.
Treasurer
Robert J. Zelnick, Esq.
Secretary
Kelly O’Connor, Esq.
President-Elect
Timothy J. Lyden, Esq.
Immediate Past President
Ayaan S. Ali
Carolyn M Grimes, Esq.
Creola Pierce
Donald S. Culkin, Esq.
Douglas Steinberg, Esq.
Jason Tri Tran
Jimena Antelo
Laura Stover Danysh, Esq
Luise Welby, Esq.
Michael Graff, Esq.
Michael A. Rosas, Esq.
Michelle Hawkins
Peang Gafour
Roger Perez
Ronald McCormack, Esq.
Ryan M. Bates, Esq.
Scott C. Tanner
Steven G. Forsyth, Esq.
T. Michelle Bowman
Todd Tabor, Esq.
STAFF
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
James Ferguson
Executive Director
Roger Eddy
Program Administrator
Raquel Bonilla
Kathy Washington
Jennifer Fulmer
Venus Singletary
Buz Brinig
Accountant
Program Receptionist/Intake
ALEXANDRIA OFFICE
Janelle Holt
Managing Attorney
Dipti Pidikiti-Smith
Chair Housing/Consumer Law
Bonnie Carlson
Staff Attorney
Patricia Bennett
Office Manager/Senior Intake Paralegal
Susan Nolan
Senior Staff Attorney
Flor Salvador
Staff Attorney
Julianna Bae
Staff Attorney
Lauren Gedge
Staff Attorney
Evelyn Mitchell
Staff Attorney/Safe Havens
Gwen Bennett
Senior Staff Attorney
Charmaine Calvin
Office Manager/Intake Paralegal
Sherri Armstrong
Intake Paralegal
Tanya Stephens
ACA Education Specialist
Melissa Walker
ACA Navigator
Donna Stanton
ACA Application Specialist
ARLINGTON OFFICE
Meredith MacKay
Carly Anderson
LOUDOUN OFFICE
Megan Belden
Managing Attorney
Meghan Goldenberg
Managing Attorney Advice Line
Kelly Reimers
Managing Attorney for Intake
Tim Beason
Staff Attorney
Ximena Gillies
Intake Paralegal
Catherine Burke
Staff Attorney
Alejandra Zagal
Office Manager/Intake Paralegal
Jacqueline Pujol
ACA Education Specialist
Staff Attorney/LITC
Equal Justice Works Americorps
Veteran Fellow
Bennett Downey
Dunn-Chadwick Family Law Fellow
Chair Elder Law
Lamya Moosa
Lewis Gelobter
William & Mary Fellow
Managing Attorney, Public Benefits Chair
Seon Moe
Mary Rothenberg
Intake Paralegal
Eric Moe
Pro Bono Assistant LAP Coordinator
Claudia Artiga
Pro Bono Paralegal
Diana Olazabal
Intake Paralegal
Adrienne Bradley
Intake Paralegal
Anthony Peña
FAIRFAX OFFICE
Susan Stoney
Meghan Zimman
Renier Jessel
Deputy Director
Managing Attorney
Nora Mahoney
Chair, Employment Law
Chair Family Law
Ronald Minionis
Senior Staff Attorney
Managing Attorney
Cristina Macioch
Intake Paralegal
Ann Brookover
Information Technology Manager
Thomas Velarde
Managing Attorney
ACA Navigator
Peyton Whiteley
Kwame Pobee
Staff Attorney
FREDERICKSBURG OFFICE
Katerina Aguirre
Nancy Ryan
Director of Grants Management & Special
Projects
Director of Development
Managing Attorney for Pro Bono
Lilian Palacios
Office Manager/Intake Paralegal
Intake Paralegal
THE LAW CENTER FOR CHILDREN
Jeannette McAndrew
Managing Attorney
Nancy Tubbs
Coordinator, Education Law Project
Office Manager/Intake Paralegal
PRINCE WILLIAM OFFICE
Gilberto Sanchez
Managing Attorney
Tara Persson
Staff Attorney
Linda D’jassebi
Staff Attorney
Caroline Klosko
Staff Attorney
Hilda Leva Samniego
Paralegal
Evelyn Donahue
Office Manager/Intake Paralegal
ROUTE ONE OFFICE
Sandra Berrios
Intake Paralegal
Iris Cedeno-Sanchez
ACA Application Specialist
“I can’t thank the attorney enough for sticking with my case over
more than a year and following up. He is truly dedicated to his
profession and brings dignity and respect to the legal profession
and his clients. Thank you—when no one else cared!.” – LSNV Client
Helping our neighbors across Northern
Virginia since 1980
Phone: 703.778.6800
Website: www.lsnv.org
Facebook: legalservicesnova
Twitter: @law_lsnv
Main Office
4080 Chain Bridge Road, First Floor
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Fredericksburg Office
500 Lafayette Blvd, Suite 140
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Alexandria Office
121 N. Washington St., Suite 300A
Alexandria, VA 22314
Loudoun Office
8A South Street, SW
Leesburg, VA 20175
Arlington Office
3401 Columbia Pike, Suite 301
Arlington, VA 22204.
Prince William Office
9240 Center Street
Manassas, VA 20110
Fairfax Office
4080 Chain Bridge Road,Second Floor
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Route 1 Office
8305 Richmond Highway, Suite 17B
Alexandria, VA 22309