All posts by Raquel Bonilla
LSNV is hiring!
Check out LSNV’s job announcements at https://www.lsnv.org/about-us/careers-lsnv/
Racial Justice Initiative
Read LSNV’s Racial Justice Values Statement and connect to our Racial Justice page.
Foreclosure Rescue Scam
Marie came to LSNV because she had paid $4,200 to a foreclosure rescue scammer. She had been desperate for help because she was behind on her mortgage and needed assistance applying for a modification. The scammer mailed an advertisement that Marie responded to and a representative from the scammer came to Marie’s residence and accepted money from Marie to help her get a modification with assurances and guarantees. Marie received a couple of more contacts from the scammer but ultimately did not get a modification and it was unclear what, if anything, the scammer actually did on her behalf. The scammer was likely conducting the unauthorized practice of law and was not licensed under the Virginia Mortgage Broker Act. The scammer was collecting upfront fees for “foreclosure rescue” in violation of Virginia law. After a demand letter and a complaint to the Bureau of Financial Institutions made by the LSNV attorney, the client got a full refund of $4,200 and a statement from the scammer that they have no other clients in Virginia and will cease any and all marketing campaigns in Virginia.
VA Law Help 2 Go
The VA Law Help 2 Go is a program that will enable those who use smartphones and other mobile devices to access brief informational videos about common civil legal issues in Virginia. The program was spearheaded by LSNV in partnership with the Virginia Legal Aid Society and Blue Ridge Legal Services and funded by the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Technology Innovative Initiative Grant program. This technology initiative advances LSC’s goal of enabling users to accessportant legal information when and where it’s convenient for them.
For more information visit: http://www.valawhelp2go.org/
Announcing the Rule 6.1 Society
LSNV is proud to announce the Rule 6.1 Society, a new program to recognize and thank attorneys who perform at least 40 hours of pro bono work annually. Members of the Society receive an attractive lapel pin, a frame-able certificate of appreciation, and recognition on the LSNV website.
Rule 6.1 of the Virginia State Bar’s Rules of Professional Conduct says that “a lawyer should render at least two percent per year of the lawyer’s professional time to pro bono publico legal services.”
That 2% works out to be about 40 hours a year (Virginia Lawyer, February 2014). Our pro bono attorneys lend their expertise on issues as wide ranging as consumer advocacy, family law, housing, elder law and much more. We could not fulfill our mission to achieve equal justice and to provide hope and empowerment to thousands of Northern Virginians each year without their help.
The first year that attorneys qualify for membership in the Society, they will be Bronze members. The second year that they do they will be Silver members. Attorneys qualifying for three or more years will be Gold members. The attorneys who volunteered for 40 or more hours in 2015 are listed below. We are so grateful to them all.
If you are interested in finding out more about our pro bono program, or wish to volunteer, please contact our pro bono office.
Rule 6.1 Society Members
Bronze Members for 2016
- Amy Bradley
- Sara Dajani
- Malika Elkettani
- Muhammed Elsayed
- Carly Jehlen
- Anastasia Kranias
- Mikhail Lopez
- Gina Marine
- John Roche
- Charles Rothermel
- Ramika Stephens
- K. Leigh Taylor
Silver Members for 2016
- Stephen Fowler
- Carolyn Grimes
- Laura O’Brien
- Dan Schy
- Robert Walker
- Susan Wuchinich
To nominate yourself, or a colleague, please contact our pro bono office.