It's Okay to Ask for Help

• Publication year: 2000
• Pages: 61
• Citation: Vol. 29 No. 10 Pg. 61

29 Colo.Law. 61 Colorado Lawyer 2000.

2000, October, Pg. 61. It's Okay to Ask for Help

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61

Vol. 29, No. 10, Pg. 61

The Colorado Lawyer
October 2000
Vol. 29, No. 10 [Page 61]

Departments
Pro Bono Success Stories
It's Okay to Ask for Help
by JoAnn Viola Salazar

For the past eight years, I have served as the Colorado Bar Association?s ("CBA") pro bono support director It?s part of my job to provide education and support to the pro bono coordinators around the state and to encourage CBA members to do pro bono work

Volunteering in the legal community makes a statement about our regard for the individuals receiving the benefit of our volunteer work. It is not only important for volunteers to assist in clothing, feeding, and sheltering those who are in need, but also to take on their legal concerns. This helps to validate these clients? intellectual and emotional needs as well, which is critically important for those who often have been invalidated in every other way

Volunteering also helps us to grow professionally. We learn by our experience interacting with clients, researching new problems, and working with the courts. I often hear statements such as, "I don?t know anything about family law," or "What if I get a case that turns into a big time commitment?" Those situations don?t usually happen, but if they do, there are resources that offer assistance in preparation and support. It?s okay to ask for help.

Getting The Help You Need

I cannot encourage CBA members to do pro bono work if I do not do it myself. I do take an occasional case. However, like many attorneys, my time is limited, so I try to take cases that can be resolved quickly. That is what I thought I did when I took a restraining order case for a client provided by Project Safeguard and the Colorado Legal Services Permanent Restraining Order Project. I had handled a few of these cases in the past. They generally involve a little client interview time, some preparation, and a short hearing in court. The clients in these programs are truly in need of representation because the balance of power in such abusive relationships can leave them unable to defend themselves against their former partners.

This particular case blew up very quickly. The defendant decided to fight the restraining order vigorously. He had subpoenaed numerous witnesses, including my client?s personal physician...