Wildman Harrold Partners with Family Rescue Against Domestic Violence
Pro bono program helps victims of abuse navigate court system
Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP has announced a pro bono partnership with Family Rescue, an organization providing comprehensive support services and shelter to victims of domestic violence in the Chicago community. As its law firm partner, Wildman Harrold assists Family Rescue in its Court Advocacy Program, helping victims of domestic violence to obtain orders of protection against their abusers through the court system.
“This program is filling a critical and growing need by victims of domestic abuse in the Chicago community,” said Jonathan Goodman, a partner with Wildman Harrold who forged the relationship with Family Rescue in late 2008. “Our clients are mostly women who, often along with their children, have been traumatically impacted by abusive relationships, and who have no means to seek court remedies they need to reestablish a foundation of safety for their families. It’s been a very rewarding program that has captured the awareness, compassion and dedication of our attorneys and expanded our pro bono commitment in a matter of months, and we look forward to continuing to grow our valuable relationship with Family Rescue over the coming months and years.”
Wildman Harrold works with Family Rescue to meet with clients, preparing them for and representing them in their court appearances in connection with emergency and plenary orders of protection in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Domestic Relations Division. Since the launch of the partnership in November 2008, over fifteen participating lawyers have obtained dozens of orders for Family Rescue clients, logging nearly 300 dedicated pro bono hours.
“The current economic conditions have made it more difficult than ever for victims of abuse to afford services for legal representation, and Wildman Harrold’s partnership in our Court Advocacy Program came at a critical time to answer this increased need,” said Linda Sanford, Program Director of Court Advocacy at Family Rescue. “Domestic violence victims experience renewed confidence and empowerment when they meet with a professional lawyer who listens to them, and appears by their side to represent them in front of the judge,” she said. “The Wildman attorneys are able to dexterously articulate the urgency for protection orders, in some cases despite the abuser’s most calculating efforts in opposition.”
Family Rescue was founded in 1981 to address the unanswered needs of battered woman trying to escape from abusive relationships. The Court Advocacy Program (CAP), one of five support services for victims of domestic violence offered by Family Rescue, spends a great deal of time helping victims utilize the legal and criminal justice systems, servicing over 1,000 victims a year. Prior to the partnership with Wildman Harrold, Family Rescue would refer clients in need of legal services to local legal aid bureaus, where they were frequently conflicted out from representation, as their abusers had already contacted the agency for assistance.
About Wildman Harrold
Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP is a 200-lawyer business law firm representing Fortune 500 companies and private businesses in Litigation, Business Transactions and Intellectual Property. The national Litigation practice is recognized as one of the best in the country and was selected by Corporate Counsel magazine as a “Go-To” Law Firm. The Transactions Department provides legal counsel on all corporate matters with a highly specialized practice for private equity funds. The Intellectual Property practice addresses the full-range of IP issues, including a premier team of Privacy and Data Security attorneys.