Volunteer of the Month

Volunteer Attorney • Dehoux Law, LLC

Meet Our Volunteer of the Month

We’re proud to recognize Phillip Dehoux as MVLS’s Volunteer of the Month. Through MVLS, Phillip brings legal training, curiosity, and client-centered advocacy to family law and estate planning matters that help Marylanders navigate difficult legal moments with support.

Why Phillip Volunteers With MVLS

Volunteering with MVLS provides a powerful counterbalance to my full-time role as a tech attorney. It allows me to step out of the corporate sphere and apply my legal training to help people who would otherwise navigate the system alone.

My day-to-day practice does not overlap much with the areas I have volunteered in, including family law and estate planning. However, that is part of the draw. MVLS provides the training, mentorship, and support needed to step into unfamiliar practice areas and still show up for clients effectively.

Performing in-court representation and legal triage has shown me how intimidating the legal system can be for people navigating it alone. Being able to stand beside someone, offer clarity, and advocate for them during a vulnerable moment is incredibly grounding.

It reminds me why I became an attorney in the first place.

Recent Cases Phillip Is Proud Of

One estate planning matter I completed through MVLS is a case I am proud of. It was my first time working with life estate deeds. I drafted one and gained hands-on experience recording deeds, which was a completely new process for me.

It is a good example of what MVLS makes possible: stepping into an unfamiliar area of law with real support and coming out having built a new skill.

Currently, I am also representing a client in a divorce proceeding. That matter allows me to step directly into the courtroom and expand my litigation skill set.

I am gaining valuable in-court experience, navigating the complexities of issuing and enforcing subpoenas, and working hands-on with evidentiary rules. Both cases demonstrate exactly what I value about this work: I broaden my legal expertise while bringing genuine relief and clarity to clients during difficult transitions.

Phillip’s Advice to New Volunteers

Do not hesitate to step in, even if the matters seem to fall outside your usual practice area.

As someone who focuses heavily on data protection and AI, stepping into front-line counseling for a variety of civil matters initially required shifting gears. However, the core attorney skills of problem-solving, issue spotting, and advocacy are universal.

The support that MVLS provides makes involvement incredibly accessible. The impact you can make on someone who would otherwise face the legal system without a lawyer is worth it.

If you have a full-time practice and think you do not have room for pro bono work, I would push back on that too. It is absolutely possible to hold down a demanding job and still make room for this. You have the tools to change someone’s trajectory for the better; you just have to raise your hand.

Volunteer with MVLS