Why do you choose to volunteer with MVLS?  
I began volunteering with MVLS as a second year law student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. I came up on this organization as I was looking for ways to volunteer. I was raised to give back to my community. Growing up in Jamaica, I volunteered with The Red Cross, Church, Schools, and wherever else my grandmother did her volunteer work. Continuing into adulthood in New York, I worked for The Carter Burden Center for the Aging, which also had a volunteer component. It is amazing how much you can learn by speaking with people. It not only helps them, it helps me to grow as a person, to be compassionate, understanding and forgiving. My first year of law school in Michigan, I worked with Habitat for Humanity and the Lansing Landlord and Tenant Housing Project. Again, so many people, so many stories, none the same and so much to learn. So it was automatic that when I moved to Baltimore, I find an organization that would help me carry on the legacy of volunteering. This time, I specifically looked for opportunities within the field of law and found MVLS. I have not looked back since. My first case was an elderly gentleman seeking a divorce after over 50 years of separation. He was ready to move on with his life at the young age of 80 something and make his girlfriend his new wife. The stories he told as we worked thru his case, made me realize you are never too old. Since then, I have been volunteering with MVLS.

Are there any recent cases that you’re proud of? Tell us more about what happened, or about what you learned.   
Worked on a bankruptcy case for a client who lost everything in a short period of time. Her job, a child and housing. Her other family members, who depended on her when she “had it all” now had nothing to offer in terms of support. When I met her, she hesitated to look me in the eye or speak much with me. She would take buses to get to my office because she needed the help and I was the first after being on the wait list for a period of time. She just looked like she had no hope and expected to get none. Upon our second meeting, I gave her the lay of the land. That we both needed to be on the same page as far as communicating, that this was not her fault, and that life happens. We just have to figure out how to get above it and move forward. In our third or fourth conversation, she finally opened up about the pain she has both physically and emotionally. However, she had no regrets about how she raised her children and grandchildren. Only sadness from the loss of her son and disappointment from the lack of support from those living. At the end of getting her debts discharged and receiving a card from our office that we were thinking of her, she came in and gave me the biggest hug. She was so thankful and grateful for having one less thing to stress about. And I was thankful and grateful that I could help. Every little thing we do as volunteers leaves an impression on each client, whether good or bad. I want to continue to make it good, and so I am motivated to continue doing more. 

What would you say to others who are considering volunteering with or supporting MVLS?
I would say definitely take a case, learn as you go, do not be afraid to ask questions of your colleagues or directly from the government entities you are filing with. I have found them very knowledgeable and sometimes we both learn something that we didn’t learn in law school. If you have a specific practice area, take a case or 2 and get yourself acquainted with the clients and with how MVLS works. If it’s in an area of law where you want to learn, take one case and add a mentor to guide you thru. I have mentored other attorneys, within and outside of MVLS, to get them started and that in of itself is very rewarding as my goal is to build the volunteer pool so MVLS can help more clients. If you cannot take a case, consider volunteering your time at one of the Pro Bono Clinics for a few hours. Every little bit of your time, helps in more ways than you could ever imagine.