– FIU Law Clinical Program, in collaboration with the Liberty City Advocates Grant, create the Dannette Willory Access to Justice for Victims of Domestic Violence initiative –
On the morning of April 1, 2011, FIU Law student Dannette Willory was shot and killed by her longtime boyfriend; he then turned the gun on himself. That tragic moment put Willory in a class of a growing number of women who have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner. In Florida, an estimated 1.26 million women have, at some point in their life, been sexually assaulted or raped.
As a way to honor Willory, and to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking victims, the FIU Law Clinical Program – in partnership with the Liberty City Advocates – a legal services organization –created The Dannette Willory Access to Justice for Victims of Domestic Violence initiative.
The program is made possible by the Denise Moon Memorial Grant.
For victims of domestic violence, the lack of access for adequate legal services and education can have dire consequences for them and their children. Beginning July 1, 2015, two senior attorneys and one associate attorney will direct, supervise and train FIU Law students in how to work with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Victims, who may have experienced difficulty navigating the legal system, will now be able to receive access to justice, education and empowerment through free counseling, legal consultation and representation.
“This is an opportunity for FIU Law to connect with those in the community who are in a very sensitive and serious circumstance,” said Interim Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Education, Experiential Learning & Engagement Michelle D. Mason. “FIU Law students under the supervision of experienced, ethical lawyers and the Liberty City Advocates will work with clients who are referred by the State Attorney’s Office, Coordinated Victim’s Assistance Center and other domestic violence victim advocacy agencies to deliver comprehensive and holistic legal services to victims through high-caliber direct representation and educational programming.”
Attorney Carlos Gonzalez, who leads Liberty City Advocates, hopes the partnership with FIU Law will yield big things. “My goal is to create a free standing, fully functional legal clinic in the heart of Liberty City where people are able to receive direct representation and education,” he shared.
Last year, FIU Law’s Clinic Program provided more than 10,000 pro bono service hours; nearly 30,000 hours of free legal services through student placement at 65 agencies and legal entities and finally 26,700 hours of direct representation to approximately 545 clients through its six in-house clinics to the indigent South Florida community.
PHOTO CAPTION:
From left to right: Attorney Karim Batista, FIU Law students: Anthony Monico; Claudia Cobreiro; Alexis Gonzalez; Krystin Montersil, Senior Associate Dean Michelle Mason, attorney Carlos Gonzalez and FIU Law student Michael Lowe.