Moore & Van Allen (MVA) is proud to highlight Litigation Associate Emily Kocher for her commitment to public service and pro bono work. In this spotlight, Emily reflects on why pro bono service is meaningful to her.
Describe the public service or pro bono work you participate in:
- I am active in the Domestic and Sexual Violence Pro Bono Project, which partners with Safe Alliance. Through that partnership, I have been able to represent clients in need of Domestic Violence Protective Orders. So far, I have been successful in obtaining protective orders in all three of the cases I have worked on.
Why is public service or pro bono important to you?
- By providing access to legal representation and the protections of our legal system to those most vulnerable in our community, Pro Bono legal services have an immediate, beneficial impact. Using my legal skills to deliver such a direct and meaningful benefit is incredibly rewarding and a vital way to serve the community.
Meaningful Takeaway
- A particularly meaningful moment came while working with two colleagues to secure a Domestic Violence Protective Order ("DVPO") for a client. As my teammates negotiated with the defendants, I sat with our client who was carrying a lot of guilt for pursuing a DVPO against her partner of many years. This led to a meaningful conversation about how people are not all black and white. We discussed how her partner's positive traits did not erase that fact that she had been hurt in this situation and that she shouldn't feel guilty for taking steps to protect herself. After this conversation, my client felt much more confident in her decision to proceed. This was a deeply human moment and a powerful reminder that navigating these types of cases means addressing not only legal issues but also the complicated emotions involved.