Moore & Van Allen (MVA) is proud to highlight Immigration Member Amanda Franklin for her commitment to public service and pro bono work. In this spotlight, Amanda reflects on why pro bono service is meaningful to her.
Describe the public service or pro bono work you participated in.
- I am on the Safe Alliance Board, I lead MVA's Self-Serve Center Pro Bono project, and I work on immigration related human trafficking cases for the firms HT project as well as handle pro bono immigration cases for active military service members through the AILA MAPS Pro Bono project. I have also been a volunteer reader at Devonshire Elementary for the last several years.
Why is public service or pro bono important to you?
- Pro bono work is deeply meaningful to me because it allows me to use my legal skills to help those who are most vulnerable and may not otherwise have access to justice. I believe every person deserves an advocate, and that our profession has a responsibility to give back and help strengthen our communities. Through public service, I'm able to live out my core values—lifting others up, creating opportunity, and making a tangible difference in people's lives.
Do you have a favorite moment, meaningful takeaway, or story from your experience you'd like to share?
- Early on the firm's HT work I volunteered to take a case where the survivor was seeking to be reunited with her children after being absent from their lives for many years. It felt like an impossible task and I never thought I would be able to locate the children let alone convince the father to let this mother see her children considering her circumstances. But, after lots of effort and negotiation and a bit of good luck along the way, I was able to help reunite the survivor with her children. It was incredibly moving to be a part of giving this survivor back a connection to her children. That experience has stayed with me to this day.