Winter 2011-2012
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VLSP’s 30th Anniversary Celebration Brought Volunteers and Supporters Together
Thirty years ago, the Voluntary Legal Services Program of Northern California was founded to provide free civil legal services to the low income residents of the Sacramento region. From one part-time staff member in 1981, VLSP currently employs 7 staff members even during these difficult economic times. From an initial volunteer base of 50 attorneys, VLSP now boasts over 400 active volunteers including attorneys, paralegals, law students, notaries, expert witnesses and interpreters. The Sacramento legal community, especially the Sacramento County Bar Association and Legal Services of Northern California (VLSP’s sponsoring organizations), has much to be proud of for its ongoing support of pro bono services in Sacramento.
The October 26, 2011 anniversary celebration took place at the Casa Garden Restaurant, which benefits the Sacramento Children’s Home. The Emcee of the event was Kevin Mendricks, the Chairperson of the VLSP Advisory Committee.
VLSP is grateful to the following sponsors of this event:
DLA Piper
HP Office of General Counsel
Intel Legal Department, Folsom Campus
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP
VLSP is also grateful for the donation of floral arrangements by East Sac Florist and photography by Alan Stachowitz.
During the evening, VLSP volunteers, staff, donors and supporters heard the history of the
Honorable James Mize, Sacramento Superior Court
program from the Honorable James Mize of the Sacramento Superior Court and Tom Eres, President of the Sacramento County Bar Association when VLSP was established in 1981. Judge Mize and Tom Eres are VLSP’s co-founders.
VLSP’s Executive Director, Gary Smith, congratulated the volunteers and supporters for their selfless donation of time and expertise in assisting VLSP’s clientele. One such client spoke movingly about the assistance that the staff and volunteers of VLSP provided in helping her through a recent bankruptcy.
Further congratulations and history of the organization were offered by Russell Austin, former VLSP Board Chair and the person who is largely responsible for the movement to increase and stabilize funding for VLSP from the Sacramento County Bar Association.
At this event, VLSP was pleased to award the 2011 June Black Pro Bono Award to the law firm of DLA Piper LLP and the legal department of Hewlett-Packard Company for its work in establishing and staffing VLSP’s newest project, the Juvenile Records Sealing Project Clinic. This Clinic, held monthly, helps low income persons in sealing their juvenile records to assist them in moving on with their lives and gaining employment, joining the military and obtaining student loans. Scott Pink accepted the award on behalf of DLA Piper. Suzanne Miller accepted the award on behalf of Hewlett-Packard Company. VLSP looks forward to a long relationship with DLA Piper and Hewlett-Packard in providing pro bono services in the Sacramento community.
The staff of VLSP is grateful for the support it receives in the Sacramento legal community and is looking forward to another 30 years of working with our volunteers to provide legal services to those in the Sacramento region who would otherwise be unable to afford the help of a lawyer in resolving their legal problems.
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