Have you met this consultant, educator, and philanthropist?

Celebrate Martin Tannenbaum with us

For his incredible work in strengthening the legal services sector

Every year, the OneJustice network gathers at our Opening Doors to Justice event to celebrate three individuals whose outstanding accomplishments have truly moved the needle on legal services, pro bono, and access to justice. Won’t you join us this year on:

Thursday, June 25th

6-9 pm

Julia Morgan Ballroom (downtown SF)

*Tickets and auction items are now available

We are so pleased to be honoring Martin Tannenbaum – Consultant, Educator, Philanthropist, and a wonderful partner of OneJustice. Martin has been a leader in transforming the civil legal aid system through the development of OneJustice’s Executive Fellowship, which is now in its 5th year, and next month, will graduate the 100th Fellow. Please welcome our third honoree, Martin Tannenbaum!

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Martin, Opening Doors to Justice event is less than a month a way and we can’t wait to honor you on June 25th! Tell us – why are you involved with increasing access to justice?

Even though most people probably think I’m a privileged white male – which I guess, on some level, I am – I have a very different sense of myself. I grew up as a gay Jew in Utah – as a double-outsider. And add to that, my parents also grew up Jewish in Utah. So I learned at an early age to love and respect those who didn’t fit in – which meant a wide range of people – the economically challenged, the foreigner, and the less-abled.

Also, since I had experienced the tyranny of the majority (both growing up and during some pretty ugly ballot initiatives), it was clear that the courts – not public opinion – were THE place for change and fairness. And so I was naturally drawn to legal organizations because they focus on the judicial system – and they welcomed me in.

Initially, my volunteering and philanthropy focused on LGBT rights. Given what we’ve accomplished in the last 30 years, it was clearly a wise investment. In California and several other states, I am now protected in the workplace and was even able to marry the man of my dreams, Alex Ingersoll. This was all unimaginable when I was in my 20’s.

And there are still many with justice still denied – not just many in the LGBT community, but also those without sufficient financial resources, health challenges or an unclear path to citizenship. The work must continue until every person secures equal justice under the law – it’s what this country was founded upon – it’s what we owe ourselves, our children, and our children’s children.

We couldn’t agree more! Martin, could you share with us how you became involved with OneJustice?

Over 7 years ago, I had the great good luck to meet Claire Solot and Julia Wilson. They had this idea about creating a program for leaders within the legal services sector – one that would provide these leaders with the knowledge, skills and support to enhance their work, stabilize and build their own organizations, and change the legal services sector. (And I had the background and knowledge to develop the curriculum and guide the program in the early years.)

And so, we built a program together, the OneJustice Executive Fellowship, which next month will graduate its 100th fellow – all able and willing to create meaningful change – to serve more clients and provide better services and to build more sustainable organizations. I have had the distinct honor of meeting and working with each of these Fellows. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing their growth and accomplishments. What a gift!

Absolutely! What’s your favorite part of being a member of the OneJustice network?

I know this is hard to imagine, but there are still people – even friends and colleagues of mine – who don’t know about OneJustice and the incredible work that we do to create impactful nonprofits and to enhance the legal services sector. I love to explain our work and watch faces light up. Most want to learn more, and get involved. It’s such leveraged, important work. I’m very proud to be part of the OneJustice family.

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About the OneJustice Executive Fellowship: OneJustice trains current executives and the next generation of nonprofit leaders through our management training program. OneJustice’s Executive Fellowship program is a 10-month comprehensive program that brings legal aid leaders new business skills.

A leader in pro bono delivery

Join us as we celebrate Kathryn Fritz

Managing Partner at Fenwick and West LLP and one of our event honorees!

Every year, the OneJustice network gathers at our Opening Doors to Justice event to celebrate three individuals whose outstanding accomplishments have moved the needle on legal services, pro bono, and access to justice. Won’t you join us this year on:

Thursday, June 25th

6-9 pm

Julia Morgan Ballroom (downtown SF)

*Tickets and auction items are now available

We are incredibly honored to be recognizing Kate Fritz for her work in mobilizing the private sector to bring legal help to those in need. With Kate’s leadership, in 2013, Fenwick & West contributed over 11,000 hours in pro bono services, valued at over $5 million in legal services. The firm is at the forefront of pro bono delivery, as a founding law firm in the Bay Area Rural Justice Collaborative, the Virtual Legal Services Project, and a frequent partner in the Justice Bus Project, reaching isolated communities throughout Northern California. Please welcome our second honoree, Kathryn Fritz, Managing Partner at Fenwick & West LLP!

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Why have you committed your time and energy to working on increasing access to civil legal services and access to justice?

I’ve always viewed service not only to our clients but to our broader community as a core part of being a lawyer. Sometimes we lose sight of just how essential our service is in providing access to justice, but it’s critical that we do not forget, and so critical that we remember what an essential part every member of the legal profession has to play. Philosophically, those ideas are what drew me to the study of law and those same themes have drawn me into pro bono work. It’s both gratifying and deeply humbling to be able to serve those who don’t have easy access to the privilege we take for granted and whose voices often go unheard. The need is so great and the legal profession has a unique ability to make a difference. On a more personal note, I’m also very motivated by my two teenage sons and the desire to help make our community one that ensures fairness and protection for everyone. Community engagement is tremendously powerful, and we all have meaningful contributions to make, but we must act.

What is one particularly rewarding experience you have had in your work on these issues?

Every pro bono case that I have worked on has changed my life: they could not help but do that. But three cases stand out. In two cases I was able to help secure political asylum for clients whose lives were in grave danger in their home countries – one because of his religious beliefs and another because he was a gay man who was HIV positive. In a third case, we obtained reversal of the death penalty for our client. It is hard not to be changed fundamentally by these experiences.

In addition to my personal pro bono work, in my role as Managing Partner of Fenwick & West, I’ve also made it an important part of my focus to promote the firm’s pro bono commitment. Not only do our attorneys and staff devote thousands of hours every year to pro bono work, but we support fellows and organizations (such as OneJustice) who in turn go out and engage even more people to do this work.

What is your favorite part of being a member of the OneJustice network?

How can I name just one? The Justice Bus project is just one example of the inspired and innovative way that OneJustice enables the expansion of pro bono work. We have made several trips to serve clients in rural areas, including Napa and Yolo counties, and each time our bus has been oversubscribed. It’s our most popular pro bono opportunity for our attorneys and summer associates (and the client in-house teams that we sometimes partner with on the trips). They come back so energized and engaged. The Justice Bus is a great opportunity to have a personal impact and make a difference in the lives of those you’re helping. We’re also proud of the work being done through the Rural Justice Collaborative which is expanding access to legal services in rural and isolated communities throughout the Bay Area. The group supports the role of pro bono attorneys in the delivery of legal services to the poor, including innovative collaborations between law firms and legal services organizations. We’re also looking forward to working with OneJustice as you host our upcoming Equal Justice Works Fellow, Renee Schomp, and extend the reach of the Justice Bus project even further.

Thank you, Kate, for your commitment to bringing pro bono assistance to Californians in need. We cannot wait to celebrate your achievements next month!

Happy 2nd Bday to Rural Justice Collaborative!

Join us as we celebrate 2 fantastic years…

Of bringing vital legal services to communities in need in the Bay Area.

2 years ago, under the leadership 0f Association of Pro Bono Counsel (APBCo) and Cooley LLP, the Bay Area Rural Justice Collaborative IMPACT (Involving More Pro Bono Attorneys in Our Communities Together) project was born. The Bay Area Rural Justice Collaborative, a collaboration of legal services organizations and law firms, strives to increase access to legal services in isolated communities through free limited scope legal clinics staffed by pro bono attorneys.

Since 2013, the Rural Justice Collaborative has served 425 clients through 53 mobile legal clinics ran by 227 Bay Area pro bono attorneys. We couldn’t be more thankful for the support of our donors, legal services and law firm partners, and volunteer attorneys for making each and one of these clinics possible. Here’s to many more!

Rural Justice Collaborative by the numbers:

Thank you to our legal services, nonprofit, law firms and corporate partners for making all of this possible! You are all amazing!

Interested in learning more about the Rural Justice Collaborative?

For more information about the Rural Justice Collaborative or becoming involved, please contact Lauren Roberts at lroberts@one-justice.org

Lauren Roberts manages the Bay Area Rural Justice Collaborative at OneJustice, engaging law firms and in-house counsel in a network of monthly mobile legal clinics. Together, they bring life-changing legal assistance to hundreds of rural Californians facing pressing legal problems.

A serial legal services entrepreneur

Join us as we celebrate Claire Solot

For her work advancing justice and bringing training to legal services leaders

Claire Solot, Managing Director of Bigglesworth Family Foundation, head shot Every year, the OneJustice network gathers at our Opening Doors to Justice event to celebrate three individuals whose outstanding accomplishments have truly moved the needle on legal services, pro bono, and access to justice. Won’t you join us this year on:

Thursday, June 25th

6-9 pm

Julia Morgan Ballroom (downtown SF)

*Tickets and auction items are now available

We are so excited to be honoring Claire Solot, Managing Director of Bigglesworth Family Foundation, this summer. In 2009, Claire approached OneJustice with the idea for a comprehensive nonprofit management training for legal services leaders, and the result of that conversation – the Executive Fellowship – is now in its 5th year and next month will graduate the 100th Fellow. Please welcome our first honoree, Claire Solot!

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Claire, we can’t wait to honor you on June 25th! Please tell us, why have you committed your time and energy to working on increasing access to justice?

Twenty-five years ago as a law student extern in the Family Law Department of the San Francisco Superior Court, I had the opportunity to see first hand both the value of and need for civil legal services. Following my career as a litigator, I joined the philanthropic sector in 2000. While working on a “safety net” grants portfolio, I started to wonder why legal services were not regularly included in this category. As a result in 2008, we launched our first legal services grants portfolio. Working with these grantees for the past eight years, I am more convinced than ever that civil legal aid is a critical part of the solution to breaking the cycle of poverty.

From working on these issues, what is one particularly rewarding experience you have encountered?

Bringing together the OneJustice Fellows Advisory Board in 2009 to start vetting the need for a training program for legal services leaders was an amazing experience. In a matter of months, we were able to assemble a “dream team” of diverse leaders, which included: legal aid executive directors, law firm partners, pro bono coordinators, state bar representatives, a non-profit consultant and a funder. In less than 9 months, we went from a mere concept to a fully operating program.

What is your favorite part of being a part of the Executive Fellowship?

Every time I hear a Fellow share the value of the program, I get shivers. It is amazing to know that by creating and supporting this program, we not only help these individuals in their roles, we help the organizations they work for and the communities they serve. As we graduate our 100^th Fellow, I know we have developed an important resource for the legal aid community. As we field requests from alumni, law students and out of state practitioners for more offerings, I know that the current Fellows program is just the first piece of this puzzle.

You really are building a powerful civil justice puzzle. Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Perhaps I am a serial “non-profit program legal service entrepreneur,” as last fall I assembled a new team comprised of funders from a wide variety of sectors, including: community foundations, private foundations, law firms, crowd-source funders, government and individuals. Together, we have launched the Bay Area Legal Services Funders Network.

Thank you, Claire, for your dedication to excellence, and your outstanding contributions to ensuring justice for those in need! We are honored to partner with you, and we are thrilled to be recognizing your achievements this summer!

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About the OneJustice Executive Fellowship: OneJustice trains current executives and the next generation of nonprofit leaders through our management training program. OneJustice’s Executive Fellowship is a 10-month comprehensive program that brings legal aid leaders new business skills.

Where can you find a dim sum enthusiast and an avid knitter?

A: At OneJustice, of course!

Join OneJustice as we welcome our newest staff members, Amy and Anh!

Recently, OneJustice expanded both its Los Angeles and San Francisco offices with two new team members, Amy Kaizuka and Anh Van. Amy is our new Senior Staff Attorney in Los Angeles and Anh is our new Development Associate in the San Francisco office. We are so excited to embark on this adventure with them, and thought you all would like to get to know them too!

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Welcome Amy! Now tell us, what drew you to the work of OneJustice?

I was drawn to the organization’s mission to increase access to legal help for underserved Californians and its dedication to closing the justice gap. And I love the focus on collaboration and community building, through the unique role that OneJustice plays in developing partnerships and supporting a broad network of legal services nonprofits, law schools, law firms, corporations, and individual volunteers.

Photo of Amy Kaizuka in her office, seated at her desk with a computer screen behind her

Amy Kaizuka, Senior Staff Attorney, will be overseeing pro bono projects in SoCal.

As the Senior Staff Attorney, what will your role be at OneJustice?

As Senior Staff Attorney, I will be responsible for overseeing the work of the Pro Bono Justice program in southern California, which includes the Justice Bus Project, OneJustice’s signature project connecting urban pro bono attorneys to underserved rural and isolated communities; IMPACT LA, an innovative program connecting domestic violence survivors with pro bono attorneys for assistance with housing, immigration and public benefit matter; and the California Pro Bono Training Institute, a new project founded by the pro bono directors of OneJustice, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County aimed at developing an online library of accessible and engaging trainings relevant to pro bono work.

I wish to foster and grow the existing relationships OneJustice has with partners in the southern California area. I hope to develop new partnerships and work on expanding services throughout southern California, reaching out to communities and areas we do not currently reach.

Sounds like amazing work ahead! We can’t wait to hear about this new California Pro Bono Training Institute project in the upcoming months! So, before coming to OneJustice, what type of work did you do?

Prior to joining OneJustice, I was a grant writer for the Venice Oceanarium, a local educational nonprofit. My previous experiences included working in San Francisco as Legal Services Director at California Lawyers for the Arts, where I oversaw the pro bono program and conducted outreach to pro bono attorneys, and working in D.C. as a staff attorney at the Board on Professional Responsibility, an arm of the D.C. Court of Appeals responsible for adjudicating cases of attorney misconduct and disability.

Wow – such diverse organizations! And finally, tells us something quirky about you?

I crochet and knit. I learned to crochet when I was little, making sweaters, scarves and hats for my teddy bears (this often involved crocheting directly onto the bears, in order to accommodate their ears). I taught myself to knit later. I love seeing yarn bombing or other crochet or knit public art projects, but I usually stick to things like scarves or blankets.

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Thank you for your great answers, Amy!

Hello Anh! Tells us a little about yourself! Where were you before OneJustice?

Anh Van, Development Associate, sitting at her desk with computer in front of her.

Anh Van, Development Associate, will be working with our donors and special events.

Before coming to OneJustice, I was searching for a career path that would enable me to make an impact. I wanted to find a work environment that would not only challenge me to do good but would also allow me to grow professionally. I would like to pursue an MBA degree in the distant future and the opportunity to be a part of the Development and Communications team is a great stepping stone towards my goal. I’m very fortunate to be apart of the OneJustice team and have the opportunity to work with people who share similar ideals and passion.

We are happy to have you with us! What will you be responsible for at OneJustice – and what do you hope to achieve?

My position as a Development Associate involves me managing our donor database, providing donor and corporate relations support and assisting with special events. Since joining the team, I’ve had immense support in learning about my role and responsibilities. Our Opening Doors to Justice event is coming up in about two months, so I’ve been able to not only learn about the event but also contribute to its planning and preparation. I look forward to not only being a key member to the Development and Communications team but to the OneJustice family and community as I learn more about my role.

That’s wonderful, glad it’s going well for you so far. We’re excited to see what is ahead for you! Tell us – what did you do before joining OneJustice?

I graduated in 2013 from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in Rhetoric. After graduation, I spent seven months abroad in Turkey and Hong Kong respectively. I’ve traveled quite a bit during my university days, going on three study abroad trips (London, Istanbul and Hong Kong) and an internship abroad in Singapore. Prior to coming to OneJustice, I interned at a local trade organization, a social media start-up as well as worked in the real estate industry.

Wow – those study abroad trips sound awesome! Finally, last question – what do you like to do in your spare time?

I really love exploring new sights and sounds. My first weekend back in the Bay Area, I spent all of Saturday at Golden Gate Park, going to the San Francisco’s King’s Day celebration, immersing myself in Dutch culture, and trying Dutch food. I also love furniture shopping, taking walks along Lake Merritt, eating dim sum, and driving along Pacific Coast Highway. I’m obsessed with cooking shows and singing competitions.

Thanks so much, Amy and Anh – we’re so happy to welcome you to the OneJustice team!

Unbuilding walls

How the Justice Bus breaks down walls of apathy and indifference.

One pro bono attorney’s journey from EA to Greenfield.

Justin Aragon, Ecommerce, Privacy, and Consumer Protection Counsel for EA

There is someone we’d like you to meet: Justin Aragon, Ecommerce, Privacy and Consumer Protection Counsel at Electronic Arts (EA).

This past March, Justin joined a team of expert attorneys from Electronic Arts and Fenwick & West LLP on a Justice Bus trip to bring free legal help to youth and families in Greenfield.

We loved hearing about Justin’s experience from the trip so much, that we’re making him share it with all of you too!

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Let’s get started Justin! So, during the Justice Bus clinic, did any client story resonate with you?

It’s difficult to pick just one story. I was struck by the fortitude of each young man and woman I met throughout the day – all high school graduates, all working below minimum-wage jobs to support their families, all struggling for greater opportunity. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) helps to provide this community a path to fair pay and the financial aid to further their education. It was a privilege to help these young men and women along this path, even in a small way.

EA attorneys, Suk Lee and Justin Aragon, with their client at the Greenfield immigration Justice Bus clinic.

Their stories are really inspiring. Did you make any connections with any of the clients?

I met one young man, a farm worker like all the rest, who grew up in Mexicali, the town that borders Calexico where my father grew up and worked in the fields as a boy. I met another young man whose father had the same last name as me. When he saw my last name, he smiled and said “familia” and we all laughed.

That is a quite coincidence! Now, tell us – what would you say is your personal motivation to do pro bono work?

Getting a chance to work with the sort of people I met during the Justice Bus Clinic is what motivates me to do pro bono work – not just the young men and women I mention above, but the OneJustice staff and the volunteer immigration attorneys who supervised us. The Justice Bus Clinic was, hands down, the best clinic I’ve participated in – it was well organized, well trained, and well supervised. I’d recommend the Clinic to anyone.

Justin and EA attorneys at the Greenfield Immigration Justice Bus clinic.

Thank you Justin! We’re so thrilled to have you as an official “Justice Bus Rider”! Okay, final question: is there a fictional social justice hero you admire the most?

I just finished reading the Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin. In it, the central character, Shevek, goes around “unbuilding” walls – walls of apathy and indifference as much as injustice. I thought it was a poignant message, particularly when it seems, these days, that just a bit more empathy would go a long way. One of my favorite quotes: “You cannot buy the Revolution. You cannot make the Revolution. You can only be the Revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere.”

A huge thanks to our guest, Justin and all of the Greenfield clinic volunteers, who brought relief and much-needed help to rural areas like Greenfield.

Because of volunteers like Justin, the Justice Bus Project has served 147 youth and families with DACA and Immigration assistance throughout the state.