PLUS: a new project with training & malpractice insurance to help defend immigrant communities!
National Volunteer Month may be behind us, but here at We The Action we believe in celebrating volunteer lawyers year round! That’s why every month we give the Amicus Mundi Award to an outstanding volunteer lawyer in our community who lives our shared values of service and fighting for justice.
This month, we’re proud to give the Amicus Mundi Award to a lawyer who helped ensure that a disabled man could get the in-home care he needed to live a full, healthy life:
** Congratulations, Kathy Flaherty!
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The big picture: A retired lawyer from Massachusetts, Kathy Flaherty volunteered with Health Law Advocates (HLA), a local nonprofit that offers pro bono representation to people struggling to access medical services.
* That’s how Kathy was paired with “Alex,” an individual with a severe disability whose request for a personal care attendant (PCA) was denied by MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program.
* With Kathy’s help, Alex testified at an appeal hearing about his need for a PCA and MassHealth reversed its decision on the spot, ruling that Alex could get the in-home care he needs.
Grace under pressure. Despite the complex and sensitive nature of Alex’s case, Kathy had just 16 days between being assigned the case and the hearing date, so she had to spring to action right away.
* Though each case is different, a lawyer needs to help the client communicate their day-to-day medical and support needs, which requires reviewing medical care documents and care history, getting firsthand testimony from the client, and requesting medical records from providers.
* “There are times when you work for a big organization and you wonder if you’re having a direct effect,” Kathy says. “It was clear that we had a very deserving client and winning his appeal will make a significant impact on his life.”
“I wanted to do something.” After retiring, Kathy said that she felt compelled to use her skills as a lawyer to address the challenges facing the nation.
* “I’ve always had the spirit of volunteerism,” Kathy says. “It’s extremely gratifying to work on a cause you think is important.”
* Kathy found her project through We The Action and chose it because she saw that training and support was provided by HLA to volunteer lawyers.
* Kathy says this support from HLA made the difference as she gathered the necessary information and worked with Alex to prepare for the appeal hearing.
“Someone who really wants to help people.” Though HLA has many lawyers in their network interested in representing their clients, HLA says Kathy’s empathy and client-focused approach sets her work apart.
* “It requires a certain humility to try and pick up all these pieces of a case like this,” says Kara Hurvitz, a Staff Attorney for Health Law Advocates. “You’re talking to a client about some pretty personal things to make sure they can get what they need on a day-to-day basis.”
Empowering lawyers to succeed: While some lawyers may hesitate to volunteer in a subject area they’re not familiar with, Kathy emphasizes that many projects offer training and other resources for lawyers.
* Jennifer Javier, Manager of External Engagement for Health Law Advocates agrees, adding that the vast majority of their volunteer lawyers don’t have direct experience with health insurance or medical law.
* “We have the tools for lawyers and we have people who are ready to guide them,” Jennifer says. “We’re a team and we’re here to make sure our clients succeed.”
* Lawyers barred in Massachusetts can learn more about this project and sign up to volunteer with HLA here. ([link removed])
** On behalf of our community of more than 40,000 volunteer lawyers: Thank you, Kathy!
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Are you interested in following Kathy’s lead and volunteering for a project that offers training to lawyers? Check out this project to help an immigrant child avoid being deported back to a dangerous living situation in Nicaragua ([link removed]) . ([link removed])
No prior immigration experience is required for this project and malpractice coverage is provided. Additionally, volunteer lawyers are:
* Connected with an individual mentor to discuss the case, review filings, and provide support
* Given access to a library of training materials, including recorded webinars, sample filings and briefs, and representation guides
* Provided interpretation and translation services
National Volunteer Month may be over, but please join us in thanking every We The Action lawyer volunteering their time to build a more just and equitable nation.
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