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Bar News - August 15, 2003 'Just Once, at Least, Let's Hear It for the Lawyers' DESPITE THE DEROGATORY jokes made about attorneys and the negative view some have of those who practice law, there are many good attorneys doing admirable work in New Hampshire, and those who appreciate their efforts. The NH Bar Association's legal services programs, including Pro Bono, Reduced-Fee and the Domestic Violence Emergency (DOVE) project, bear witness to such efforts every day; moments when attorneys give selflessly of their time and services to help those in need, and when thankful clients express their gratitude. In this issue, Bar News highlights two such examples: a column by Richard Learned that appeared in several New Hampshire newspapers commending the efforts of NH's legal services organizations and the attorneys involved with them, and a letter from a grateful Reduced-Fee client applauding the efforts of her attorney, Todd Prevett. Learned's column, titled in one newspaper "Time to Praise Lawyers Who Help Us," details a number of programs offering legal assistance to various sectors of the community. Learned (who writes about senior citizens and senior issues) paints a picture of the stereotypically greedy attorney who runs television ads encouraging viewers to call him so they can cash in on big settlements. Learned then goes on to say that despite this negative view many may have of attorneys, "that does not give us the right to make jokes about lawyers and to put them on some low rung of the professions ladder. The term 'pro bono' denotes a practice that most lawyers do take seriously. They can be and often are caring counselors," he writes. "There are legal services available to seniors and others who may have need of them. Just a listing will tell you that real help is available," he continues, then describing nine legal services programs: Legal Advice and Referral Center, the Pro Bono Program, NH Legal Assistance, the DOVE project, the Reduced-Fee program, the NHBA's Lawline, NHLA's Legal Advice Line, the Disabilities Rights Center, and Franklin Pierce Law Center's Civil Practice Clinic. Learned concludes with the following: "Go back over this list briefly. Does it give you the impression that lawyers are just out for what they can get? All of these agencies have a bank of attorneys who offer their time to be of real assistance without looking for some fabulous commission or fee. Their time is as valuable as yours and they give it, always evidencing a true concern for the people they assist.... The state budget now in limbo owes a great deal of the Social Network provisions to these attorneys. They see very clearly the effects of cuts in important services, but they are not in turn cutting their own services. So just once, at least, let's hear it for the lawyers." Client Gratitude Client Emily Farrington calls her attorney, Todd H. Prevett of Prevett & Prevett in Amherst, her "legal savior." Farrington hired Prevett through the NH Bar's Reduced-Fee Referral Program, and Prevett helped her to obtain full legal cus tody of her two children after her ex-boyfriend abducted the children and took them to Canada. Given his client's limited ability to pay legal fees, Prevett worked out a modest fee arrangement with Farrington that gave her access to the legal services she desperately needed. Farrington says that Prevett was not only her attorney, but also a friend. In addition to addressing her legal needs, he also provided emotional support to a single mother facing the unknown waters of the courts. Prevett said Farrington's praise of his work on her behalf is gratifying, especially in light of the fact that sometimes clients aren't so appreciative or understanding. "There was a horrendous level of difficulty in her case, but Emily never took out her anger or frustration at the situation on me. She always recognized that we were doing everything that we could do," he said. Prevett added that clients as appreciative as Farrington make up for those who aren't. "[Such expressions of gratitude] make being an attorney much less difficult. It's easier to do your job and advocate for a client who appreciates what you're doing," he said. Following is Farrington's letter. Client Thanks Attorney Todd Prevett I am writing this letter to express my sincerest gratitude for attorney Todd Prevett. I was able to hire attorney Prevett with the help of the New Hampshire Bar Association's Reduced Fee Referral Program a couple of years ago. Since then attorney Prevett has become not only my attorney, but also my friend. In February 2001, my children's father and I ended a four-year relationship. At first we agreed to share custody of our children, ages two years and 10 months at that time. We soon realized that we were not able to get along on a civil basis, however, and after an argument, my ex-boyfriend took my children and moved to Canada. I was able to get my children back from him with the help of our superior court in Nashua after two very long weeks. When I returned home, I was faced with lots of legal paperwork to obtain full legal custody and very little knowledge on which forms were which. A friend informed me of the Reduced Fee Program, which in turn led me to attorney Prevett, my legal savior. Upon first contact with attorney Prevett, I was very nervous that my ex was going to return and harm me for taking the kids back with me. Attorney Prevett helped me to stay strong and file the necessary paperwork to keep my ex away from me and my kids. I then filed for custody, and since I was a single mother working full-time, it was very comforting to have someone to take care of all the paperwork for me. Not only did attorney Prevett file paperwork and write documents, he was also always there to listen. It is very comforting, even now, knowing that attorney Prevett will promptly return my call. He even calls on holidays to wish my family well. I am now involved in a wonderful relationship and my boyfriend is in the middle of a very involved custody battle. Attorney Prevett has now taken on his case at a reduced fee also. Since we now have attorney Prevett on our side, it has become a little easier to sleep at night. The thing that makes attorney Prevett really special is that he truly cares about us. We are not just clients to him. He truly wants to see that my children, my family and I are safe and happy. As most of us know, going through a custody battle is very emotionally demanding. It is really nice to know that there are attorneys out there just like attorney Prevett who take the time to care about what happens to their clients, win or lose. Thank you again, attorney Todd Prevett, for making the stresses in my life a little less stressful. Emily Farrington
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