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Bar News - October 8, 2004 Support Available to Aid Pro Bono Attorneys in Making a Difference By: Virginia Martin & Beverly Rorick NHBA Staff Profile WHEN PAM DODGE joined the NH Bar Association's Pro Bono Program as an unpaid intern six years ago, she brought with her a paralegal degree, a marketing background and the desire to learn about the legal system. "My intent had been to gain some experience and then leave to join a firm," said DOVE Coordinator/Assistant Pro Bono Coordinator Dodge. "But I stayed because I loved the work-helping make a difference for people in need and getting to know and work with volunteer attorneys who impress me everyday with their dedication, wisdom and sense of humor. When the chance arose to join the staff on a full-time basis, I jumped at the opportunity."  Dodge's primary responsibility with Pro Bono involves coordinating the Domestic Violence Emergency (DOVE) Project operated in partnership with crisis centers around the state. In ongoing efforts to en courage attorneys to join this unique venture, Dodge commented that lawyers from all practice areas are welcome to participate in providing representation at final order hearings under RSA 173-B. "Given the training and support that are part and parcel of the DOVE Project along with the short-term nature of the assistance, attorneys don't have to be family law specialists to join." Attorney recruitment takes place in many ways-by direct mail, by peer encouragement and through advertising in the Bar News. Dodge coordinates annual training seminars for DOVE and other attorneys and CLE credit is offered-and since training can also be found on-line, any attorney who is interested may join at any time during the year. "When an attorney takes a DOVE case he or she can make such a difference in a client's life; at the restraining order hearing, the attorney can get what's necessary to keep the client out of a dangerous situation, providing such things as shelter, custody orders and child support," said Dodge. Dodge's involvement with DOVE extends to recruiting mentors for new volunteer attorneys and marshalling other support, including reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses they may need to participate. "Pam is really a one-person statewide clearinghouse regarding domestic violence resources," commented Associate Executive Director for Legal Services Virginia Martin. "She routinely fields calls from Bar members, the courts and the public, providing information and support." When she's not wearing her DOVE hat, in closely aligned work, Dodge acts as Pro Bono's domestic violence specialist, identifying and referring longer-term custody and divorce cases involving serious family violence issues to Pro Bono panel attorneys. She also acts as liaison to New Hampshire Legal Assistance's Domestic Violence Advocacy Project. In her other Pro Bono responsibilities, Dodge handles general attorney recruitment and case referrals for the Seacoast. She recently organized a referral marathon at the office of Burns, Bryant, Cox, Rockefeller & Durkin in Dover, in which four attorneys placed 22 cases of indigent clients with area attorneys. Dodge has a degree in retail management from UNH and spent several years in that field. She earned her paralegal degree from Franklin Pierce. Pam lives in Northwood with her husband, Don, her daughter, Megan, 19 and her son, Tim, 17. In her spare moments she likes to read. Attorneys may contact Pam by email at pdodge@nhbar.org, by telephone at (603) 224-6942 or by writing her at the NH Bar Association, 112 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301.
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