Homeless Project Volunteer Dan Berger
KCBA’s Community Legal Services recognizes Daniel Berger from Davis Wright Tremaine as January’s Volunteer of the Month for his work with Legal Services for the Homeless as clinic volunteer. His firm provides a monthly legal clinic at the Downtown Emergency Service Center, a homeless shelter.
Dan is being recognized for his skill and compassion when working with clients who are homeless. “I have been very impressed with the care he has taken with the clients. He takes the intakes very seriously and listens carefully to the clients, providing them with very thoughtful and informative responses,” said Julie Orr, Pro Bono Coordinator at Davis Wright Tremaine, who arranges the firm’s involvement with the shelter.
Providing legal clinics at the shelters is important because it brings attorneys to the clients, making legal services more accessible and manageable. However, the availability of these clinics is only part of providing accessible services. The other part is the ability of the volunteer attorneys to show their humanity and sensitivity to clients’ needs, at which Dan has excelled.
At shelter legal clinics there are a variety of clients and issues. Some clients have a mental illness related to their issue, some clients don’t have legal problems at all but have issues better addressed by case managers. This can be difficult for volunteers to deal with, but Dan makes sure to take the time with each client in order to understand the issue and to provide resources.
Even when dealing with clients who hold beliefs not necessarily based in fact, Dan takes the time to go through the issues, showing his respect for the client. Dan commented that he enjoys helping people put their issues in the right context and than focusing on resources that can help.
Congratulations to Daniel Berger for being selected as the Community Legal Services Volunteer of the Month. Thank you for your commitment and efforts in ensuring that those who are homeless have access to legal representation.
For more information about Legal Services for the Homeless, contact Victoria Cherniak, Program Manager at (206) 267-7027.
