Think about what you were doing at age 17. Many of us were preparing for our senior year in high school and looking ahead to college. We were likely closing a chapter of childhood, planning next steps and setting goals for the future.
Vanessa Newtson’s pro bono client was closing a chapter, but her chapter was filled with violence and loss.
Newtson’s case opened when her client was 17 years old. Her client was from Mexico and her mother had died when she was 8 years old. She was raped when she was 13, had a baby, and her father’s life had been threatened.
Newtson’s client and infant daughter fled Mexico without legal documents and were brought to the United States by “coyotes” — people that are paid to help others cross the border. When she arrived in the U.S., she was detained by immigration officers and deportation proceedings began.
The Immigration Clinic at Florida Coastal School of Law accepted her immigration case. Since the client was underage and was not under the care of her parents, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid opened a dependency case and Newtson agreed to serve as her volunteer advocate.
Newtson filed a dependency petition for her client and ultimately, the court entered the order finding the client a dependent of the State of Florida. Newtson provides additional information about her case:
Why was this outcome important to your client?
By finding the client a dependent of the State of Florida, the students and attorneys working through the Immigration Clinic were able to file an immigration petition for her that allowed her to remain in the U.S. The client faced harsh conditions in her home country and that is why she came to the U.S. Now my client is free from violence, can get an education and can care for her daughter.
What impact did this case have on you?
Getting to know this young girl and her daughter taught me that although we may have different upbringings, we all aspire to have a safe and happy life. It reminded me that money and possessions aren’t the most important aspirations in life.
For what law firm do you work and what are your areas of practice?
I work at Finnell, McGuinness, Nezami & Andux. I practice in the following areas: criminal (state and federal), injunctions, and immigration (family petitions and naturalization). The firm also handles cases in the areas of personal injury, family law and appeals.
What advice do you have for colleagues considering pro bono involvement?
Pro bono work is very fulfilling. It keeps you grounded and makes you appreciate life more. There is nothing more satisfying than when you reach your hand out to a stranger, and that stranger then becomes your friend. Making a big difference in someone else’s life is a worthwhile effort. Since I was unfamiliar with dependency court, I spent some time learning procedures and gathering documents, but even with my learning curve, I spent only about 20 hours on this case. It was time well spent.
The facts and outcome described here are a small part of Newtson’s client’s remarkable story. It is reasonable to conclude that the work of the students and staff at Florida Coastal School of Law and attorney Vanessa Newtson gave this young person and her child the stability and opportunity to thrive and enjoy a safe, full life. This young person was given hope for the future. Clearly, this is work that matters and positively impacts our whole community.
Attorneys interested in pro bono opportunities in the 4th Judicial Circuit are encouraged to contact [email protected].