This program is Proskauer Rose’s Domestic Violence Initiative, which started when Middlesex County district attorney Gerard Leone identified a need for public counsel in domestic violence cases. Through the program, victim witness advocates, who oversee the initial stages of the temporary restraining order process, match Proskauer up with clients who have little financial freedom and whose cases involve some of the most severe incidents of violence. Because temporary restraining orders are civil documents, lawyers at the D.A.’s office cannot serve as counsel.
Over the past year, the program has evolved into both a public service and a learning tool for Proskauer. The firm’s associates argue on the victims’ behalf and encourage clients to tell their stories, says Amy Crafts, a senior associate in Proskauer’s Boston office who heads the initiative. Yet as associates lend their legal knowledge and moral support, they also gain valuable courtroom experience.