Insights & Events

As part of the Firm’s ongoing commitment to our community, the Community Committee designates Rising for Justice (previously Law Students in Court) as our October 2020 Community Engagement Partner.  The Firm will donate to Rising for Justice and will match all donations made by Firm employees through October. 

For over 50 years, Rising for Justice has provided legal services to Washington, DC residents who are in grave jeopardy of losing their housing and provided law students with the experience of practicing law, as well as an opportunity to see the housing challenges facing many DC residents.  Many law school graduates in the Washington area, including from Georgetown, George Washington, American, and Howard law schools are familiar with this organization under its previous name, Law Students in Court, and have participated in a clinic working with the organization.  Since its founding, Rising for Justice has protected the rights of more than 250,000 DC residents and trained almost 4,000 law students.  Today, Rising for Justice annually represents close to 4,000 clients in legal jeopardy, most notably with its Eviction Defense Services, which is the largest provider of civil legal assistance for individuals facing eviction in the District of Columbia, helping more than 2,000 people each year from its office inside DC Superior Court’s Landlord & Tenant Branch.  It seeks to combat housing insecurity and keeps thousands of families in their homes by defending against wrongful evictions and empowering residents who are in unsafe living conditions. 

During the current pandemic, Rising for Justice has established a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund in order to marshal resources while the courts have remained mostly closed.  This fund would help Rising for Justice sustain a pre-crisis level of service to the most vulnerable DC residents, add bankruptcy expertise to its existing housing program, and expand its social work program.