by Mary Ashcroft , Esq .
Pro Bono Profile : Attorney Susan Gordon
Burlington Attorney Susan Gordon took a different path when she moved from her intellectual property practice in New York City to a family law practice in Vermont . But looking back she admits “ it was definitely a great decision .”
The Vassar alumna and Michigan Law School graduate had been working in a large Manhattan law firm for 9 years when she and her husband pondered the move . Gordon recalls : “ I was in a point in my career that I was wondering ‘ do I want to stay in the rat race or make a change ?’” Her spouse , Mike Gordon , bassist and vocalist with progressive rock band Phish , had roots in Vermont and was also in favor of moving north .
Attorney Gordon decided to change her focus to women and family law . She clerked with Vermont Legal Aid in Montpelier , then waived into practice in Vermont in 2007 . She started a solo law practice , doing some intellectual property law at first , but then concentrated primarily in family law . She added work for her family ’ s commercial real estate business . And she started volunteering on the hotline for Women Helping Battered Women ( WHBW ), the Burlington non-profit dedicated to ending domestic violence through education , support and advocacy .
WHBW — now known as Steps to End Domestic Violence — combines legal advocacy with victim empowerment . In 2009 , WHBW received a grant from the Vermont Bar Foundation to start a legal clinic . The grant , which continues annually , pays for administrative support for the weekly clinic staffed with volunteer attorneys . Carol Davis , former legal program coordinator , set up the clinic and Susan became an early and frequent volunteer attorney .
Susan ’ s volunteer clinic work stretches over eight years . Attorney Rachel Allen , a legal coordinator for Steps , twice nominated Susan for the VBA Pro Bono Award , which Susan won in 2015 . Allen praised Gordon ’ s work with survivors of domestic violence . As stated in Allen ’ s nomination : “ Through her pro bono work in her own practice and volunteer work at WHBW , Sue has provided helpful legal advice , information , support , and encouragement to many . In addition to attending Clinics , Sue is always willing to answer questions and provide support to both staff and survivors [ at ] WHBW .”
Susan further expanded her work for WHBW by joining its board of directors in
2013 . She also served on the committee that that worked on rebranding the organization , recognizing that the old title , Women Helping Battered Women , was not inclusive of all survivors . “ There are all kinds of domestic violence , ” notes Gordon .
Steps to End Domestic Violence ’ s legal clinic runs each Monday evening from 6:00 to 7:30 at 294 North Winooski Avenue in Burlington . Service users sign up for the clinic by calling Steps ’ hotline at 802-658- 1996 and a legal advocate prescreens and sets the appointment time . Attorney Gordon or another volunteer attorney coordinate with a paralegal to visit with the litigant for at least 30 minutes . Sometimes , when only one client shows up , the visit can last as long as 90 minutes . While Susan does not represent the litigant in court , she tries to give as much information as needed so the litigant can adequately represent him or herself .
Susan likes the clinic work , and recommends it to other family law attorneys looking for a way to give pro bono service . While Susan is a regular , Laura Bierley of Law Line and Cara Cookson with the Center for Crime Victim Services both lend a hand when Susan is out of town . Paralegal Lucia White of Dunkiel Saunders Elliott Rabvogel & Hand also volunteers .
There is a mix of people who seek advice at the clinic . “ I see people at the very beginning of their case , while others come in for post-judgment advice when they are still trying to co-parent with an abusive exspouse . “ The clinic is especially helpful for New Americans . “ For a lot of people , they have not had contact with the legal process .” She notes that the court system is like another foreign language to them . She helps interpret so that they know what is going on .
There are frustrations in clinic work . “ The harder cases are the ones where the abusive relationship continues through coparenting of the kids ,” Susan notes . “ It ’ s impossible to feel that you are helping anyone to succeed in cases where the abuser only has access to the victim through the legal process . They constantly file ridiculous motions , refuse to substantially follow the court orders — the case never really ends .”
Volunteer attorneys can help victims of domestic violence in two ways . Steps is looking for lawyers to provide same day representation in relief from abuse hearings . “ RFA day is a great place for new at- torneys to volunteer — helping someone in the most stressful time trying to end a difficult situation .” “ Often the abuser is able to hire an attorney ,” Gordon notes , “ but for the victim to have to speak in front of the abuser about the abuse can be extremely challenging .”
Newer attorneys benefit from this courtroom experience , and they have an advantage , too . “ They remember evidentiary rules very well , and can remind clients that just because they have a note from a child ’ s doctors doesn ’ t mean that they will win — the judge may never see it ,” says Gordon .
Volunteer attorneys are also needed to staff Steps ’ Monday evening advice clinic . More experienced family law attorneys can field the wide range of questions asked by survivors of domestic violence . But the clinic work differs from ordinary legal advice . Susan explains that Steps follows the empowerment model by giving pro se litigants information to help them make their own decisions . Lawyers don ’ t tell the service users what to do .
“ This is hard for a lawyer ,” admits Susan . “ It ’ s hard to see people get mired in the legal process because of bad choices .” The agency provides volunteers with 20 hours of training in the empowerment model and in the dynamics of power and control . It is all aimed at helping people help themselves .
Attorney Susan Gordon finds the clinic work at Steps to End Domestic Violence rewarding . “ I like being able to sit down one on one and help make sense of these situations . I help people feel confident in their own ability to represent themselves ; I give them information and the tools they need .”
Susan Gordon is admitted in New York and Vermont , and lives in the Burlington area with her daughter and husband . She looks forward to continuing her work with Steps , planting a vegetable garden and spending 13 days with Phish at Madison Square Garden this summer . ____________________ Mary C . Ashcroft , Esq . is the Legal Access Coordinator for the Vermont Bar Association who also maintains a private practice in Rutland Town , Vermont .
44 THE VERMONT BAR JOURNAL • SPRING 2017 www . vtbar . org