Finding a Way 17 Standing Up to Domestic Violence Jenny, a single mom and domestic violence survivor, battled in court for years, representing herself as she sought to obtain sole custody of her daughter, Maggie. Until she met Mintz Levin attorneys Rebecca Geller and Julie Babayan, that outcome proved elusive. Rebecca and Julie gathered affidavits from Jenny’s therapist, job counselor, and others to establish her ability to support her child. They then represented her before a D.C. Superior Court judge, who granted Jenny sole legal and physical custody of her daughter. After the hearing the D.C. government’s attorney, who represented the minor child, called Rebecca and Julie the clients’ “unsung heroes.” Over the past 20 years, attorneys from many of Mintz Levin’s offices have been heroes to domestic violence survivors. In 2010, the American Bar Association presented the firm with its prestigious Pro Bono Publico Award. The award recognized our pioneering Domestic Violence Project and its long history of accomplishment, including the recent passage of Massachusetts legislation that makes it possible for many victims of sexual assault and stalking to obtain orders of protection. Last year, the firm expanded the Domestic Violence Project to our Palo Alto office. Working through a partnership between Alameda County’s Family Violence Law Center and in-house lawyers at Clorox, Mintz Levin attorneys are now representing low-income survivors at protective order hearings in the Oakland area. Helping Those Who Help Direct assistance is critical to survivors everywhere, but our work to eradicate domestic violence takes many forms. In addition to achieving frontline victories before judges, our attorneys work behind the scenes at the policy level, and provide assistance to help nonprofit domestic violence shelters and coalitions deliver effective services. Taking the Right Steps  It was wonderful to know that because of our representation, Jenny and her daughter could move  on with their lives. Julie Babayan Attorney Mintz Levin continued