April's Scoop

President’s Message:  Volunteers Needed for NNWLA “Lawyer in the Library” Night
One of the most important functions of NNWLA is to provide service to the community in which we are blessed to live.  For that reason, on Thursday, April 19th at 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., NNWLA, in partnership with the Washoe County Law Library and the Washoe County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, will be hosting a “Lawyer in the Library” Night at the Washoe County Law Library.
 
At the NNWLA Night, volunteers will be matched with members of the public who need legal assistance for a brief meeting during which the volunteers will be asked to provide guidance (but not necessary solutions) to the legal question presented to them.  Attorneys with experience in all types of legal specialties are welcome, but those with family law, flooding issues, landlord tenant, contracts, and criminal law are especially helpful. 
 
We will also be co-hosting an optional training session in preparation for the NNWLA Night on April 13th at the Second Judicial District Court, Jury Assembly Room, 75 Court Street, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (CLE approval pending).   This training session is encouraged (but not mandatory) for attorney volunteers, especially those for whom the Night will be the first time at “Lawyer in the Library.”
 
Please help us serve the public on NNWLA “Lawyer in the Library” Night and encourage all of your lawyer friends and family to do the same.  This is an important event to the judges of the Second Judicial District Court, so we want to make a good showing and offer a great deal of help to the public.  All licensed Nevada attorneys are appreciated—membership is not a requirement to be a volunteer!  

RSVP for the event (and let us know whether you also want to attend the training) on or before April 12th at:  nnwla.rsvp@gmail.com.  In your email, please include your practice area and whether you would be interested in participating with walk-ins.

- By Laury M. Macauley

​Please join NNWLA at a Reno Aces Baseball game on May 12th at 6:35 p.m.
Kick off Mother's Day weekend with NNWLA at a Reno Aces Baseball game with the whole family!  Cheer on the Aces as they play the New Orleans Baby Cakes.  Watch the game with us in luxury in the Bugsy Sports Bar/Overlook area, complete with great views and padded seats.  If that was not enough of a reason to come, your ticket includes a free Aces baseball hat!  Please RSVP prior to April 28th by clicking on this link.

​National Volunteer Appreciation Month​
April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month.  To celebrate, we are encouraging all of our members to volunteer with a local organization this month.  If you are unable to join us for our Lawyer in the Library event, please consider volunteering for another worthy cause. Below are two local non-profit organizations that some of our members volunteer with and are seeking volunteers:

Court Appointed Special Advocates
The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program of the Second Judicial District Court trains volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in temporary foster care.  CASA volunteers ("CASAs") are appointed by family court judges to work one-on-one with their assigned child throughout the court process, until the child is reunified or placed in a safe, stable home.  Without the voice of CASAs, children in temporary foster care face of higher risk of languishing in long-term foster care.  There is a tremendous need for more CASA volunteers.  For more information on becoming a volunteer, visit www.washoecasafoundation.com.  Donations and/or business partnerships can also be arranged through the Washoe CASA Foundation, which provides support to the CASA Program through fundraising, advocacy, and community outreach.

Safe Embrace
​Safe Embrace is a local 501(c)(3) dedicated to educating our community and providing services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence.  For over 17 years, Safe Embrace has been committed to ending the cycle of intimate partner violence with innovative intervention and prevention services.  The organization provides compassionate and trauma-informed services to individuals suffering from current or past domestic violence and abuse, and/or sexual assault.  Some of the important services provided by Safe Embrace include: a 24-hour crisis hotline, therapy and supportive services, community outreach and prevention education, an emergency shelter that can accommodate children and pets, as well as transitional housing assistance.

Safe embrace relies on community volunteers at all levels of the organization, including its board members, victim advocates, and fundraising assistance.  NNWLA members interested in learning more about Safe Embrace and how they can support this amazing organization and its mission should visit http://www.safeembrace.org/.

Thank you!
NNWLA would like to thank Molly Rezac and everyone who attended our March event at SoDo.  We all had a wonderful time celebrating National History Month with this informative CLE discussion!

​Member Corner
If you have new contact information, exciting news to share, a job opportunity, an organization seeking volunteers, or information about an event members would be interested in, please let the NNWLA Board know. Please send your submissions to Kendra Bertschy at kbertschy@washoecounty.us.

​Membership Renewal
​Just a friendly reminder to all members to pay your 2017 NNWLA membership dues if you haven’t yet done so this year. Members not only get special pricing on events, but coming soon, NNWLA is working on setting up a webpage where members can look to get and give referrals.  Please click on this link to be directed to our membership page.