Tips from the Bar: Jennifer Nelson

The New Lawyer Division congratulates Jennifer Nelson, the newly appointed CEO of the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP). SDVLP provides critical legal services to low-income and vulnerable San Diegans, including domestic violence survivors, people living with HIV/AIDS, tenants facing eviction, foster youth, low-income entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations, and caregivers seeking legal custody of abused and abandoned children.

Raised in Corona, California, Nelson knew she wanted to become an attorney after she participated in her high school’s mock trial team.

“I was skeptical at first, but I loved it and became hooked on Mock Trial,” said Nelson, who went on to be a Mock Trial competitor in college and law school as well. She earned her undergraduate degree in history from UCLA and her law degree from UC Berkeley, School of Law.

As a new attorney starting out in “big law,” Nelson started doing pro bono work for nonprofits, which is how she discovered her passion for nonprofit management and pro bono work.

After working for a different nonprofit, Nelson joined SDVLP four years ago as Pro Bono Manager and Supervising Attorney. She initially supervised SDVLP’s HIV/AIDS Legal Services Program, a cause she holds dear to her heart because her uncle passed away from AIDS when she was young. Nelson also founded SDVLP’s Microbusiness and Nonprofit Support Program, through which she was able to utilize the business law skills she had developed earlier in private practice.

The SDVLP is the “perfect fit” for her, as it allows her to work for a cause she believes in while helping clients in great need of quality legal services. The organization’s goal is to help narrow the “justice gap,” that is, the great disparity between the number of people that need an attorney, and the number of people who can actually afford one.

“Most of us know that everyone is entitled to a free attorney if they are accused of a crime; however, there is no guarantee of an attorney in civil cases, where the stakes can also be very high,” she explained. “You can lose your child in a custody battle, you can lose your home in an eviction, and in domestic violence cases, you could even lose your life. Unfortunately, the poor are often left to navigate the legal system on their own, in very serious issues affecting their children, their families, and their personal health and safety.”

The SDVLP helps more than 5,000 clients annually, which is made possible by the organization’s 15 staff attorneys and, importantly, volunteer lawyers from the community. Nelson encourages new attorneys to volunteer as a way to help vulnerable communities while gaining valuable skills and experience.

“When I practiced in ‘big law,’ pro bono work gave me opportunities to take more ownership of cases and appear in court as a junior attorney,” she said. “In addition to changing someone’s life, pro bono work is a great way to develop important legal skills and try out new areas of law.”

Depending on the attorney’s preference, volunteer opportunities can be tailored to a specific type of client (e.g., children, veterans, domestic violence survivors, or small business owners) or to a particular skill (cross-examination, opening/closing arguments, etc.). Whether you have just a few hours to contribute or want to manage your own case from start to finish, SDVLP offers a variety of different volunteer opportunities for both lawyers and law students.

Nelson is excited to begin her new role as CEO and praises the San Diego legal community for its commitment to pro bono service.

“I love the fact that we work hand-in-hand with the local legal community to accomplish our work,” she said. “During the pandemic, even when attorneys were scrambling to shift to working remotely, SDVLP actually saw an increase in the number of attorneys seeking to volunteer. We had many attorneys specifically reach out to help populations adversely affected by the pandemic. It is wonderful to see attorneys respond to a crisis by asking how they can help.”