On October 28, 2020, Wilson Sonsini corporate associate was recognized alongside three other legal volunteers (including Nathan Cao, a former firm associate who is now in-house counsel for Dropbox, Inc.) in the latest edition of “Pro Bono Publico,” the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County’s (LASSMC’s) pro bono newsletter. Josephine is highlighted for having won a Domestic Violence Restraining Order for LASSMC client and San Mateo resident “Mary” (name changed to protect client confidentiality).

​​On October 25, 2019, the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, granted an Order of Protection to Mary. The permanent restraining order secures personal conduct and stay-away orders, protecting Mary and her children for the next three years. If the order is violated, the restrained party may be sent to jail for up to one year and/or pay a fine.

The domestic violence began six months into the relationship. Mary remembers the verbal and emotional abuse quickly escalating, turning into a cycle of abuse and cries for forgiveness. Her abuser, “James,” was/is an alcoholic and refused to move out of her home. Mary would spend countless nights sleeping in her car or at a friend's home to escape. It was only when a judge issued a move-out order that her abuser began to take her seriously.

Mary initially requested a domestic violence restraining order in October 2018, but dropped the case shortly thereafter. She stated that it felt like a lost cause. In early 2019, James threatened to have Mary gang-raped in front of her children. It was then that she became determined to end the abuse.

Mary attended a Domestic Violence Restraining Order Clinic and was able to find legal representation through the Domestic Violence Collaborative. Josephine worked with Mary over the span of nine months to advocate for protection under the law. Now that she has finally found closure, she is looking forward to a new, joyful chapter of her life.

Wilson Sonsini is a longtime pro bono partner and supporter of the Domestic Violence Collaborative, a partnership of the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA), and Bay Area Legal Aid. 

More information about Wilson Sonsini’s pro bono efforts can be found here.