Salesforce.org Blog
By Caroline Pepas
December 2, 2015
“On November 2, 2015, 13 members of Salesforce and Salesforce.org’s Legal departments participated in the second annual Service 4 Service, a one day free legal and social services clinic for United States Veterans. In partnership with the Justice & Diversity Center, Swords to Plowshares, and attorneys from the law firm of Morrison & Foerster, the team assisted 14 veterans and helped address 23 legal issues. Rachel Williams, Pro Bono Counsel for Morrison & Foerster said, ‘We were pleased to partner with the legal team at Salesforce whose pro bono program has emerged as a leader among Bay Area in-house pro bono programs, and we are inspired by the enthusiasm and dedication of its attorneys to serving those in need.’
“Stationed at tables throughout a large room next to the Veterans Court in San Francisco, the volunteers received training in specific areas of the law, such as VA benefit eligibility, family law, and of particular importance, landlord tenant law.
“’I was surprised and moved to learn about the challenges our veterans face in society after their service ends,’ said Tom Kelly, a Contracts Negotiator new to Salesforce. “It was a privilege to be involved in assisting them.”
“One Vietnam veteran named Greg came to the clinic because he was recently notified that his subsidized housing voucher had been terminated. During the interview with clinic volunteers it was uncovered that Greg was never afforded an informal administrative hearing to which he was entitled before his voucher termination. JDC’s housing team is now representing Greg with the goal of reinstating his voucher which will be his ticket out of homelessness.”