RELEASE: Masi Named Pro Bono Director at Children’s Law Center
Seasoned Children’s Advocate Will Manage Multi-Faceted, Vibrant Pro Bono Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The District of Columbia’s largest nonprofit legal services provider, Children’s Law Center has selected Jennifer Nicole Masi to serve as its new pro bono director. A passionate and seasoned advocate for children, Masi will be working with more than 100 law firms, corporate legal departments and government agencies to recruit, support and train pro bono attorneys to advocate on behalf of children in need.
Some 500 pro bono attorneys from the District’s top law firms, corporations and federal agencies partner with Children’s Law Center each year to supplement the work of its 100-person staff. Together they assist almost 1,000 of the District’s most vulnerable children – those who have been abused or neglected, who are caught in high-conflict custody battles, whose health is compromised by poor housing conditions or who have special education needs that are not being met.
“We count ourselves incredibly fortunate to be able to tap Jen Masi for this vitally important position,” said Children’s Law Center Executive Director Judith Sandalow. “She is a powerful advocate for children and a highly skilled trainer and attorney. Children’s Law Center fights for more than 5,000 children and families each year – and pro bono lawyers step up to make a difference for almost 1,000 of them. Jen has the skills and experience to strengthen and expand our pro bono program so even more at-risk children will have access to a loving family, good health and a quality education.”
Masi has been with Children’s Law Center since 2011, working first as a staff attorney and then as a supervising attorney representing children in the District’s abuse and neglect system. Before that, she clerked for two years for the Honorable Hiram E. Puig-Lugo at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Masi earned her JD at the George Washington University Law School. Before going into the law, Masi was a teacher in Charlottesville, Virginia. She earned her BA from the University of Virginia.
“I’m thrilled to have been selected for this post,” Masi said. “I’ve seen the impact a lawyer can have on a child’s life – and that a child can have on a lawyer! I’m eager to introduce even more pro bono attorneys to the joys of representing children so we can ensure that every DC child has access to skilled counsel.”
Nancy Drane, who held the position for the last four years, left Children’s Law Center recently to become executive director of the DC Access to Justice Commission.
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Children’s Law Center fights so every District child can grow up with a loving family, good health and a quality education. Judges, pediatricians and families turn to us to be the voice for children who are abused or neglected, who aren’t learning in school, or who have health problems that can’t be solved by medicine alone. With 100 staff and hundreds of pro bono lawyers, we reach one out of every nine children in DC’s poorest neighborhoods – more than 5,000 children and families each year. More information is available at www.ChildrensLawCenter.org.
Contact: Lacey Mason
202.467.4900×512