Volunteer Letter of Support

Dear Ms. Eccles,

I am writing to express our firm's strong support for the grant being requested by Utah Legal Services to help fund its volunteer program. Our firm works in the area of family law. We are very aware of the need that Utah Legal Services addresses. The number of people who need free legal services in this current economy is astounding. The services provided by Utah Legal Services are more critical now than ever before. The number of people who are stumbling their way through the legal system without any help is increasing and causing a myriad of problems in the court system. Every single case that ULS is able to help with helps reduce these problems.

Attorneys from our firm have been able to volunteer at the Utah Legal Services Family Law Clinics. The need for volunteer services is very clear at these clinics. Many people are helped each night these clinics are held. These people are given some direction on how to address their legal issues as well some guidance about other community and legal resources.

I have also had the opportunity to take a pro bono case with Utah Legal Services. A woman in Wisconsin was incarcerated and gave birth to a baby in prison. While this woman was still in prison, her sister went to Wisconsin and illegally took her baby - just weeks before the woman was released from prison. Needless to say, this woman had no resources and could not afford to hire an attorney in Utah to help her regain custody of her baby. Utah Legal Services helps with these kinds of challenging issues every day.

We respectfully encourage your Foundation to continue to support Utah Legal Services and its volunteer programs. Through the Family Law Clinic and pro bono cases, Utah Legal Services is providing critical services to people who otherwise do not have access to legal help.

Sincerely,

DaRae Preston

Preston, Pence, & Li