Jul. 29, 2011

DLA Piper has been a very active participant in Stand Down for several years, and this year, more than 40 volunteers provided services to homeless veterans at three volunteer tents. Stand Down is a community-based intervention program designed to provide a wide array of services for homeless veterans combating life on the streets. DLA Piper’s participation in Stand Down is one component of the San Diego office’s signature pro bono project, “Serving Those Who Serve Our Country,” in which the firm dedicates significant resources to providing various legal and community services to veterans and military families in San Diego. In addition to the Communications Tent, DLA Piper also provided volunteers for the following tents: • Expungements Clinic: DLA Piper attorneys screen veterans on-site to determine if they are eligible to have their criminal records expunged. Previous records are often a major hindrance to veterans’ job search, and an expungement allows them to report on non government job applications never having been convicted of a crime. At the last Stand Down, DLA Piper counseled 50-75 veterans and provided free legal services afterward to secure expungements for roughly 10-15 who were eligible. • Kids and Teens Tents: DLA Piper provided volunteers to supervise and coordinate activities for the children of veterans while they utilized the services provided at Stand Down.