AC Howard Law Partners with WRC to Provide Guidance to Survivors
WRC’s mission to provide the highest-level quality of services available for survivors and their families would be impossible without the support we get from our community. Recently we have welcomed Anna Howard of AC Howard Law who is working to support the survivors we serve by giving her time and expertise to assist in guiding them with legal matters.
A graduate of the University of Southern California, Anna received her J.D. at University of San Diego’s School of Law in 2011. Anna grew up in the San Diego area and started her own law firm in Carlsbad following years of experience with an immigration clinic, clerking for Federal Judge Michael Anello, interning with the Public Defender’s office, and working for several other firms specializing in reproduction rights. Her motto is to “strive to follow the golden rule in all of [her] cases: treat clients with respect and with a smile.”
A long-time volunteer of several causes and organizations, Anna’s attention was drawn to WRC when she was looking for a way to support women with the knowledge base she has about family law. Many of WRC’s clients struggle with family law cases that include restraining orders, divorce, custody battles, and division of assets. Some of these cases can go on for months, or even years, while survivors struggle to keep afloat, support their families, and understand court proceedings. It is no question that ensuing legal matters are a major stressor in the lives of survivors who have fled abuse, especially for those with children.
Pictured: Anna Howard, J.D. of AC Howard Law
“Legal fees are daunting in these cases,” Anna says, “Although there are free legal resources for community members such as consultations at the downtown law library and the facilitator’s office at the courthouse, there is no right to counsel in family court. This means that having an in depth consultation with a lawyer, without necessarily having to hire that lawyer, is in short supply.” By volunteering her time to discuss legal matters with survivors, Anna is working to help mitigate the stress and anxiety that WRC clients face in court.
Anna’s advice to survivors going before the court: “Although you may fear the lies and tricks of the other party, judges were not born yesterday and they see through most false accounts. Charisma and charm have no weight in the courtroom, honesty and believability are what sways the judges. It is important to stand firm in the truth, and remember that the overarching goal in family court is to do whatever is in the best interest of any children.”
WRC thanks AC Howard Law for providing time and assistance to survivors who are working hard to ensure a better life for themselves and their families that is free of violence! To learn more about Anna and AC Howard Law, check out her website at http://www.achowardlaw.com/
