February 6th, 2026

The Richmond Bar Association’s latest issue of The Richmond Lawyer was dedicated to the National Celebration of Pro Bono, honoring attorneys who give their time to serve the community. Congratulations to Sean for his thoughtful contribution and for helping highlight the importance of pro bono work in our legal community.

Pro Bono Protective Orders: Sharpen Your Litigation Skills & Help Your Community

According to the Virginia Bar Association, domestic abuse remains one of the top pro bono needs in Virginia. If you're asking yourself, "How can I use my legal skills to help in domestic abuse cases?" I have great news. Pro bono protective order cases not only meet a critical legal need, but they also offer valuable opportunities to sharpen your litigation skills.

The Need

Victims of domestic violence are often recovering from severe trauma. Trauma which is made worse when victims lack access to legal representation. When I speak with clients in these situations, they frequently express how isolating it feels to have no one in their corner. By becoming their advocate, we enable them to break the cycle of trauma. I once worked with a client who had obtained a temporary protective order. Unfortunately, we were not successful in securing a permanent one. While she was understandably disappointed, she told me that simply having someone in her corner gave her the courage not to return to her abuser, a cycle she had previously struggled to break.

The Benefit

You might be thinking, “That’s admirable, but I just don’t have the time. ” The reality is, protective order cases often require a relatively low time commitment and offer a hands-on opportunity to sharpen your litigation skills. These cases allow you to conduct direct examinations, deal with evidentiary and admissibility challenges, and present compelling cases using a range of evidence: text messages, photographs, medical records, recordings, and 911 call logs. These skills are crucial to demonstrating the need for a protective order. They also happen to be critical skills for any litigator.

The Call

Practicing law is a privilege. As attorneys, we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to give back. Pro bono protective order work is one of the most impactful ways to do so. It is an opportunity to sharpen your litigation skills while changing lives in your community.

Read his article here (Page 19).