Speaker: Renee Boman, Senior Paralegal
What interests you most about FVAP?
Renee Boman: FVAP is most known for our appellate work and that's obviously extremely necessary and important work. The rest of the work that we do, I also find interesting because by the time we get to an appellate stage, obviously, we think that the court misapplied the law. And so we're doing all kinds of work to make sure that cases don't get to that point so kind of working ourselves out of a job. We've got a training program where we're training advocates and attorneys representing survivors so they get more just outcomes in trial court and appeals aren't necessary. We're developing written materials to help people representing themselves in court. And again, advocates and attorneys providing technical assistance directly to service providers representing domestic violence survivors and survivors of gender based abuse. So all of that work is really interesting and you know, all with the end of making it so an appeal isn't necessary because trial courts get it right the first time. And I think that's pretty interesting.
Share your most inspirational moments in your FVAP experience.
Renee Boman: There are so many inspirational moments in my FVAP experience that it's hard to choose. I think I'm just gonna briefly summarize a few sort of themes. So for me, I'm inspired when I make someone feel like heard and seen that hasn't felt that way. You know, survivors of abuse are navigating flawed systems, feeling unheard, made to feel like they've done something wrong. Dynamics of abuse aren't understood in the court system. There's just so many things, so many hurdles to overcome and often it can be very isolating. So making someone feel like I see you, I hear what you're saying. We care about you is just really inspiring feeling and I'm grateful that that is part of my job. I'm also super inspired by our law clerks. It's just really cool to see a next generation of people who may be interested in family law who may be interested in, you know, working with survivors of violence, learning and also teaching us new things. So that is always a really inspirational and fulfilling experience working with them. And finally, my colleagues always inspire me, trying to constantly think of how we can do this work better, better for each other, and better for survivors, and better for the organization, keeps me inspired daily.
