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Giving More than Legal Advice |
By Shannon Kelly
The Herald, October 15, 1998
WALL - Linda L. Piff talks a lot about empowerment. Given her history, you can see why.
Marathon runner, head of her own law firm, and the recent recipient of the "Make a Difference Award" for her pro-bone work, Piff is all about setting and achieving goals.
The "Make a Difference Award" is given by Epiphany House, a transitional housing and support organization for homeless women with children, who are recovering from alcohol and/or drug addiction.
Three years ago, Piff began representing the women of Epiphany House, helping them in custody bat-des for their children, domestic violence cases and other family law issues for which they coulff never have afforded a lawyer.
This year, Piff provided $10,000 in billable hours for her clients at Epiphany at no cost. Piff said the award is "public recognition" of her goal to make a difference in the life of just one person.
An affable woman with an. easy and honest laugh, Piff said she started volunteering because "the women really need ya'."
Very often with her caseload, the division of youth and family services (DYFS,)has already been involved. Piff said that given the backlog of public legal services, her clients face a daunting situation: trying to conquer an addiction, keep a hold on their family and to find a home all at the same time
When women come to Epiphany House they arrive "battered, broken and bankrupt," the directors say. By providing transional housing, help for addictions, counseling and training, the directors boast a 70 percent success rate among their clients who go on to lead drug-flee, self-sustaining lives.
Epiphany House meets the immediate need of housing, but its founders say, the program is more than buildings, "The real accomplishments," Piff said, "have been 30+ children born drug-free, children feeling secure ... (mothers who have) employment, self-esteem, freedom, responsibility, the spontaneous laughter of a child, a mother's pride."
Representing about four women a year, for around six months each, Piff, too, is more than a legal advocate to the women.
"I end up giving more than legal advice," she said. "I try to give them a backbone. I try to empower them."
Recently one of her former clients returned to show Piff how her efforts had done.
Now a working woman, she owns a home with some help from a relative and her two children are back living with her. Seeing her client "getting her life back to gether," Piff said makes her feel great.
"She succeeded," she said, repeating it over for emphasis and absorbing the feeling.
But not every story is a success. Another of her clients seemed to be back on track. She had graduated the program, gotten her children back home and now, well, Piff sighs, she's not sure if she will succeed.
"That's my job to help them stand up," she said but when the problems become overwhelming, it can be emotionally taxing, "I take a deep breath and I just don't take on their stuff," she said, "I try to help them."
Piff's own story is one of facing obstacles and twisted roads. At 30, when she realized she would not have children, Piff decided to make a dramatic change and attend law school.
"I felt I was intelligent enough at 30. I wanted a career," she said.
Ocean County College became her first step toward her goal, and with scholarships from her employer, she finished her associates degree with honors.
She enrolled at Monmouth University on a trustee-scholarship, working full-time during the day, attending classes at night to achieve her bachelors. Finally she enrolled in law school at Rutgers Universiv, again on scholarships and in night classes, still working part-time.
Going to school, she said, gave her a sense of confidence in herself she had not had before. Though, she said, she doesn't miss pulling all-nighters for papers and cramming for exams during her breaks at work.
Piff's first year of her career as an attorney was in the field of personal injury as when she been a paralegal. Though she had a degree on the wall, a certification from the Bar Association and her own clients, Piff remained unfulfilled.
"I never felt like I was making a difference in my clients' lives," she said.
Now in her work with families in the pains of growing and sometimes breaking apart, Piff is keenly aware of her impact on the lives of her clients.
Often cases of divorce and child custody tear at her emotionally when she sees people suffering, especially hurting chidlren. To remind herself of the good she does affect by being an attorney and sometimes a listening ear, she keeps a log of the thank you notes and the flower cards.
She keeps the cards, she says, to remember the victories.
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Contact Us
Please review our site for how The Law Offices of Linda L. Piff, Esquire, P.C. can assist you with your family law matters. If you have any questions, or would like to speak with someone personally, please feel free to contact us.
Law Offices of Linda L. Piff, Esquire, P.C.
1540 Highway 138
Wall, New Jersey 07719
Ph: (732) 556-0240
Fax: (732) 556-0246
Email: lindap@lindapiff.com
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