Unchained gave its first training course today to lawyers in New Jersey who are committed to representing Unchained clients pro bono – but do not yet have matrimonial-law experience. Eleven lawyers attended the course, titled “Un-Arrange a Marriage: An Introduction to Family Law, With a Focus on Forced Marriage.”
The 11 attorneys now will be matched with mentors – experienced matrimonial law attorneys – who will guide the them through the complex process of representing a woman who is fleeing an arranged/forced marriage.
The training course was presented by four experienced family law attorneys – Emily Carstensen of Rubenstein Meyerson Fox Conte (and Unchained’s board vice president); Deb Guston of Guston and Guston (and a member of Unchained’s board of advisers); Rebecca Levin of Jerner & Palmer; and Komal Ullah of Weinberger Law Group – and by Unchained’s executive director, Fraidy Reiss.
The free training course, worth eight Continuing Legal Education credits, was made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey. Unchained will present the course again in the spring.
