Dawn N. Gearhart '07

What drew you to Washoe Legal Services and what do you like most about your work there?

Washoe Legal Services (WLS) has a very dynamic and energetic group of team members. The attorneys and professional staff alike are willing to work together and help one another to ensure high-quality legal service is provided to our clients. When a client walks through our doors, regardless of their circumstances, they are treated with respect. Various programs and services are offered—everything from self-help clinics to the Children’s Attorney Project to Domestic Violence and Immigration representation. 

I joined Washoe Legal Services as a Child Advocate Attorney and thought that I would never practice another area of law again. A year later, in order to build an education advocacy division within our Children’s Unit, I find myself in the newly-created position of Director of Pro Bono Services. I am routinely able to collaborate and train with the fabulous Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. I share this to illustrate that, in legal aid, you can wear many different hats. You can try different practice areas and grow as much as you want in so many different areas of the law. WLS is a fun place to work because of what we do; what we are able to do; and all the different things that we might conceive of doing. 

Is there a nugget of advice you would give a recent Boyd Law graduate?

I would encourage you to continue the Boyd law school tradition of providing pro bono services throughout your legal career. And please encourage your peers and colleagues to commit also. Knowing that you were able to give a voice to someone or to help someone access or navigate our complex legal system is immensely gratifying on a personal level. You also can explore areas of unfamiliar law; receive free training and continuing legal education credits; and be paired with an experienced mentor. In this process, I guarantee that you will expand your professional network. Most private law firms are also committed to providing pro bono services and will likely support and encourage your involvement. You and the entire legal community tangentially benefits by helping foster legal systems which are more efficient and fair through this involvement.   

What do you enjoy in your off hours?

Spending time with my 8-year-old son and my 6-year-old daughter. Living in Northern Nevada gives us the opportunity to experience so many outdoor recreational activities. We are active in the winter months with the Sky Tavern program (a non-profit program in Northern Nevada for teaching and learning skiing and snowboarding). During the summer, we enjoy frequent camping trips. This is balanced with countless extracurricular activities; plus we try to throw in a lot of roads trips. Next April, we are excited to be able to take our first international trip together as a family.