Vinson & Elkins Draws Praise for Pro Bono Representation

Vinson & Elkins attorneys Monique Watson, Victoria Godfrey and Karina Pereira were recognized at Legal Aid DC’s annual Servant of Justice Awards Dinner on April 29, for their outstanding work in securing critical Social Security disability benefits for a pro bono client. The event celebrated the vital role of pro bono legal assistance in advancing justice for vulnerable District residents.

Founded in 1932, Legal Aid DC, the District’s oldest and largest civil legal services organization, published an article highlighting Vinson & Elkins’ victory in the pro bono matter.

As noted in the article, the firm’s client faced significant health challenges and was on the verge of giving up after multiple denials for Social Security disability benefits.

Below is an excerpt of the article:

“Our team at Vinson & Elkins was drawn to Ms. Sanu’s case because of the severity and complexity of her health conditions and her determination to overcome them,” [Pereira] said. “We were inspired by her resilience and commitment to her health and recovery, and wanted to help ensure that she received benefits she was entitled to so that she could focus on her wellbeing rather than worrying about financial insecurity.”

Ms. Sanu, 34, has several serious physical and mental health conditions that make it impossible for her to maintain steady employment, and she has been experiencing homelessness for nearly eight years. She is currently living in a shelter, where it is extremely challenging to manage her health situation or focus on self-care.  . . .

The Vinson & Elkins team requested thousands of pages of medical documentation from Ms. Sanu’s medical team, recognizing that the initial denial and the denial on reconsideration did not fully reflect the severity of her conditions.

Ms. Sanu and her legal team’s persistence paid off when, in August 2024, the judge issued a favorable decision, awarding both SSDI and SSI benefits for Ms. Sanu, along with back pay spanning two years. . . .

“I definitely would not have been able to receive my benefits without legal help. I think, when I had an attorney, I noticed the attitude change in how Social Security was responding to me,” she said.

This success story exemplifies the transformative power of the firm’s pro bono program, which provides vulnerable individuals with the critical legal support they need to secure their rights.

Vinson & Elkins has long been guided by the principle that pro bono clients — like all firm clients — should be fully and effectively represented. As a result, the firm devotes significant time and financial resources to the legal needs of individuals and organizations that cannot afford representation.

From senior partners to first-year associates, our lawyers donate their skills and time to personal passions that make lasting impacts on others in need. On average, 25,000+ hours of pro bono legal service are provided each year by Vinson & Elkins lawyers.