WASHINGTON: In collaboration across the legal, tech, consumer protection, and nonprofit industries, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP (DWT) is launching a legal clinic to provide victims of online scams access to the justice system. The Scam Justice Legal Clinic – announced by DWT, Amazon, Pro Bono Institute (PBI), and Better Business Bureau (BBB) Institute for Marketplace Trust at BBB’s annual National Scam Survivor Day event in Washington, D.C. – is providing survivors of scams with access to free legal advice and education.

Scam losses reported by Americans rose by almost 10 percent, to $13.7 billion, in 2024, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Scam Justice Legal Clinic is a first-of-its-kind pilot program to equip victims with knowledge, resources, and a compassionate environment to restore their confidence, facilitate recovery, and build resilience against future threats.

“Combatting cybercrime is a focus of our daily legal practice,” said Grant Damon-Feng, a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine. “We’re in a unique position to help survivors take proactive and productive steps forward after they’ve been victimized.”

Pro bono volunteers from DWT and Amazon will staff the clinic in its pilot phase, while BBB will draw on its expansive consumer education network to provide referrals. PBI will leverage its expertise and network to help remove barriers to participation and mobilize more legal professionals around the country to get involved in the clinic, which will operate under a limited legal services model.

“Scams are deeply personal violations that transcend geography, age, and background, leaving millions feeling afraid, isolated, and unsure where to turn,” said Joanna Plichta Boisen, Chief Pro Bono & Social Impact Officer at Davis Wright Tremaine. “This clinic not only helps address a major access to justice issue, but ensures survivors are met with compassion, dignity, and the legal power to reclaim their voices – and their lives.”

Currently, the clinic is available to consumers in California, New York, and Washington states as well as Washington, D.C. Consumers seeking assistance are encouraged to contact BBB through the Scam Tracker. Legal professionals and others seeking more information about the clinic should contact ScamJustice@dwt.com.

About Davis Wright Tremaine

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm with more than 600 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. Learn more at www.dwt.com.

Fonte: Business Wire