Dominican Republic Tri-Chapter Meeting on Promoting Justice and Public Service

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – On Thursday, November 21, 2024, the J. Reuben Clark Law Society (JRCLS) marked a milestone with a historic meeting where it convened the three active chapters of the organization in the country—Santo Domingo, Santiago, and San Cristóbal—along with the recently formed Dominican Republic Student Chapter for a special luncheon. This event, sponsored by the Legal Department of the Caribbean Area of ​​The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was held at the Guest House of the Santo Domingo Temple, reaffirming the commitment of religious lawyers to the promotion of justice, free legal assistance, and public service.

A Meeting with Purpose
With the participation of 30 lawyers and students from various Christian denominations, the event aimed to strengthen professional relationships between members, inspire the new student chapter and promote free legal services for the benefit of the most needy communities.

The day began with the registration of participants, followed by a warm welcome by Ingrid Martinez, president of the Santo Domingo Chapter. In attendance were Elder Valeri V. Cordón, First Counselor of the Caribbean Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Daniel Day, Area Legal Council in the Caribbean Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Zeneida Gómez, JRCLS Area Chair for the Caribbean Area; Vicente Hernández, President of the Santiago Chapter; and the Udall Family, a missionary couple.

Key Moments of the Meeting

Zeneida Gómez stressed the importance of providing free legal assistance to people in need, regardless of their religious denomination, including non-believers. She also pointed out that the collaboration of all is key to fulfilling the Christian principles of justice and charity.

Ms. Gomez also explained the services offered by members of the JRCLS, such as promoting religious freedom, and providing pro bono legal advice in areas such as labor law, immigration, family law, civil liability for traffic accidents, and criminal defense, under certain exceptions. She emphasized the procedure to follow to offer these services, which are typically provided free of charge.  She also stated that up to twenty (20) monthly hours of free legal assistance are offered, typically allotted in approximately five (05) hours per week.

In his remarks, Daniel Day highlighted the crucial role of lawyers in defending fundamental rights and promoting justice from a Christian perspective.

Experiences of Chapter Presidents
Ingrid Martínez urged chapters to work on an annual plan for 2025 to maximize community impact and strengthen participation in the international conferences offered by the Law Society. She recognized the significant sacrifice of the most committed collaborators and highlighted that the active collaboration of all members is essential to meet the challenges of providing pro bono legal service, where the demand for legal assistance can exceed the capacity of available attorneys.  In addition, she highlighted that the activities of the JRCLS not only offer free legal advice, but also opportunities for professional and intellectual growth.

In her remarks, Ms. Martínez highlighted the strategic role of active committees within the JRCLS, such as Women in the Law, Service, Communications, Events, and Religious Liberty, inviting chapters to strengthen these key areas. She also urged members to dedicate one hour per week to pro bono service, highlighting the transformative impact this effort can have both in the lives of those in need and in volunteers’ lives by strengthening their own faith and Christian values. Finally, she stressed the importance of recognizing chapter achievements in international forums and fostering interchapter collaboration to achieve common goals.

Mr. Vicente Hernández shared good practices from the Santiago Chapter, highlighting his experience leading it, and pointing out how citizens have benefited from the community service provided.  He also noted that some colleagues have also received assistance for unforeseen legal situations that have come into their lives.  He indicated that in these ways, the JRCLS has a transformative reach in both the lives of Law Society members and others who benefit from its work.

Message on Religious Freedom
Elder Valeri V. Cordón gave a moving presentation on religious freedom, highlighting its importance in defending human rights and preserving peace in societies. He also shared a personal experience about the profound impact of receiving selfless help in times of difficulty. He said that these acts not only alleviate immediate burdens, but also strengthen faith and testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ, showing the transformative power of service inspired by Christian love.

Presentation of the New Student Chapter
The Dominican Republic Student Chapter was officially presented at the meeting and met with great enthusiasm.  Student chapter members also made a commitment to be active agents in the promotion of justice and public service.

Reflections and Closure
During the closing of the event, the transformative power of selfless service was recalled, expressing the following phrase: “By dedicating just one hour a week to serve selflessly, you have the power to change someone's life. And in that act of generosity, you will not only transform their world, but you will also receive God's blessings in yours.”

This meeting confirmed the commitment of the JRCLS in the Dominican Republic, reaffirming its mission to be a beacon of justice, virtue and service. Looking ahead to 2025, the chapters pledged to redouble their efforts to positively impact the most vulnerable communities. The Law Society invites more lawyers and students of faith to join this noble cause, promoting access to justice and enriching their lives with divine service and blessings. 

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