Jamie Dyce: Providing Peace of Mind Through the Law

Last week, the New York Law Journal honored Jamie Dyce of Duane Morris as one of their “Lawyers Who Lead By Example,” citing her extraordinary 200-hour-per-year pro bono commitment. The City Bar Justice Center was delighted to see Jamie recognized in the Law Journal, because since 2009 many of those 200 hours have been devoted to the Justice Center’s Elderlaw and Cancer Advocacy Projects.

“She has taken case after case, and she treats each client as if they were her only one,” said Vivienne Duncan, the director of the two projects. “Some of her cases have included stressful factors, but she rises to meet every challenge while establishing a wonderful rapport with the clients.”

One client matched with Jamie by the Justice Center had been confined to a Japanese internment camp during World War II and subsequently received reparations. Now terminally ill, and long-estranged from her siblings, she desperately wanted to prepare a will. Even as Jamie accepted the case, the client’s health suddenly deteriorated and time became of the essence. That same day, Jamie traveled to meet with the client at her hospital bedside and the documents were completed within four days. When the client passed away one week later, her nephew, with whom she was close, wrote to express his gratitude for the assistance his aunt received, saying “I think she was able to go peacefully largely because you were able to work with her to complete her legal documents.”

Another of Jamie’s Justice Center clients was able to express her own feelings about the help she received. Having been given the devastating news that her medical condition was terminal and that she was unlikely to live for much longer, the client contacted CAP to request assistance with preparing end-of-life documents. Shortly after accepting the case, Jamie learned that the client had suffered a medical emergency and had been admitted to the hospital. As her health fluctuated over the following days, Jamie met with the client and they kept in close touch by email and telephone. Once again, the client’s documents were completed within days and she expressed her appreciation in an email which read, “Thank you to your organization and thanks again to all at Duane Morris. All parties concerned at Duane Morris have demonstrated such outstanding professionalism throughout this process and all have also showed me a true compassion and understanding at my time of need. God Bless you all for all that has been done for me. I am eternally grateful.”

Duane Morris fully supports Jamie’s pro bono work, which reflects the firm’s belief in the importance of volunteering. Jamie often works on Justice Center cases with another Duane Morris attorney and project volunteer, William Bagliebter. Duncan said, “Our project volunteers from Duane Morris have provided exceptional assistance over the years and we are particularly grateful to Jamie, Will and Michael Grohman for their continuing support.”

For her part, Dyce said, “I am incredibly proud to be part of such a great team here at Duane Morris and involved in projects like the Elderlaw and Cancer Advocacy Project. So many of my colleagues are actively volunteering and working hard to raise awareness about important legal issues.”