THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 30, 1995 TAG: 9507280202
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
RANDI BLUMENSON SAYS she didn't choose her career as senior attorney for the Virginia Legal Aid Society. It chose her.
Ten years later, Blumenson has been honored with this year's Legal Aid Award, an annual award presented by the Virginia State Bar to an outstanding legal aid attorney.
Colleagues - even those who've worked as opposing counsel - sing her praises.
Attorney and real estate developer Hubert H. Young Jr., who has gone against Blumenson, 41, had only positive comments.
``Randi is one of the most respected lawyers,'' he said. ``In spite of the fact she represents the opposite side, she has always tried to resolve the dispute with clear advocacy. Both sides feel good after the dispute is over.''
And David Neumeyer, executive director of Virginia Legal Aid Society, had this to say:
``Randi is a real role model for the legal profession and for anyone who strives to do public service because she works hard. She is thorough. She is self-critical, and she does her utmost on every single problem she handles.''
Family and her strong office staff, says Blumenson, are the keys to her success.
A native of Brooklyn, Blumenson attended Ohio Northern University Law School. She is married to Daniel Mussatti, a lieutenant commander in the Coast Guard. They have two stepsons and one son and live in Suffolk.
Although she's happy about her recent accomplishment, Blumenson is troubled by a federal funding crisis that threatens to close the society. It has been a mainstay at Washington Square Mall for the past 15 years.
If Congress voted, by summer's end, to cut funding from the Society's $1.7 million budget by 35 percent next year and another 65 percent the following year, the Suffolk office would close.
People who qualify for legal aid are those with an income less than 125 percent of federal poverty guidelines. For a family of four, that means about $18,000. In 1994, the region including Suffolk handled 4,300 cases.
The idea of hundreds of indigent people having to commute to Franklin for service is disheartening to Blumenson, but it's a predicament she's been in before.
Fifteen years ago, Blumenson began her career as a struggling private practice attorney in Cleveland. She jumped at the opportunity to work for that city's legal aid society.
The society was dealing with a funding crisis and could only hire her for six months. The budget crisis was resolved, and Blumenson was hired full-time. From there, she found her calling: helping low-income people resolve civil matters such as evictions, landlord-tenant disputes, child custody situations and unemployment compensation.
``It kind of kept going, and ever since then I guess I got hooked,'' said Blumenson. ``I didn't choose this, it chose me.''
It's not an easy job, says Blumenson. The pay is low, the hours long.
Perhaps most frustrating is continually loosing Society lawyers to higher paying private positions.
``The cases that come in here are very compelling, and I enjoy our clients,'' Blumenson said. ``I enjoy working in this community. The attorneys are supportive. My staff is very dedicated.''
One such compelling case involved client Iris Barrett.
Four years ago, Barrett, 54, lost her housekeeping job at a local hotel after becoming disabled with several physical ailments. Two years later, her husband died after a long illness. And shortly afterward, she lost her apartment.
What should have then been a routine appropriation of social security and widow's benefits became a bureaucratic nightmare, says Barrett.
Barrett says government officials questioned her disability status and said her age disqualified her for certain benefits. That's where Randi Blumenson came in.
``Here's a woman who got in a situation where it was no fault of her own,'' Blumenson said, ``. . . and they were tying up her benefits.''
Blumenson urged Barrett to get general relief, including food stamps and medicaid, which amounted to $95 each month. In the interim, Blumenson worked to help Barrett get her social security and widow's benefits while she lived with her daughter.
Barrett applied for the benefits in December 1993. She got her first check in November 1994. She moved out of her daughter's apartment into a local public housing unit and now says she finally feels independent.
``I always wanted to see the world and get out,'' says Barrett with a wide smile. ``Now I can.''
Barrett now travels to Baltimore, Chicago and other cities. It was something she never had the opportunity to do while she waited for her benefits.
``If it wasn't for her, I don't know where I'd be. She's a good lawyer,'' says Barrett.
What keeps Blumenson in this career, with long hours and pay not competitive with corporate law jobs? She says one simply has to choose a career that he or she likes.
When she was young, her father told her to get a job that ``you liked waking up to every morning.''
She found it serving the public.
``I absolutely love my work,'' she says. ``It's an opportunity to practice law and represent people who need services.'' MEMO: AT A GLANCE
The Virginia Legal Aid Society serves Suffolk, Emporia, Farmville,
Halifax, Danville, Martinsville and Lynchburg.
Its aim is to give indigent people ``equal justice under law.''
Suffolk office, created in 1979: 140 W. Washington St., 539-3441. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo on cover by John H. Sheally II
Randi Blumenson...
Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Without Randi Blumenson's help, Iris Barrett might not be enjoying
the independence that came with her disability benefits.
The Virginia State Bar has honored Randi Blumenson with this year's
Legal Aid Award.
Blumenson worries that budget cuts could close Suffolk's Legal Aid
office.
by CNB