December 2019 VIP: Valerie Daye, Esq.
Each month, The Veterans Consortium recognizes a “VIP” – Volunteer Inspiring Pro Bono. TVC values all our volunteers and wishes to recognize those who inspire others.
Valerie Daye, Esq.
Valerie Daye, Attorney At Law, LLC
TVC National Volunteer Corps
TVC often touts our amazing volunteers and their commitment to our program. Members of our TVC National Volunteer Corps are an amazing group of dedicated attorneys, but our December Volunteer Inspiring Pro Bono (VIP) truly stands out with her enthusiasm for our program and serving veterans.
Valerie Daye’s family has a long, well documented history of service to our country. Her family has had over 100 members serve our country from the time of the Spanish-American War to present day. Her family rightfully takes great pride in this history of honor and patriotism. Valerie’s personal commitment to veterans began with her grandfather, Pvt. Frank Pinnix, a WWI Army veteran, who served and fought in France and Italy during the war. When he returned home, he was able to purchase the family farm with the money he earned and saved during his service. That farm in North Carolina is where Valerie was raised by the very same man, whom she admired deeply.
Because of her grandfather’s service, Valerie was able to apply for, and receive, the La Verne Noyes Scholarship, which is available to biological descendants of WWI veterans. Through this scholarship, Valerie attended Howard University School of Law.
It’s no wonder that when Valerie learned about The Veterans Consortium, she jumped at the chance to serve the veterans that mean so much to her. “When I heard about the work TVC was doing and the opportunity to volunteer, I immediately thought of my Grandfather and how I could give back to him,” says Valerie.
Since taking our training in 2016, Valerie has won remands in three of her cases and the VA has agreed to a Joint Motion for Remand in her current case. Valerie also volunteers at our weekly clinics at the DC VA Medical Center (DC VAMC). She was also one of our first volunteers at a highly successful clinic specifically for women veterans at the DC VAMC in the Women’s Health Clinic during Pro Bono Week 2019.
“Working with Valerie has been a true pleasure,” says Courtney Smith, TVC Senior Director, CAVC Practice. “Her energy, enthusiasm and can-do spirit are evident in her case work as well as her work at the pro bono legal clinics. She is a remarkable advocate for veterans and for our program. We are lucky to have her as a member of our TVC National Volunteer Corps.”
“Working with The Veterans Consortium, taking cases and working in the Legal Clinics has been a very rewarding experience," says Valerie. “This is one of the best run programs out there. The training was top notch and the mentors are very knowledgeable and helpful. I particularly enjoy my work at the clinics. The Veterans Consortium, merely by its commitment of time and presence to these clinics, provides a safe place where veterans are comfortable discussing day to day issues that may be adversely impacting their lives. Being able to provide counsel and direct the veteran to resources becomes one less burden on those who have so honorably served our country.”
In addition to her pro bono work with veterans, Valerie works as a contract attorney in Washington, DC. She enjoys collecting art from unknown, but up and coming artists, living a healthy lifestyle and participating in local 5k and 10k races.