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When most people picture a law firm, they see suits, courtrooms, and conference rooms. In our community involvement video, we invite you to see something different: lawyers on doorsteps, in the streets, and face to face with neighbors who need a listening ear as much as legal guidance.
At van der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin, we do not separate our legal work from our community work. Both come from the same place: we treat people as whole human beings, not just legal files. This video shows how that looks in everyday moments.
What you will see when you hit play
From the first few seconds, the video takes you out of the boardroom and into the neighborhood. You hear one of our team members say, “Here at van der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin, we do a lot of community work and we do a lot of individual work helping people. I think of us as street lawyers.” That phrase, “street lawyers”, captures how we see our role: present, accessible, and grounded in the lives of real people.
The video highlights our Law Day tradition on May 1. You will hear how we go out into the streets, sit on doorsteps, and talk with people about their rights and options. The way our team member puts it is simple and honest: sometimes people just need a “human ear to listen to.” We see that as part of our job.
Another powerful moment comes when our team talks about giving out 500 turkeys during a community event. You see the scale of the effort in one line: “There's nothing like going and giving out 500 turkeys, and seeing all of those people and all of those faces. You have no idea what it does.” The video shows how those events lift the people we serve and lift us as well: “Every time we walk away from a community event, we feel buoyed.”
The people and passion behind the work
The heart of the video is not just what we do, but how we do it together. One of our team members talks about watching Mike in action: “Watching Mike and the passion that he has, Mike genuinely cares. Every moment is a coachable moment, and the way he cares about every single client in this building, it just makes me want to be a better person as well.”
That comment gives you a window into our culture. We learn from each other. We push each other to show up for clients and for the community with the same energy and care. The video gives you a sense of that day-to-day example, not as a slogan, but as something people feel in the halls of our firm.
Roots that run deep in the community
Another line from the video speaks to how we see our place here: “We're a firm that never forgot its roots. We're a firm whose roots continue to grow deep into the soil of this community.”
That image of roots matters to us. It reflects more than history. It reflects commitment. When we talk about “One Firm, Total Coverage,” we mean two things:
- We handle many different kinds of cases under one roof, so people can turn to a single team when life takes a hard turn.
- We stay connected to the communities we serve, not just to the courts where we appear.
The video’s scenes and stories show how those roots look in practice: from Law Day conversations on stoops to large food drives and other charitable work.
How this connects to our values today
Every theme in the video ties back to how we practice law now:
- Human-centered advocacy: When we sit with people on their steps and explain their rights, we do more than recite laws. We listen to what they are going through and help them understand the path ahead, just as we do for our clients.
- 360-degree support: The same mindset that leads us to give out 500 turkeys also drives us to look at how a legal matter affects a client’s family, work, and future. We look at the whole picture, not just the courtroom piece.
- Values-driven practice: In the video, you hear, “We feel like we're doing our job when we actually make an impact, however small or however big. We really get stronger by helping other people ourselves.” That belief guides our choices every day.
- High-caliber results with heart: Our team works hard on complex cases for everyday people. The care you see in our community work reflects the same care we bring to legal strategy and advocacy.
We see a direct line between showing up at a community event and showing up in a courtroom. Both require preparation, effort, and a real commitment to the people we serve.
Why this story matters now
Many people feel unsure about where to turn when life changes without warning. Legal questions often mix with fear, stress, and pressure on the whole family. The video shows how we try to meet those moments—not only with knowledge of the law, but also with presence, time, and respect.
When you watch, we invite you to listen for the small phrases that carry a lot of weight: “street lawyers,” “human ear to listen to,” “never forgot its roots,” and “we really get stronger by helping other people ourselves.” These lines sum up how we see our role in the community and with every client who walks through our doors.
If the video resonates with you and you want to talk about a legal issue that affects you or your family, you can reach van der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin at (215) 610-3440. We are here to listen, to explain your options, and to work with you on the path forward.
