Enid Attorney on Board to Help Families in Crisis

Since moving to Enid in 1990, Ann Overstreet has practiced law with the firm of Elliott, Enabnit, Newby, Ezzell and Overstreet. Ms. Overstreet’s area of expertise within this civil litigation firm is estates, wills and trusts. Thus, it seems odd that she may be best known in Enid for her pro bono work on cases involving domestic violence or child endangerment.

Ms. Overstreet took an interest in this area of pro bono because she herself is an adopted child. She has volunteered in the family law-related area since her graduation from the TU law school in 1989. Her father was a CPA in Oklahoma City and a life-long Kiwanis member. Ann witnessed his dedication to Kiwanis, his church, his family and his alma mater (OSU). She remarks that she was bred into public service.

Ms. Overstreet has served on the board of directors of the Enid YWCA for the past seven years, serving three of those years as president. Early on she began to see a desperate need for pro bono legal assistance in the community, but found few attorneys in Garfield County willing and/or able to take on domestic cases. Her innovative solution was to merge the private charitable system with the legal system.

During her term on the board of directors, the Enid YWCA received a federal grant to hire a court liaison for the association’s crisis center. The liaison walks battered women through the legal system and helps them obtain protective orders against their abusers. The liaison also offers support and advice to women facing custody battles or any family law-related issue. The liaison also attempts to obtain pro bono legal help for women utilizing the crisis center, and this is where Ms. Overstreet comes in. Last year she handled many cases referred to her from the Enid YWCA Crisis Center in addition to the cases referred to her from Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma. Approximately 75 percent of Ann’s working hours are dedicated to pro bono and community service projects.

Enid YWCA Executive Director Shelly Lambertz said, “Ann is very generous with her time. I can’t remember her ever saying no. Most people don’t realize how much she does. She doesn’t toot her own horn. She doesn’t do it to be recognized. She is just a very effective and credible person in the community and a wonderful person to work with.”

A law partner of Ms. Overstreet said, “Ann has a terrific sense of social justice. She often comes to my office shocked by the unfairness that those less fortunate in our community face. The issue of whether they can pay or not has nothing to do with it.”

Ms. Overstreet noted that her firm is very supportive of her work and said, “Every member of our firm is committed to public service.” She added, “I have witnessed so many different instances where people get caught up in the system, and I am outraged by the sense of injustice that I see. I feel honored to be able to represent these individuals. It is a very rewarding experience.”

If you know an attorney who should be recognized for their pro bono efforts, please let us know. Submissions should be forwarded to probono@okbar.org or Pro Bono Services Subcommittee, c/o Heidi J. Long, 204 N. Robinson, Suite 1550, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.