Legal Aid is happy to announce that we have filled two important vacancies with long-time Legal Aiders. Sylvia Soltis is our new Director of Pro Bono, Volunteer, and Intern Programs, and Yoliara (Yoli) Ramos is our new Director of Intake.  

Sylvia has worked in Legal Aid’s Pro Bono Program since 2018. In that time, she has supported pro bono lawyers handling a wide range of cases. She has also facilitated partnerships designed to expand Legal Aid’s Pro Bono Program, thus helping even more clients to access legal services. In her new role, she will continue to explore creative ways for lawyers and other professionals to participate in our Pro Bono Program, while expanding our volunteer and intern programs. Before joining Legal Aid, Sylvia was an attorney at Zuckerman Spaeder where she focused on complex litigation in the areas of white-collar defense and health care. She also has firsthand experience with our volunteer program as a volunteer in Legal Aid’s Consumer Law Unit.  

“Sylvia has earned the respect and support of so many of our pro bono partners, as well as the legal services community at large,” said Vikram Swaruup, Executive Director of Legal Aid. “I am confident and thrilled that Sylvia will maintain the level of excellence that the pro bono program is known for across the city, while putting her own stamp on the work. I am also so excited for her to grow and build our volunteer and intern programs.” 

Yoli has worked as an attorney in our Family/Domestic Violence Law Unit since 2019. During that time, she has shown a tremendous ability to support clients through difficult situations. Her empathy and understanding of Legal Aid’s work made her a perfect fit for the Director of Intake role. She already has plans to improve our intake program to better serve those who need our help, including expanding Legal Aid’s presence in the communities where our clients live. Before joining Legal Aid, Yoli clerked in DC Superior Court and at the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, working on cases involving child support, custody, abuse, and neglect. 

“Yoli has a tremendous vision for how to strengthen our intake program and expand its reach through collaboration with our growing community lawyering program,” Vikram said. “I’m very excited to see all that she accomplishes in making our services easier to access in this new role.”