Connor volunteers at ALSC by providing his legal assistance to callers struggling with housing issues on our monthly Landlord/Tenant Helpline. He also takes pro bono cases. Connor is diligent, reliable, and eager to assist people with their needs. Thank you Connor for your pro bono service!
Why did you choose to volunteer with ALSC?
I was introduced to ALSC when a friend applied for and pursued a job working in ALSC’s Anchorage office. His stories about the valuable contributions he was able to make to those who are in need of legal help in Anchorage, and Alaska generally, struck me. I recognized that this was an organization that I could wholeheartedly support.
Once I finished my clerkship and started working in private practice, my interest in doing pro bono work was strongly encouraged by my firm. My friend helped me connect with ALSC, and they quickly and helpfully plugged me in.
What are some of your experiences at ALSC that have made a positive difference in the lives of others and/or the community?
I started out by taking on a fairly straightforward case through ALSC helping an individual regain his driver’s license and negotiate payment plans on various outstanding debts that were standing in the way of him obtaining employment. During this case, I and a supervising attorney at my firm, Kevin Cuddy, were able to negotiate significantly lower monthly payments for the client and get the liens removed off his driver’s license.
At the same time, I have continued to work with the Landlord Tenant helpline on a monthly basis. I think the helpline, especially these last few months with the Covid-19 crisis, has been an invaluable resource to those who don’t have somewhere else to turn during these tough times. Also, I have been able to spring board from what I learned in my first case with ALSC and have since become involved with the Alaska Immigration Justice Project and the Federal Pro Bono project, where I hope to reach/help others as well.
How do you think your experiences with ALSC will benefit you in the future?
Working with ALSC gave me the confidence to get involved in more ways in the community. I found ALSC to be helpful and supportive in allowing me to catch up on what I did not know and make use of what I did know, to help others. I am not sure what direction my pro bono work will take in the future, but the fact that I started with ALSC—and plan to continue to partner with them—gave me a really good first experience that has encouraged me to pursue pro bono work regularly. Further, I find the work to be a wonderful diversion from my other responsibilities and very rewarding.
What do you do when you are not volunteering with ALSC?
I grew up in Homer, but am a recent transplant to Anchorage, so a lot of my time is spent exploring/getting to know the area and community. Professionally, when I’m not volunteering, I work as a litigation associate at Stoel Rives, LLP. And for fun, I will find any excuse to float down a river (hopefully) catching trout, and I play cello/guitar/sing in a local band—Wiley Post.
