Our first Volunteer of the Month for 2022 is Joe Reece of Davis Wright Tremaine in Anchorage. Joe has been a pro bono attorney with ALSC for 30+ years! Wow! His expertise and willingness to help ALSC clients is consistent and greatly appreciated. Thanks, Joe, for all you do!

Why did you choose to volunteer with ALSC?

I feel it is a privilege to use my knowledge and experience in real estate law to help people who do not have the resources to get justice. And it makes me happy. ALSC does a great job of screening clients so that my volunteer efforts are dedicated to clients who desperately need the help.

What are some of your experiences at ALSC that have made a positive difference in the lives of others and/or the community?

The most memorable is probably helping a client who had lost his house to foreclosure by an unscrupulous private lender. I was able to reverse the foreclosure and get the house back, so the client and his daughter had a place to live. I also helped an elderly purchaser of a condo when the seller closed without disclosing a dangerously faulty gas furnace the seller knew about. I obtained compensation for a new furnace my client could not otherwise afford.

How do you think your experiences with ALSC will benefit you in the future?

It will give me the satisfaction, looking back on my life, that I did more than help the wheels of commerce run smoothly and efficiently. Providing legal services and advice to paying clients is satisfying, but helping those who lack the knowledge and/or resources to navigate the system is even more meaningful.

What do you do when you are not volunteering with ALSC?

Getting exercise with our standard poodle and miniature poodle, who are an endless source of amusement and affection as well as exercise. I also like reading books printed on paper, the old fashioned way.