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October 2019 Newsletter
You're invited!
We hope you (and your friends!) can join us at ALSC's annual Partners in Justice Kickoff Party as we stand together to fight for equal access to justice for all Alaskans!

Thursday, October 24th, 2019
5:30pm - 7pm

Snow City Cafe
1034 West 4th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501

The evening will feature special remarks from Justice Peter Maassen, appetizers and drinks generously sponsored by Holland & Knight, and fun for all!
Remembering Robert Hickerson
Every October 12th, ALSC commemorates Robert Hickerson Day.

Robert Hickerson was ALSC's Executive Director from 1984 until June 2001, when he passed away after a courageous 7-year on-again-off-again battle with a brain tumor.

All who were lucky enough to work for Robert before he passed have always been inspired by his courageousness; his absolute commitment to our cause, our community and our clients; as well as the way he assured that every person at ALSC understood they were a part of this team and capable of making a difference. We are forever grateful to Robert, and the lasting impact he made here at ALSC.
ALSC at AFN
ALSC will be at the 2019 AFN Convention in Fairbanks providing information about our new Advocate Training Program!

The FREE Advocate Training Program brings legal, social services, medical, and information providers together to address the legal needs that people face. The training is available for those interested in assisting on legal topics that greatly affect low-income Alaskans in communities across that state. Once trained, advocates can assist clients in resolving the legal issues with the full support and assistance of ALSC. Stop by our booth to learn more!

CURRENT TRAINING SUBJECT AREAS

SNAP (Food Stamp) Advocacy
Available Now!
Learn how to advocate for community members facing food security issues, SNAP delays and wrongful SNAP denials

Will Drafting
Available October 2019
Learn how to communicate the importance of wills and help community members draft wills

ICWA Basics
Available Winter 2019
Learn the about the Indian Child Welfare Act, its
importance to Tribes, and how it affects Child in Need of Aid (CINA) cases

Bankruptcy Basics
Available Spring 2020
Learn the basics of a bankruptcy case and how to assist others in gathering the necessary documents to proceed with the case.

Debt Collection Defense
Available Spring 2020
Learn how to assist in defending against debt collection

CONTACT
Please contact Sarah Carver at [email protected] or 907-406-2222 if you are interested in learning more about the advocate training program!

PARTNERS
ALSC is proud to partner with ANTHC, APU, and Seattle University School of Law in designing and implementing these training modules.
The holiday season is just around the corner, and we invite you to kick it off with ALSC on Giving Tuesday! Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that falls on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

When you support ALSC on Giving Tuesday, you give the gift of justice to Alaskans who are trying to secure safety, health and housing for themselves and their families. Together, we can create real change in our community!

This year, we are so thankful that CIRI has once again stepped up to match every dollar donated to ALSC on Tuesday, December 3, for up to $15,000! Thank you CIRI!!!
To gear up for the big day, ALSC is collecting photos ( template available here ) that show why ALSC supporters and volunteers invest in access to justice (check out some great examples from last year below!). You can email your photo to [email protected]  and we will post it on our  Facebook  page leading up to Giving Tuesday!
Legal Clinics and Opportunities:

Legal Clinic for Veterans - Anchorage

ALSC and the Alaska Department of Veterans Affairs offer a free legal clinic on a variety of civil legal needs at the VA offices in Anchorage for veterans once a month. Advance registration and income eligibility screening is required. To sign up, please call ALSC at 907-222-4501. Here are the upcoming 2019 clinic dates:

Friday, November 8
Thursday, December 6

Landlord/Tenant Helpline - Statewide

ALSC offers a biweekly Landlord/Tenant Helpline every Tuesday and Thursday. The helpline is hosted by a pro bono attorney who assists callers with their housing issues. The call-in information is:

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Anchorage callers: 907-743-1000
Statewide Toll-Free callers: 1-855-743-1001
 
Landlord/Tenant Legal Clinic - Anchorage

ALSC offers a free landlord/tenant legal clinic at the Fairview Community Recreation Center every month on the first Wednesday from 6-8pm. The clinic answers question about the Alaska Landlord Tenant Act and provides information about rights and obligations for landlords and tenants.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Follow ALSC on our social media channels to stay up to date on how we are raising awareness throughout the month!
Volunteer
of the Month
Our October Volunteer of the Month is John Sherman! John is a dedicated attorney at  Mendel Colbert & Associates, Inc.  where he represents clients in family law matters as well as in appeals to the Alaska Supreme Court. As a pro bono volunteer at ALSC, John uses his expertise to provide top-notch legal help in family law matters to our client community. Through this work, John strives to do all he can to make a difference and we are so thankful to have him as a volunteer! Read on for our full interview with John below:

Why did you choose to volunteer with ALSC?

As a private family law attorney, I see a staggering unmet need for free legal services to people who cannot afford their own attorney. The legal system is not designed for people to represent themselves. Attempting to navigate it without an understanding of the law or the practical ways family law attorneys solve problems has lasting effects on the lives of people involved in divorce and custody cases, as well as their children. People agree to settlements that are not in anyone’s best interest because they lack the ability to fight for something different, or lack an understanding of what their options really are. Judges do not get the information they need to make good decisions because people do not know how to present it. 

ALSC provides excellent service to low-income clients, but absent an enormous increase in their budget and size, they can only do so much to address the problem. By volunteering for them I hope to support them in the work they do, and do my part to increase the number of clients they can reach.  

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

One of the most satisfying aspects of representing clients through ALSC has been being able to help clients get what they were awarded by the court but which their former spouse or partner refuses to give them. It frustrates me when I see people avoid their responsibilities because they know they can bully around someone who cannot afford to hire their own attorney. 
Some of the cases that stand out to me are ones where my client was owed an amount of money that would make a world of difference in their own life, but which is too little to be worth paying an attorney to help collect. Sometimes all it takes is showing the bully that my client is not going to walk away from what is due to them to get them to follow an order. Even if the dollar amounts seem small compared to cases the court sees every day, it can make a huge difference in someone’s life, and also in giving people confidence that the legal system serves them and does what it is supposed to.

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

Each case I work is different, and provides me with tools to help me in my future practice. 
One of the first cases I took from ALSC involved working for a woman with physical disabilities and near-constant pain. I learned a lot about public benefit law that I otherwise would never encounter; I also learned a lot about the realities of living with disabilities and lacking the means to support oneself. That was an experience I would not have encountered in my normal practice and which has influenced how I see and continue to evaluate cases. Every case I have received from ALSC has given me the opportunity to focus on and understand issues I would not directly address in my day-to-day practice, but which influence how I approach cases and clients in the future.

Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

As an Iowa transplant, I have made Alaska my home for almost seven years now. I currently serve as co-chair of the Alaska Bar Association Family Law Section. My wife and I welcomed our daughter Sybil into the world this year; when we are not working together at  Mendel Colbert & Associates  we are exposing our daughter to all the outdoor beauty Alaska has to offer. 
Give While You Shop

Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program

You can help ALSC earn donations just by doing your regular grocery shopping! Sign up by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to ALSC on the   Community Rewards website .

AmazonSmile

When you shop at smile.amazon.com , you’ll find the exact same prices, selection and shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate .5% of the purchase price to your favorite non-profit.

Bagoy's Florist

Thanks to the Bagoy's Helping Hands program , $2 of every flower arrangement bought through Bagoy's website can be donated to the charity of your choice by selecting it from the Helping Hands menu on the order page.