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September 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

There will be appetizers, an open bar generously sponsored by Holland & Knight, and fun for all!
FREE Domestic Violence Pro Bono Services CLE on 9/27
As part of the POWER Act, there will be a free panel and training for attorneys on pro bono services for domestic violence/sexual assault survivors at the Federal Court House on Friday, October 24th.

AGENDA:

1:00pm: Welcome by U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan
 
1:15pm: First-Hand Survivor Impact Statement 
 
1:25pm: Panel Discussion with Pro Bono Legal Service Providers

Moderator: Gregory P. Razo, Vice President, CIRI

Panel Members include Representatives from: Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis
 
2:15pm: Break – Refreshments 
 
2:30pm: Break-Out Training Sessions 

Section 1983 Litigation in a Nutshell with Hon. Sharon L. Gleason, United States District Court Judge  

Representation of Survivors of Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault with Christine McLeod Pate, Director of Legal Programs, ANDVSA and Maggie Humm, Supervising Attorney, Alaska Legal Services Corporation

Ethics & Best Practices in Working with Vulnerable Populations  with Natalie Wicklund, United States District Court Pro Se Law Clerk  
 
4:30pm: Adjourn 
  
QUESTIONS? Please contact:

Nikki Gasper: [email protected]
or Kevin Feldis:  [email protected]
ALSC in the Community:
ALSC staff attorney Heather Parker being sworn into Tlingit & Haida Tribal Court with longtime ALSC friend Roberta Wolfe, who was sworn in as an advocate. The swearing in was officiated by Chief Justice Michelle Demmert with assistance from tribal court clerk Melissa Museth (pictured on the right).
ALSC staff attorney Rachael Delehanty at the third annual Fairbanks Caregiver and Senior Resource Fair held on September 18th.
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, October 11
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 from 6-8pm. The clinic answers question about the Alaska Landlord Tenant Act and provides information about rights and obligations for landlords and tenants. PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE! The Landlord/Tenant Legal Clinic will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, and then occur the first Wednesday of every month starting in November.
Volunteer
of the Month
ALSC is happy to announce that the amazing Karla Huntington is our September Volunteer of the Month! Karla has a long history with ALSC, first serving as a family law staff attorney and then as a pro bono volunteer. Through her volunteer work with the Attorney of the Day (AOD) program, Karla does an extraordinary job helping ALSC’s clients navigate through the complexity of the justice system. Read on for our interview with Karla below:

Why did you choose to volunteer with ALSC?

I like the structure of the AOD program. It lets me do pro-bono work in a semi-controlled manner. For many years I was a litigation attorney in family law. Recently I have limited my practice to mediation and DV hearings only. I also travel a lot. Those changes make it hard for me to take a traditional start to finish pro bono cases. The AOD set up lets me use my knowledge and information to help by giving individuals advice and assistance in a variety of family law issues.  All I have to do is come in for one day a month and ALSC has done all the work to schedule and organize the clients. 

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

We sometimes forget that many folks have no functional access to legal information and advice. They are also often are isolated and afraid. Often the 1. 5 hour meeting with me is the first time they have had access to an attorney. When I meet with a person we work together to identify what is going on, what options they have, and how to best activate those options. Their legal issues have not gone away but they now have a roadmap.

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

I came to Alaska in 1979 to be the VISTA attorney for AWAIC. I then worked at ALSC as its family law attorney for 4 years. That time shaped my person and professional life. The folks I was at ALSC with in the 80’s remain core friends and “Alaska” family. When I am not working, I love to do long distance hiking and back yard gardening. 
ALSC will once again be participating in #Giving Tuesday on December 3rd. Stay tuned for more information about how you can double your impact on this powerful giving day!
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.