Our Courthouse successfully mentors young attorneys as they launch their careers, and current and former volunteers love our program.

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1 In 2008, the Great Recession hit the US and a sea change came to the legal community. Recent admittees to the Oregon State Bar were searching and hungry for practical experience, as always that was not the change. The change was that a large number of qualified new lawyers could not find employment after graduation. Staff inside the Multnomah County Courthouse saw this problem and with it, a solution. This was a golden opportunity create a program to pair Judicial Department mentorship and real-world experience with volunteer skills and energy. Clerks Yumi O Neil, Brad Krupicka, and Shannon Beutel had been looking to solutions for Judges unmet research needs, and Presiding Judge Nan Waller trusted them to map a strategy. The Volunteer Attorney program provides new lawyers valuable training, mentorship, and experience rendering legal services in real life situations. In turn, the Courthouse continues the best operation of the Oregon Judicial Department, supported by hardworking Volunteer Attorneys. Together the Multnomah County Courthouse and the volunteers serve the community and uphold our values of fairness, excellence, timeliness, public service, and community well-being. Presiding Judge Waller called a meeting in April 2012 to connect members of the Bar, Judges, and Judicial clerks who had approached the Presiding Court simultaneously with the Volunteer Program idea. Ben Eder and Kaori Tanabi were there representing the OSB Practical Skills through Public Service Program (PSPS), which the OSB created to support underemployed law grads. Starting that day, the Courthouse team committed to craft a Volunteer Attorney program. To kick the program off right, Brad and Shannon surveyed Judicial Departments about needs. A month later, having successfully surveyed Judges and staff, the team Page 1

2 defined the role Volunteer Attorneys would play and provided a billing for a volunteer position to PSPS. That October, Judge Kelly Skye joined the team as Judicial Supervisor, Shannon Beutel began work on the Volunteer Handbook, and PSPS sent Presiding Judge Waller the first five applicants. In November, an intense team effort between ISD, Administration, and the team resulted in development of internal management, a volunteer office, and a training environment for Volunteer Attorneys. Attorney Volunteers Lauren Moser and Ben Veralrud began that winter. December 2014 will mark the second year our team within Multnomah County Courthouse has maintained a vibrant Volunteer Attorney program. To reach volunteers, the Courthouse found an excellent partner in PSPS. PSPS holds the goal to help new attorneys gain practical experience while helping the community. It places new admittee volunteers with legal aid, public agencies and other non-profit organizations, and in return for professional development, its volunteers contribute valuable hours. Inside Multnomah County Courthouse, volunteers provide legal research for Circuit Judges and Pro Tem Judges. Together PSPS and the Multnomah County Circuit Court enable great work to happen. Over a dozen Volunteer Attorneys have written over a hundred memos for the Circuit Judges and Pro Tem Judges of Multnomah County. The mature program functions smoothly. The Courthouse hosts up to four volunteers at any time. Volunteers are set up in Room 311, the large office with open computers, together with floater clerks and any Judicial Interns. The group setting allows volunteers support each other and discuss ongoing projects and legal issues. The Supervisory Team stays connected to each other and responsive to Volunteers in addition to their regular job duties. The current roster is Judge Eric Bloch, Judge Kelly Skye, Judicial Clerks Sean Pank and Shannon Beutel, and former- Volunteer-turned-Clerk Lauren Moser. These Clerks introduce Volunteers to Judges, supervise research and edit writing, remain available to answer questions, delegate projects, and listen and respond to Volunteer feedback. Volunteers watch court proceedings, network with attorneys, Judges, and court staff, and gain feedback from the bench. Page 2

3 Judges use Volunteers to supplement research, contribute to projects, and fill case administration needs. Fortuitously, the program has recruited top candidates for judicial clerk positions. Sometimes Judges mentor volunteers directly when he or she wants additional research or writing. Conversations they hold with a volunteer about a legal issue benefit everyone. Volunteer Attorneys Our Courthouse successfully mentors young attorneys as they launch their careers, and current and former volunteers love our program. These volunteers have given their hands, time, and minds to the Courthouse. We appreciate our volunteers, past and present. Take a look at where they are! Lauren Moser Dec 18, 2012 Feb 27, 2013 Clerk for the Honorable Eric J. Bloch Ben Veralrud Dec 18, 2012 April 26, 2013 University of Oregon School of Law, class of 2012 Clerk for Judge Jones until May 30, 2014 Associate at The Barnett Firm, LLC Andrew Phillips May 13, 2013 July 23, 2013 Clerk for the Honorable Karin J. Immergut Whitney Hawke May 13, 2013 Jan 3, 2014 Public Defender in Clark County, Washington Ben Ybarra May 21, 2013 Sept 16, 2013 Gonzaga University School of Law, class of 2012 Page 3

4 Oregon Law Center Expungement Clinic in Washington County Counsel at the Law Office of Ben Ybarra Ayla Geller Jun 10, 2013 Aug 30, 2013 Northeastern University School of Law, class of 2015 J.D. candidate at Northeastern Law School Megan Lemire Sept 24, 2013 Dec 10?, 2013 Lewis & Clark Law School, class of 2010 Counsel at Lemire Hirano, PC John Holden Jan 10, 2014 May 9, 2014 College of William & Mary, School of Law, class of 2012 Clerk for the Honorable Jean K. Maurer Aurelia Erickson Jan 15, 2014 May 8, 2014 Associate with Robert McGaughey Spencer Hardy Feb 3, 2014 Mar 14, 2014 Willamette University College of Law, class of 2013 In-house Counsel at the IUOE Local 701 Sam Walton Apr 1, 2014 Present Lewis & Clark Law School, class of 2013 Yazmin Wadia June 30, 2014 August 29, 2014 Willamette University College of Law, class of 2013 Clerk for the Honorable David F. Rees Bryan Thompson June 30, 2014 September 8, 2014 Lewis & Clark Law School, class of 2013 Contract Attorney for Davis Wright Tremaine Page 4

5 Multnomah County Courthouse Appreciates its Volunteers and Volunteers Love our Program CURIOUS ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM AT OUR COURTHOUSE? Feel free to contact the three Volunteer Supervisors at any time. Current contacts include: Lauren Moser, Sean Pank, Shannon Beutel, KNOW A YOUNG LAWYER WHO MAY WANT TO VOLUNTEER WITH PSPS? For more information about volunteering, send interested OSB admittees to PSPS accepts applications year-round. To complete an application, the new attorney will send the following to ONLD@osbar.org: Contact information including name, phone number and address Oregon State Bar number Cover letter describing your interest in the PSPS program Resume Page 5