October 2024
Multnomah
Lawyers associated for justice, service, professionalism, education and leadership for our members and our community
Lawyer
Est. 1906
ANNUAL PRO BONO ISSUE
Access to Justice Across Oregon by Jill Mallery Statewide Pro Bono Manager, Legal Aid Services of Oregon Oregon’s Portland metro area attorneys are effectively increasing access to justice for low-income communities across the state through pro bono representation. Many rural Oregonians live in a legal desert, a rural community with limited, if any, options for legal assistance caused by a shortage of lawyers in the area. According to the National Center for State Courts, one factor that indicates a barrier to legal services is the limited number of attorneys compared to the population of the county. It is a stark statistic that more than 66% of Oregon State Bar members are located in the Portland metro area (Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, and Yamhill counties). This illustrates a pressing need to bring legal resources to Oregon’s legal deserts, communities that face barriers to legal services due (in part) to the limited number of attorneys compared to the population of the county. Metro attorneys have been helping reduce this barrier to legal assistance by volunteering with Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO). Pro bono attorneys have been making a real difference in the lives of low-income Oregonians experiencing critical legal issues. Pro bono attorneys have advocated on behalf of low-income tenants facing wrongful eviction, represented survivors of abuse in contested restraining order hearings, and assisted low-income debtors discharge their debt through Chapter 7. All assistance is provided remotely by a Portland metro attorney to a client located in a rural area of the state. Pro bono attorneys Jeremy Aliason, Executive Director of have been making LASO, describes the important role of a real difference pro bono attorneys in increasing justice, “without the dedication of our pro bono in the lives of lowincome Oregonians attorneys and staff, many low-income Oregonians would face the legal system experiencing critical alone. Their work ensures that access legal issues. to justice is available to all, regardless of location or financial means. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to serving those in need.” LASO is fortunate to work with amazing private attorneys, supportive bar sections, and dedicated law firms across the state that utilize their knowledge and expertise to help low-income people with their legal issues. Of special note are outstanding law firms that have long-standing partnerships with rural LASO offices dedicated to expanding legal assistance in the community: Tonkon Torp LLP sponsors a general civil virtual clinic with LASO’s Roseburg office, Miller Nash LLP partners on a virtual legal clinic with LASO’s Bend office and the Oregon Law Center (OLC) Coos Bay office, and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP collaborates with OLC’s Ontario office on a criminal expungement clinic. LASO is grateful for the many justice partners it collaborates with to increase services to those unable to pay for an attorney. Attorneys such as Mick Harris, Tonkon Torp LLP, who has shown true dedication to pro bono service displayed by many volunteer hours, MULTNOMAH BAR ASSOCIATION 620 SW FIFTH AVE., SUITE 1220 PORTLAND, OREGON 97204
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volume of cases, and strong determination to make a difference. Mick participates in both the LASO Roseburg Clinic and LASO’s Housing Notice Clinic. He has been a strong advocate for low-income people in Douglas County and Oregon renters facing eviction. Mick’s pro bono work has primarily focused on representing clients located in rural areas of the state with few, if any, resources. Thanks to Mick’s excellent representation and incredible commitment to his pro bono clients, tenants receive the benefit of having quality legal counsel. Tenants’ rights are enforced, safe housing is preserved, and people feel supported. Mick describes his volunteer experience, “It has been a tremendously rewarding and humbling experience to assist Legal Aid in their mission to bridge the justice gap in rural areas. There is no doubt that Legal Aid empowers communities to navigate complex legal challenges and access high quality advocacy. At the end of the day, Legal Aid’s commitment to equity ...if we focus on the and justice is unparalleled and deeply client need and not needed in our society.” Another excellent pro bono location, together partnership is the Miller Nash Virtual the legal community Clinic. The clinic assists individuals with can make real clearing criminal and eviction records in progress towards Central Oregon and along the Southern expanding services Oregon Coast. John Clarke, partner at Miller Nash, has been a pro bono leader across the state. for the firm and Jollee Patterson, partner at Miller Nash, was instrumental in developing and launching the clinic model. John is a champion of pro bono work and has set a high bar through his demonstrated commitment to pro bono service. As the co-chair of Miller Nash’s pro bono committee, John also encourages firm-wide participation in the clinic. The assistance provided through the clinic is truly life-changing as it improves the lives of his clients by removing barriers to housing, employment and education. John describes the goal of the clinic, “Miller Nash is proud to partner with Oregon Law Center and Legal Aid Services of Oregon to lead a virtual volunteer attorney clinic to assist rural, lowincome Oregonians with expunging eligible criminal convictions and dismissals. Many Oregonians lack access to legal services and face barriers in obtaining employment, housing, and education due to past minor criminal convictions and dismissals. The clinic aims to remove those barriers, giving Oregonians a fair opportunity to make a living, take care of their families, and fully participate in their communities.” Continued on page 8
mba EVENT Multnomah Bar Association Absolutely Social
October 2024 Volume 70, Number 9
mba CLE
See details on p. 3. Visit www.mbabar.org/cle and input your OSB number to register at the member rate.
OCTOBER 10.2 Wednesday Managing Corporate Clients: How to Keep In-House Counsel Happy Derily Bechthold Joanna Brody Megan Crowhurst Amber Hollister 10.9 Wednesday 2024 Bar Update: Ethical Issues and Trends Affecting Oregon Lawyers Nik Chourey 10.23 Wednesday Mandatory Elder and Child Abuse Reporting Dani Huck 10.29 Tuesday Licensed Paralegals: What You Need to Know Hon. Maureen McKnight
$70 CLE Coupon Offer Renew your MBA membership for 2025 before January 1 and receive a $70 coupon code good toward any upcoming seminar or CLE product available online.
www.mbabar.org
Tuesday, October 15 5-7 p.m. Multnomah Athletic Club 1849 SW Salmon Street Drop in after work and catch up with friends and colleagues.
In This Issue
Thank you, sponsors! Allegiant Law LLP Alterman Law Group PC Barran Liebman LLP Buchanan Angeli Altschul & Sullivan LLP Chernoff Vilhauer, LLP Farleigh Wada Witt Foster Garvey PC Harrang Long P.C. Heritage Bank IMS Tsongas Jen Myers - Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert Jordan Ramis PC
Kauffman Kilberg LLC Larkins Vacura Kayser LLP Legal Northwest Miller Nash LLP NAEGELI Deposition & Trial Oregon State Bar OSB PLF Excess Program Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP Snell & Wilmer Stoel Rives LLP Summit Bank Sussman Shank LLP Tonkon Torp LLP Umpqua Bank Vangelisti Mediation
MBF ������������������������������������������������� 2 CLE �������������������������������������������������� 3 Announcements ������������������������������� 5 Ethics Focus ������������������������������������� 5 Around the Bar ��������������������������������� 6 News From the Court ������������������������ 8 Tips From the Bench ������������������������� 8 Profile: Hon. Christine Martin ������������ 9 YLS �������������������������������������������������10 Pro Bono Volunteers ������������������������ 11 Classifieds �������������������������������������� 13
Multnomah Bar Association 620 SW 5th Ave Suite 1220 Portland, Oregon 97204 503.222.3275 www.mbabar.org
Register at www.mbabar.org
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