Who’s your go to? Who will you call when your pro bono client has issues that you’re not an expert in, up to speed on, and time is of the essence? What personal New Year resolution did you make and will break within the first month that could be adjusted instead to provide access to justice without an undue burden?
At pro bono clinics such as KCBA’s Neighborhood Legal Clinics (NLC) we often have clients with issues that are not in our normal wheelhouse. If we’re lucky we have a wee bit of time during our busy day to review the list shortly beforehand and do some quick research. Other times, we just play the hand we’re dealt.
I find it easier to have built long standing relationships with other lawyers (some who volunteer, others not) that I can quickly call or e-mail (and know my calls or e-mails will be returned in very short order, sometimes even from out the country) so that I can better address the client’s issue, guide them correctly, or when need be, provide after consult follow up advice and recommendations that better and more thoroughly addresses their needs. And I’m happy to reciprocate when/if I can.
With the New Year, I’d like to acknowledge just a few of my current mentors and colleagues who go that extra mile behind the scenes. No doubt you have your own cadre as well. For the New Year, please offer your own ghost busters a heartfelt thanks from KCBA Pro Bono and NLC services. Several of my “Rolodex” (I’m dating myself) ghost busters have become close buds. Others I haven’t even met in person.
Geoff Patterson, has been volunteering for NLC since 1994 but is quite a bit younger than me. He also volunteers for Indian American Community Services and loves the diversity and richness of that experience as well. Geoff has been a ‘go to’ for me for probate questions, and big picture issues pertaining to access to justice. From a previous stint as a stay-at-home dad (while working part-time) he also gave me a parenting perspective (way back in the day, when I did a Mr. Mom tour as well) Geoff has also been a rock in providing peace of mind and tips for visiting and helping each of our long distance parents with serious illness, hospice situations and eventual passing.
Russell Odell now a state administrative law judge, was for many years a solo practitioner (and caretaker and pal for his lovely late wife). He never lost his hearty laugh (huge heart and sharp mind). He was formerly like me, a member of the Pro Bono Committee and longtime chair of the NLC committee. He has also volunteered at the elder care law clinics for quite some time.
Until recently Russ also coached a community center team of high school kids who didn’t have mock court teams at their respective high schools. And he turned this “Bad News Bears” team into one that competed at county and state levels against established high school elite teams. Russ provides me with insight and practical tips on land use issues, elder law concerns, and benefits law. He’s like a kid brother to whom I can’t say ‘no’ when he asks if I’ll pitch in on .... He also maintained grace, humor and phenomenal strength as a caretaker for his late wife through all of the challenges. When I needed a document recently for a late friend’s arson claim, Russell got in his car from Tacoma and brought it to me in Seattle on a Saturday, based on my Friday night SOS. Russell is the essence of decency and a mensch.
Dave Richardson has a super busy quick mind, is an amazingly bright personal injury attorney who has also volunteered at NLC for many years. I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer at the same clinic as Dave. Back in the dinosaur era when folks could be together w/o masks at real (not virtual) clinics he’d let me sit shot gun with him to learn some PI magic, bedside manner and have the clients get the benefit of two heads being better than one. It was a hoot since my former hospital and health insurance law background fit right in to compliment his. We’d take turns running out to the copier if something needed to be printed for the client then and there. Dave’s phenomenal not only in his knowledge but he can be anywhere in the world (like Waldo), respond with hardly a beat missed. When I needed an emergency probate attorney and skilled insurance attorney to take on an expiring arson claim for a just—deceased claimant who had dropped the ball, the phenomenal spot on and speedy responses I got from Dave—late at night and on that weekend, was like Super Man—faster than a speeding bullet.
I’ve never met Rosemarie Le Moine, but she’s my speed dial angel for family law. Bless her heart she actually signs up to be ‘on call’ for NLC clinics so that generalists who are stuck can quickly get her on the phone, while the client is there, to unlock the Rubik’s cube. If she’s thinking about retiring, I hope she’ll still be my speed dial bud, because I enjoy her kind upbeat spirit and relish her practical knowledge.
Mark Wittow is large firm ace in intellectual property, technology and transactions law. He is also a former NLC longtime volunteer, my extended neighbor and fellow runner. Mark is always there when I’m way out of my league on questions from pro bono clients on intellectual property. Yes, we do get questions from budding artists, authors, inventors and folks getting subpoenas or notices for alleged unauthorized use of music, etc.
Vallen Solomon from KCBA Housing Justice is a walking repository of landlord tenant law and is the fastest gun in the west on getting back to me. He’s saved my hide when I couldn’t make heads or tails of competing statutes/
ordinances or simply couldn’t keep up with the Covid moratoriums or the hodge podge of inconsistent city and country ordinances that are like moving targets and provide different requirements for tenants.
Devon Stark leads the team at Neighborhood Legal clinics. She, Kristina Nielander, and the staff have gone above and beyond (behind the scenes) to provide schedules, resources and training for attorneys and legal assistants. For me, they both accommodate my luddite technology tendencies by sending my post consult follow ups to clients when necessary, so that I remain anonymous; and needn’t provide my personal telephone or e-mail since we can’t take clients and want them to follow up with the entities and resources we provide for them vs contact us individually. So, I treasure Devon and Kristina.
There are many more attorneys, legal assistants and others who have been there for me (or more aptly for my pro bono clients, but behind the scenes) since 2004 than I can properly thank and acknowledge here.
I’d like to take a New Year moment to thank all the attorneys who volunteer for KCBA pro bono programs as well as KCBA staff, for the quiet but effective support they provide to the clients they serve and for the help they render to us attorneys in the trenches. I’d like to encourage those of you reading this to find your volunteer niche for 2025 to provide access to justice. It doesn’t have to be on the front lines. You don’t have to take complete cases or transactions from beginning to end. But if you’d like to, there’s room at the inn! There’s a role for you to suit your schedule, type of practice and needs. There are plenty of other opportunities to provide limited pro bono help through other programs at both WSBA and KCBA.
So, who will YOU call? I’m calling on YOU.
Mike Goldenkranz is retired, enjoys his grandkids, volunteering at NLC as often as he can; mentoring, and on rare occasions shoveling his neighbor’s snow like they taught him in Brooklyn and Boston.
