Pro Bono Cases

(Updated 3/29/2023)

LOW BONO OPPORTUNITIES

ANDVSA has a grant that allows us to offer low bono contracts for domestic violence and sexual assault-related family law cases!  Please note that these funds are limited and any of these cases may instead be taken pro bono.  For more information, please contact Katy Soden at ksoden@andvsa.org.

1. “Unstable father.” Glennallen divorce/custody case. Status hearing 4/6/23.  Client seeks help with divorce/custody case.  4 kids.  DV includes assault, suicide threats, pushing child.  OP very unstable and has issues with substances.  Property includes house, retirement accounts, debt.  OP has counsel.  Client has pro bono counsel for a related protective order case.  ANDVSA can pay $100/hour up to 50 hours.

2. “Pending assault charges against father.” Anchorage custody case. Case recently filed; status hearing 4/20/23.  Client seeks help with custody case.  1 child.  OP has pending criminal charges for assault to client.  OP has counsel.  ANDVSA can pay $100/hour up to 50 hours. 

PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES

1. “Classic DV case.” Kenai divorce/custody case.  Case not yet filed.  Client seeks help with divorce/custody case.  2 kids.  OP has pending criminal assault charges.  DV includes strangulation, assault, suicide threats.  Client already has a long-term protective order with temporary custody.  Very limited property.  Great case for a beginner volunteer!
2. “Has the PO, now needs the custody order.” Tlingit & Haida Tribal Court custody case. Case not yet filed.  Client seeks to file custody case in T&H Tribal Court.  2 kids.  DV includes assault and threats. Client recently obtained long-term protective order from the Tribal Court.  OP has counsel.  Tribal court attorney mentor available. 
3. “Immigrant client needs help.” Kodiak divorce/custody case. Case not yet filed.  Client seeks help with divorce/custody case.  1 child.  DV includes pushing, assault.  Very limited property; mainly debt.  Client is Limited English Proficient; ANDVSA will provide interpreter services.
4. “Time to return the child to mom.” Tlingit & Haida Tribal Court guardianship case. Hearing 4/6/23.  Client entered into temporary guardianship agreement with a relative the child’s father. The client has addressed her personal issues and now seeks to terminate the guardianship.  The relative opposes the termination; that relative is represented by counsel.  Tribal court attorney mentor available. 

Any questions and/or interest in the above cases, please contact Katy Soden @ 907-297-2791 or ksoden@andvsa.org.

(Updated 11/21/2022)

Pro Bono Asylum Opportunity:

The Alaska Immigration Justice Project is looking for a pro bono attorney to represent an indigenous and environmental activist from Russia with his application for political asylum with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). He was targeted by the Russian government for his activism relating to stewardship of arctic resources and international collaboration with U.S. government agencies and Alaska-specific indigenous and environmental commissions. The deadline for submitting the application is mid-2023. Please contact Cindy Woods if you are interested.

Please contact Laura Goss at ALSC for information about these pro bono opportunities.

907-222-4521 or lgoss@alsc-law.org

1) Alaska Legal Services Urgently Seeks Volunteers to Assist with SNAP benefits

ALSC is seeking pro bono attorneys statewide to help meet the current urgent need for Alaskans who are going without food benefits.  ALSC offices have been receiving hundreds of calls daily from residents desperate to get their SNAP (formerly called Food Stamps) benefits. Calls are increasing and ALSC has pledged to prioritize these cases.  These are simple cases that require approximately one hour of time with the vast majority of cases resolved within 10 days to beneficiaries. ALSC will provide volunteers with guidance and staff attorneys as resources.  To volunteer for this time sensitive project, contact Laura Goss.

2) Landlord/Tenant Helpline –  This volunteer commitment is one regularly scheduled shift per month from 6-8 pm.  You answer helpline calls from tenants and landlords statewide from your personal phone.  You do not need Housing Law experience.  ALSC provides the resource materials, video trainings and free CLEs.  Contact Laura Goss at ALSC for more information.  907-222-4521 or LGoss@alsc-law.org.

ALSC pro bono cases make up approximately 12% of all cases statewide annually. Average time commitment on an ALSC pro bono case is just 11 hours, and in 2018, most (86%) of ALSC pro bono cases were completed by a volunteer attorney in 10 hours or less. In 2018-2019 only 16% of pro bono cases went to court.

Taking a pro bono case with ALSC comes with a variety of supports, including:

• Malpractice Insurance
• Mentorship for those taking on a case in a new practice area
• Access to online resources, including a brief bank, legal webinars, and templates
• Waiver of court filing fees
• Reimbursement of expenses
• Use of our office space to meet with your pro bono clients or prepare for your cases

Unbundled Pro Bono Opportunities with ALSC:

Advice and Counsel Consultations

Provide one-time legal assistance for a low-income Alaskan with a civil legal need.  One-hour phone consultations are scheduled for Bankruptcy, Veterans, Family Law, Probate, Consumer, and General Matters.  Contact Laura Goss at ALSC for more information.  907-222-4521 or LGoss@alsc-law.org.

Landlord/Tenant Hotline

ALSC is seeking new pro bono volunteers to staff its Landlord/Tenant Hotline. Volunteers will be asked to give two hours of time on one evening per month. Shifts run from 6-8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and volunteers will be able to select their desired shift and work from wherever they would like. Volunteers will answer questions from both tenants and landlords about their legal rights and responsibilities. Training and support are provided.

If you have questions, need more information or would like to volunteer, please contact Laura Goss at (907) 222-4521 or by email at lgoss@alsc-law.org.

Early Resolution Project (ERP) – Anchorage – Palmer – Kenai – Juneau – Fairbanks 

In one afternoon, you will offer free legal advice to family law pro se litigants referred by the Alaska Court System, who they have deemed as easy to resolve with attorney assistance.  You will meet privately with your client and work out an amicable agreement between both parties that same day.  86% of ERP cases are amicably completed that afternoon.  ERP volunteers are needed in Anchorage, Palmer, Juneau, and Kenai.  ERP sessions are held once per month in each city except Anchorage where it is held weekly.  Contact Laura Goss at ALSC for more information.  You can schedule to participate depending on your availability.  907-222-4521 or LGoss@alsc-law.org.

Pro Bono Attorney Mentoring Opportunity  

The Pro Bono Training Academy (PBTA) is an exciting initiative aimed at increasing support for our pro bono volunteers.  We hope to do this in many ways, one of which is by creating a mentoring system wherein experienced volunteer attorneys mentor newer volunteer attorneys in specific areas of the law.  Hopefully, knowing they are supported will encourage attorneys to take on more complex cases on a volunteer basis.  We are looking for experienced attorneys interested in serving as a mentor attorney.  We are also very interested in your ideas about what such a program should look like.  If you want to serve Alaska’s low-income population by sharing your legal expertise, please contact: Sarah Carver, Project Coordinator, Pro Bono Training Academy, scarver@alsc-law.org, 907.406.2222.

(Updated 2/18/2021)

Current Volunteer Opportunities

3:17-cv-00036-SLG; Powell v. Goslin, et al.

Federal prisoner civil rights case alleging inadequate health care by Department of Corrections staff regarding treatment of prisoner’s shoulder injury and staph infection. A pro bono attorney would be helpful in navigating discovery, motions practice, any possible settlement conferences, and trial.

3:18-cv-00211-RRB; Wagoner v. Dahlstrom, et al.

Federal prisoner civil rights case alleging that the Department of Corrections has refused to provide Wagoner with medical and mental health care for gender dysphoria and gender dysphoria related injuries. A pro bono attorney would be helpful in drafting an amended complaint, navigating discovery, motions practice, any possible settlement conferences, and trial.

3:19-cv-151-RRB; Hernandez v. Lord, et al.

Federal prisoner civil rights case alleging inadequate health care by Department of Corrections staff regarding treatment of prisoner’s leg injury.  A pro bono attorney would be helpful in drafting an amended complaint, navigating discovery, motions practice, any possible settlement conferences, and trial.

3:19-cv-307-TMB; Kone v. Brown, et al.

Federal prisoner civil rights case alleging racial discrimination, employment discrimination, and First Amendment violations by prison staff.  A pro bono attorney is primarily needed for the assistance of drafting an amended complaint and motions practice.  Additional assistance would be helpful for navigating discovery, any possible settlement conferences, and trial.

3:20-cv-100-SLG; Davis v. Glades, et al.

Federal prisoner civil rights case alleging inadequate health care by Department of Corrections staff regarding treatment of prisoner’s heart condition. Additional assistance would be helpful for navigating discovery, any possible settlement conferences, and trial.

3:20-cv-110-JMK; Elliot v. Carlon, et al.

Federal prisoner civil rights case alleging exposure to environmental fumes while in confinement. Additional assistance would be helpful for navigating discovery, any possible settlement conferences, and trial.

3:20-cv-121-SLG; Harris v. Lyou, et al.

Federal prisoner civil rights case alleging disability discrimination, deficient hygiene and sanitation conditions, and inadequate health care by Department of Corrections staff regarding treatment of prisoner’s chronic conditions. Additional assistance would be helpful for navigating discovery, any possible settlement conferences, and trial.

3:20-cv-227-JMK; Burns v. Miranda

Federal prisoner civil rights case alleging a First Amendment claim of retaliation.  Additional assistance would be helpful for navigating discovery, any possible settlement conferences, and trial.

3:20-cv-245-SLG; Jobe v. State of Alaska Department of Corrections

Federal prisoner civil rights case alleging inadequate health care by Department of Corrections staff.  Additional assistance would be helpful for navigating discovery, any possible settlement conferences, and trial.

3:20-cv-294-SLG; Joseph v. Department of Corrections

Federal prisoner civil rights case alleging a First Amendment claim of retaliation.  Additional assistance would be helpful for navigating discovery, any possible settlement conferences, and trial.

If interested, please contact Natalie Wicklund, Pro Se Law Clerk, United States District Court, District of Alaska at  (907) 677-6135 or natalie_wicklund@akd.uscourts.gov