Multnomah Lawyer

formidable by putting Amy in Oregon’s U.S. District touch with a mentor attorney with years of experience in 1983 Court Pro Bono Program actions. The case culminated in a Via Adele Ridenour, Dwain Clifford, two-day jury trial where Dwain Young and Amy Heverly and Amy presented their case on behalf of the prisoner. The district’s pro bono program Lawyers by Abby Miller made it possible to have counsel YLS Pro Bono Committee representing the prisoner present in the courtroom (the prisoner Section Two questions often arise possible resolution, given the attended trial via live video feed) when contemplating pro bono circumstances, for her client. and provided a much-needed services: (1) where to find After her positive experience, an service to the prisoner. Dwain

mb a the time, and (2) where to attorney in Adele’s firm handled and Amy’s representation also volunteer. Adele Ridenour, a another case for the district’s made the court proceedings partner with Ball Janik, LLP, program that recently went all more efficient, which was Ask the Expert whose practice focuses on the way to trial. appreciated by the plaintiff, the construction and design defect The case was a 1983 action court, and the jurors. Ultimately, Dear Expert, and what you expected. Listen to litigation, has an interesting that had been filed pro se by a the jury deliberated over the I am a new lawyer dealing with your client without interrupting answer to the first question: there prisoner in the Oregon State issues and evidence presented one of my first big cases. We had him. Express empathy to your is always time. Adele believes Penitentiary. The suit challenged for over four hours before our first hearing in the case last client (“I can tell you are upset”). that it is not usually an issue the penitentiary’s censorship returning a verdict in favor of week and we did not get the result Make sure you understand all of time that holds attorneys of certain emails sent by the the penitentiary. Despite the we hoped for. My client is very of your client’s concerns and back from providing pro bono prisoner on First Amendment outcome, their client was very upset about the outcome and ask him questions to clarify if services. Rather, it is an issue of grounds. The prisoner had grateful for all of the work and became even more angry when he needed. Repeat back to him his confidence. Often providing pro successfully overcome a motion effort Dwain and Amy put forth. received his bill last week. I have a concerns to let him know that bono services means taking cases for summary judgment and the Dwain believes the pro bono meeting scheduled with him to go you understand them and that outside one’s area of expertise, case was proceeding to trial. experience was quite rewarding. over everything. He has a temper, you were listening. Talk to him which can be intimidating The judge felt it would be in the It was a unique opportunity and I need to know how to calm about possible resolutions and and, when a task seems litigant’s best interest to have that allowed him to work him down if he starts getting upset. seek his input on what he would overwhelming, it is easier to put counsel appointed to assist in with a different litigant than like to happen. Discuss with off because there is “not enough the prisoner’s case preparation his normal clientele. Further, Young Lawyer with Angry Client him the actions you will take to time.” Adele’s advice: focus on and trial presentation. The court it allowed him to present his resolve his concerns and follow one area of interest or one group contacted Dwain Clifford, a client’s case to a jury, giving him Over time, you will learn that through with those actions. and wade in slowly to providing partner with Ball Janik whose an opportunity to fight for his dealing with angry clients is just Keep in mind that having an pro bono services slowly. Once practice focuses on insurance client’s Constitutional rights. part of the job. The first step angry client does not necessarily your feet are wet, you will gain coverage and who had Likewise, Amy explained that is to take a deep breath before reflect on your skills as a lawyer. confidence. As an example in volunteered to assist. Dwain got her involvement in this pro bono your meeting with your client People who are involved in her own practice, Adele “waded to work obtaining the necessary case allowed her the opportunity and make sure you are calm. litigation are often experiencing in” by providing pro bono discovery, including depositions, to learn about a new area of law You should try not to argue with high levels of stress and can services through the U.S. District to prepare the case for trial, and provided hard-to-come-by your client about his perspective easily become upset. The most Court Pro Bono Program. This a task made more complex trial experience. While it was on the situation. Also, try not to important thing is how you handle program allowed her to take by the fact that his client was initially intimidating, if not blame others for things that may the situation. If you let him know on one case and help a client incarcerated so means of downright frightening, to take have gone wrong. that he has been heard and that obtain a successful resolution. communication were limited. on a pro bono case outside her Try to put yourself in your he matters to you, you will greatly (The program also reimburses As the case proceeded and area of expertise, Amy believes client’s shoes and think about increase your chances of calming some out-of-pocket expenses, trial loomed, Clifford sought the experience was well worth how you would want to be your client down and appeasing which may help quell one of the assistance of Amy Heverly, it. She praised the local legal treated. Think of a time you were his concerns. Good luck! the other concerns of attorneys an associate with Ball Janik community for being full of unhappy with a service provider contemplating pro bono services: whose practice also focuses friendly people willing to help. finances.) In that case, Adele, on commercial litigation, who The time commitment and fear along with another colleague in volunteered to assist. Given the of the unknown were daunting, her firm, helped a homeowner nature of the case, both Dwain but Amy overcame these hurdles work through the process of and Amy had to quickly learn a with the gracious assistance YLS Community Service renegotiating a home mortgage new area of law. While learning of colleagues, and believes the in a situation where the lender a new area of law is often a experience was well worth Day Recap began the foreclosure process daunting prospect that leads it. Both Clifford and Heverly without considering the owner’s many to shy away from taking agree this was a unique and by Bryan Thompson requests for modification. pro bono cases out of their worthwhile opportunity that YLS Service to the Public Committee Adele was able to work with area of expertise, the district’s provided them with invaluable the lender and come to the best program made this task less trial experience. On March 19, YLS and other all throughout the city, helped MBA volunteers joined the to remove 19,000 square feet of Forest Park Conservancy for ivy and other invasive species All told, the event was a its Spring Day of Stewardship, from the slopes of Portland’s great success, with members helping the Conservancy great urban forest. Showing that of Portland’s legal community preserve Portland’s iconic urban many hands make light work, the joining ranks to help keep one forest. In just three hours, YLS volunteers helped repair trails, of the best urban forests in the and MBA members, along with build drains, fix switchbacks, nation healthy, and preserving 140 or so other volunteers from and plant over 400 native plants one of the jewels that makes the throughout the park. But our Portland region one of the best brave YLS and MBA members areas to live and work. did put their lives on the line during the Spring Day of Stewardship, dodging poisonous hemlock plants while pulling ivy from the ground - fortunately no one was tempted to eat This group includes MBA members Dave Baca, any, so all made it Emily Clark, Grant Engrav, Kevin Stokes, and through the day Bryan Thompson unscathed!

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