Kamron Graham (2L)

Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO)

Pacific Northwest

Kamron is working as a summer clerk for Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO). LASO provides free civil legal services to low-income and vulnerable populations. There is an overwhelming need for free legal service in Oregon. LASO served over 20,000 individuals last year alone. Though they served a high number of people, LASO still has to make difficult choices and prioritize legal needs. These priorities include basic needs (food, shelter), housing, freedom from abuse (including domestic violence), employment, and civil rights. LASO estimates that there is only one legal aid attorney for every 8,000 low-income, vulnerable Oregonians. Kamron will be working on a variety of cases including domestic violence, fair housing and a variety of family law issues. Her job duties will include client intakes, legal research, responding to issue on the domestic violence hotline and providing assistance during court cases.

August 1, 2011

As my summer internship begins to wrap up, I realize how lucky I am to have had such a great opportunity. Legal Aid Services of Oregon really offered a great summer experience filled with lots of opportunity for client contact and figuring out challenging legal questions. Many clients come to Legal Aid Services with unique and difficult issues. These issues have ranged from home foreclosures to how to serve dissolution paperwork on someone living in Latin America.

A portion of my summer was spent working on the Domestic Violence Project, linking low-income people with pro bono attorneys who help with restraining orders, custody issues, and marriage dissolution. It has also been humbling to work with people who are experiencing domestic violence. Being able to hear their stories and experiences has offered experience beyond anything I could have learned in the classroom.

Recently, I have been able to participate in what is called the "Facilitation Clinic." This clinic helps people fill out family law paperwork (like restraining orders, custody petitions, etc.) before they meet with a pro bono attorney. The clinic serves mostly people who speak or write in a language other than English or who have limited literacy skills. During the clinic, I have helped several people (mostly women) prepare to file pro se or become prepare to meet with a pro bono attorney.

Another highlight has been preparing for a Housing Authority hearing. I have been working with a family of five, all of whom have some sort of disability or special needs fight termination from their voucher. I have spent time researching federal and local law and policy on voucher termination, communicating with the Housing Authority hearings officer, and preparing the family for the hearing. The hearing will be on the next to my last day at Legal Aid Services. Hopefully, the summer will end on a positive note and the family will get to stay in housing.

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June 30, 2011

My first few weeks at Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) have been fantastic. Their summer law program is really set up for the clerks to learn about LASO, the Multnomah County judicial system, and the "real practice" of civil law. The experience so far has been both challenging and humbling.

On my first day, I was assigned a legal mentor, Christina. She has been a great resource from everything from making sure I get interesting case assignments and as a general sounding board for my future. In addition to my legal mentor, I also have a great supervising attorney who has been very open to allowing me to take on challenging cases or get involved in projects were the subject matter is new.

The first week was spent as a combination of meeting with judges both in the Multnomah County Court system and Oregon Supreme Court and taking on a variety of research and writing projects. The meetings with the judges were priceless experiences. In most cases, we got to observe a court proceeding (FAPA, child custody, manslaughter, and landlord tenant) and then meet briefly with the judge in chambers. A highlight has been hearing oral arguments at the Oregon Supreme Court. Justice Walters then met with us for about thirty minutes to learn about her ideas of what justice means and what helps her decide matters.

I have been humbled by the impact that LASO has on the low-income community. LASO takes cases that other attorney are not able to. Because of that, we often end up working with many people who live in Section 8 housing. For example, I recently was assigned a case where a young woman had received an eviction notice for not paying her utilities on time. She lives in a low income tax credit building with her three kids, all with special needs, and her mother who has schizophrenia. The woman also has health issues and sometimes is not mobile. After meeting with the client and requesting records from the housing authority, LASO decided to take the case. I will now be representing the woman at her HAP hearing later this month. Though it will be challenging, I am confident I will be able to assist this family and help prevent a family of five from becoming homeless.