Landon Ascheman is the founder of Ascheman Law, a solo criminal defense practice located in St. Paul. Ascheman is SMRLS's latest pro bono volunteer spotlight.
How did you get involved with SMRLS?
They were offering a clinic to learn about eviction expungements. This was an area that I was interested in, but I didn't have any experience in. They provided an initial CLE covering many of the basics, and then let me shadow an experienced attorney
over a zoom clinic. At the next clinic I took the lead and had someone double checking my work. Not only did I get to learn a new area of law, but I had the chance help someone overcome their past.
From there, I looked for more ways to work with SMRLS, providing the same training for students and attorneys learn about criminal expungements.
As a solo practitioner, why and how do you make pro bono work a priority in your practice?
Life is a cooperative game, not a competitive one.
I was always taught to try and leave things better than I found them. One of the main ways to do that is to give your time and knowledge to those in need. If I can help someone, and have the time to do so, that's what I should do.
As a solo practitioner, I have more control of my schedule and priorities. At the same time, if I want to interact with other members of the legal community, I need to get out there and do something. I've found that other volunteers are the best
network I could ask for.
Within the criminal justice system, what are areas that pro bono services can make a significant impact in individuals' lives?
The most common area tends to be criminal expungements, that gives people the chance to put past mistakes behind them. At the same time, simply helping people with petty misdemeanors can help a lot with costs and fines (just make sure you know the collateral
consequences).
Has your experience as a veteran influenced your approach to pro bono legal support?
I think my time in the military helped me understand that everyone is just working to improve their lives, and ideally the lives of those around them. But we all have different perspectives and priorities, which leads to different approaches. In many
ways that can be a good thing.
How have you been personally or professionally impacted by your pro bono work?
It's helped with people knowing who I am, and that I care about making things better. I hope that it's encouraged others to do the same.
Advice for someone looking to commit or recommit to pro bono work?
Just take that next step. Just get a project started. Sign up for that clinic.
I think many times we hold back or put it off because we thing that it might be too much of a time commitment, or that one case won't be enough and we will need a full case load, then there will be no time to pay the bills.
Outside of the law, what is something (TV show, book, activity) you've been loving lately?
My wife (Mara) and I love taking the kids to go swimming. It's the activity that brought us together, and being able to pass along the love of swimming is awesome.