This month, the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) happily spotlights Kevin Cunningham, a volunteer at our Legal Advice and Referral Clinics (LARC) and Consumer Debt Defense and Education Clinics (CDDEC).

Cunningham is a Family Law Facilitator/Self Help Attorney at the Alameda County Superior Court who helps litigants gain access to the courts.

Through an Alameda County volunteer program, Cunningham learned of, and began volunteering at LARC, a twice-monthly free clinic where attorneys give legal advice and/or referrals in various areas of law. After his work at the courts showed him that consumers need help defending against creditors’ lawsuits, Cunningham began volunteering with CDDEC, a clinic where attorneys help clients with collection defense issues.

Cunningham enjoys giving back to his community through JDC clinics, and is “always amazed at how far a little help can go.” He helps clients who are overwhelmed by legal issues to focus on the facts that will help them get what they need.

A client at LARC said Cunningham’s help made him “feel heard for the first time and gave him a clearer understanding” of what to discuss at a motion to request child support. In return, volunteering with CDDEC has given Cunningham a better understanding of legal areas that are not part of his job, and allowed him to meet like-minded professionals upon whom he can call with issues that his customers are facing.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Cunningham attended college in Oregon, then after a six-month road trip through the continental United States, returned to San Francisco because there is nowhere else he’d rather live. In his free time, he enjoys the freedom on the open water that comes from sailing. He also raises bees.

JDC thanks Cunningham for his dedication to our clinics!

To learn how you can get involved, email probono@sfbar.org.