Kirsten Curtis

March 2011 

The VLP is pleased to

announce that Kirsten Curtis

has been selected as our

Outstanding Law Student

Volunteer for the month of

March 2011.  Kirsten is a

third year law student at

the U of A and has been

participating in the Domestic

Relations Clinic since her

first semester of law school. 

Kirsten is the epitome of a

standout volunteer—she’s

knowledgeable, intelligent

and dedicated.  She is also

empathetic, sincere and

respectful during each

clinic, much to the delight

of our clients.  In fact,

Kirsten made such an

impression on a divorce

client that she recently worked with that the client took the time to bring in a

thank you note for Kirsten the next day.  The VLP has been very fortunate to

have her as a volunteer for the past three years and hopes to continue working

with her for many more years to come.

Kirsten is originally from Sublimity, Oregon (a tiny town outside Salem) but lived

in Portland, Seattle and northern California before heading to Tucson.  She

earned a Political Science degree with a minor in Spanish at Oregon State

University.  Kirsten must have really enjoyed her time at OSU because when she

married her husband (another OSU grad) this past October, she chose the

Beavers’ burnt orange and black as their wedding colors.  Let’s hope the U of A

is earning that same level of devotion!  One person who is doing his part to earn

Kirsten’s loyalty is Professor Paul Bennett.  Kirsten calls Professor Bennett her

favorite professor and says “he is helping me in the child and family law clinic

with a tough case, and is a great example of patience.”  Kirsten continues,

“He is also very calm with tough clients and opposing counsel, which we can all

strive for.”

We asked Kirsten what got her interested in volunteering with VLP.  She replied,

“I wanted to volunteer as soon as possible, and I found that I could do VLP my

1L year.  After my first clinic date, I was hooked!”  Kirsten adds that it’s hard to

single out the most important thing she learned from volunteering with VLP. 

"I don’t know that there is one particular thing, but rather many things I have

learned.  The first is patience: you have to have patience to be a great lawyer. 

The second is the power of listening.  Most of the time, all our clients want is

to be heard and understood.  Those two work hand in hand."

Kirsten may not be a Tucson native but it sure is hard to tell.  She’s a fan of the

popular Mi Nidito but like any local she wishes the wait wasn’t so long.  And just

like any veteran of Tucson’s scorching summers, she loves vacationing in San

Diego during the hottest months of the year.  During the rest of the year, she

takes advantage of Tucson’s amazing weather by getting outdoors with her

Siberian Husky, Tahoe.  Kirsten says, “Getting him enough exercise is a full time

hobby!”  Like many law students she reminisces about the days when she was

able to indulge her love for reading books other than her textbooks.  One thing

she does still find time for is baking.  Kirsten says, “If I wasn’t going to be a

lawyer, which is a pretty amazing dream job, I would want to be a pastry chef,

or own my own little bakery.”

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Past Outstanding Volunteer Student Awards