Volunteer Spotlight: Kristin Ullom

Kristin Ullom is a volunteer attorney with the “Consult with a Lawyer” Program. She runs the consultation day at Second Presbyterian Church the third Tuesday of every month. Learn more about Kristin and why she enjoys volunteering as an attorney at the Clinic.

What’s your professional background, and how did you become connected with the Clinic?

My professional background was as a business transactional attorney, with an emphasis on antitrust law. The client base was primarily physician groups and hospitals. I left the private practice of law as my husband and I began a family in 2002. Before that, I worked in sales and marketing for Nestle Foods and a division of Scott Paper Company in Indianapolis and then Minneapolis.

I became involved in the work of the Clinic around 2017 as immigration became a political and cultural lightning rod. As a granddaughter of immigrants and the mother of a daughter of Chinese descent, I was eager to find a way to help - even in a relatively small way - those who were trying to find their way through the immigration process.  

What do you enjoy most about volunteering at the Clinic?

I have enjoyed the opportunity to learn a new area of law from the staff attorneys at the Clinic and am especially grateful for the interaction with the clients.  

What is unique about our “Consult with a Lawyer” program?

I think the one-on-one interaction that the CWAL program offers is the most rewarding aspect of participating as a volunteer attorney. Learning about the lives and challenges facing the clients and their families is a privilege.

Why should people volunteer with the Clinic?

Volunteering for the Clinic can be a very rewarding experience helping to bring some small bit of order to a client who is experiencing uncertainty. Whether a volunteer has a legal background or not, the most important attribute of a Clinic volunteer is the simple act of listening. For many clients, it’s clear that they have many challenges ahead that may not ultimately be resolved in the way they are hoping for, which makes it even more important that they feel like someone took the time to hear their story and understand their circumstances. 

To join our growing team of volunteers, please click here.