These advocates work tirelessly to help veterans succeed in the civilian workplace. Get to know who they are, what they do, and how they advocate for the veteran community.
Scott Sharp is the Staff attorney at Metropolitan Public Defender. He was a Petty Officer 2nd Class (E-5) in the Navy, 1988-1993
Champion’s Reaction:
“‘Leave no one behind.’ It is clear to me that ‘fallen’ doesn’t just mean in battle. Soldiers can leave the battlefield, but the battlefield doesn’t leave them. I see in every veteran I help a sliding door version of me that did not fare so well. When I help a veteran I am helping someone who I could easily be/become/have been me. These thoughts, and Robin Williams’s quote ‘Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always’ inspires me to do more, to be kind, and to keep helping where able. Thank you.”
Champion’s Job Responsibilities:
Helping houseless veterans (or those at risk of losing housing) remove legal barriers to improving their housing status and/or employment status. Typical activities involve legal representation in landlord/tenant issues: debt issues; criminal record clearing through expungements or felony reduction hearings; and other issues plague homeless veterans in our area.
Why Sharp was nominated for the Veteran Champions of the Year in Corporate America Award:
Nominee is the only veteran/attorney in this position. As a combat veteran many of the issues facing homeless veterans are familiar to nominee and nominee can relate well with the veterans who qualify for these non-profit legal services. Nominee actively consults other non-veteran attorneys with veteran clients. Nominee publicly helps even non-qualifying veterans on a pro-bono basis through free legal clinics and area Stand Down events. Nominee has been in this position for 2.5 years and part of Metropolitan Public Defender since 2004.
Working partners: ImpactNW; Transition Projects; Non-partner associations: Easterseals; VA; Oregon Bar Association; California Bar Association; Military Panel of the Oregon State Bar; CRRC Portland