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e-Maile-Mail		     Valerie M. Therrien
    Attorney-At-Law, P.C
    779 8th Avenue
    Fairbanks, AK 99701-4401

    Office: (907) 452-6195
    Fax: (907) 456-5949
    eMail:
          vmtpc@gci.net

Meet Valerie Therrien

            Before I had my children, and had spare time, I stitched a needleoint plaque, proclaiming "Honest Lawyer", which hangs on the stairway leaving my office. I have always prided myself on being honest and to represent my clients to the best of my knowledge.
When I graduated from Law School in May 1976, we were given a special sheet of paper, rolled up with a gold braid. It was a quote from Justice Cardoso:

"To answer the people's cry for justice is the task of the lawgivers."

I framed this scroll and it has hung on my office wall for over 25 years.

     
      Family Photo

            My two children are adopted and I am proud of the life I have provided them. The love between us is evident. Further I have been a foster parent in the past and recently applied to be a foster parent again with DFYS. I am currently remodeling my home to comply with state regulations. 		            Public ServicePublic Service

            Civic ServiceCivic Service

            Professional ExperienceProfessional Experience




           
            Valerie Therrien

            I have been in private practice as a sole practitioner since June 1977. I handle a variety of clients in my limited general practice; small business and corporate, bankruptcy, wills, trusts and estates, international and domestic adoptions and real estate. I have tried many cases, both civil and criminal. I have established non-profit corporations. I incorporated my sole practice in February 1992. Recently, I have concentrated on real estate, adoptions, bankruptcy, and estate and will planning. I have also written many Supreme Court appeals.

            I served on the State of Alaska Advisory Board for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, as the attorney member for over 6 years. During that time period, I learned a significant amount about alcohol and drug abuse treatment, programs, the devastation of the disease, and I believe that I can bring this insight and understanding to the Court in this position. I believe that treatment works and if I can help someone though my position either in bail hearings or in sentencing, I will.

            I have attended many conferences of the International Lawyers AA association and attended many retreats put on by the Oregon Lawyer's assistance program. I choose to use my awareness to help the victim, the defendant and all those concerned. If I can make a difference, I will. It is my desire to be able to work with the citizens of Alaska and our community.

            I am currently teaching at Wayland Baptist University. The courses I taught include Criminology, Criminal Justice, Law and Society and Federal and State Government. The classes have concentrated on the causes of crime, both individualistic and societal, what impact the criminal justice system has on the defendant and the victim. To the extent that I have taught these subjects, I have come to appreciate the reasons for the laws, and the impact on various sentencing programs and the racism and inherent discrimination the defendant faces. With the insight learned through the eyes of my students, mostly military personnel my experience and service clearly makes a positive difference.

            I never wanted to be on the other side of the bench. However, lately, the idea has crossed my mind that this position could be the natural evolution of my legal career. It would help me expand my abilities to help people, therefore I have recently the position of Magistrate.
Public ServicePUBLIC SERVICE

            Fairbanks North Star Borough, Assembly member, 10/92 to 10/95
            Finance and Budget Committee Chair 1994 - 1995
            Finance and Budget Committee Co-Chair 1993 - 1994
            Legislative Liaison to State Legislature 1992 -1994
            Health & Social Services Committee 1993
            Audit Committee 1992
            Finance Committee 1992 - 1993

National Association of Counties delegate convention 1994 - 1995 - Atlanta
National Association of Counties delegate convention 1993 - 1994 - Las Vegas

Fairbanks North Star Borough, Assembly member 10/86 to 10/89
            Chair Ethics Committee 1989
            Chair Arts Committee 1986, 1987, 1989
            Finance Committee
            Budget Committee

Member of Women in National Democratic County Offices

City of Fairbanks Council Member (1982 - 1985)
            City of Fairbanks Blue Ribbon Alcohol Commission (1983, 1984)
            City of Fairbanks Transportation Commission (1984/1985)
            Fairbanks Development Authority (1980 - 1982)
            Alaska Women in Municipal Government - President (1984-1985 & 1987-1989)
            National League of Cities
                       Human Development Commission
                       Women in Municipal Government (Alaska Liaison)
                       Alaska Municipal League -
                       Legislative Subcommittee on Education, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993
                       Resolutions Committee
            Various committee positions from 1982-1989 while in elected office.

Licensed Foster Parent
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Civic ServiceCIVIC SERVICE

Fairbanks Martin Luther King Celebration Committee, Fairbanks (‘80s)
Martin Luther King Foundation - board member (late 80's)
Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute (1990)
Delegate: Salcha Alaska Bridging Conference/Yakutsk, Russia (1992)
City of Fairbanks Human Rights Commission (1980 - 1982)
National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC)
Alaska Women's Political Caucus (AWPC)

Immaculate Conception Church - Volunteer (soup kitchen, Christmas pageant, etc.)

Girl Scout Troop # 187, Fairbanks - Leader (2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995)
Brownie Leader, Girl Scout Troop #187 (1995 - 1996)
Junior Girl Scouts Leader Troop #187 (1996-5/2000)
Cadette Girl Scouts Leader Troop #187 (2000-present)
           As a girl scout leader I have attended a variety of training for leadership, first aid, outdoor training, and volunteered for many events, other than as the leader of my troop of 8 girls. In the past, I had as many as 11-12 girls, losing some to teenage years and receiving new girls.
           We are in the process of obtaining the necessary hours and credits for the Girl Scout silver award, by growing over 400 trees we planted from seedlings in the Fairbanks area, a two to three year project. We intend to plant them in various public places in the summer of 2002.

Soccer Fairbanks Youth Soccer Association
2001: Fall Age Group Coordinator:
           I help find coaches for various teams and coordinate the coaches. I began this in Summer of 2001 and it is more organized this Fall.
1996-2000:
           I was soccer mom, which meant I coordinated the treats and collection of money for gifts to the coaches and for the extra tournaments and organized the thank you party for the coaches.

Charles Leasure Foundation - Board Member - (1986 - 1992)

Fairbanks Arts Association, Board of Directives,
           Historian and acting secretary (1989 - 1992)

Fairbanks Chapter National Organization for Women
           President (1985 - 1986)
           Treasurer (1983 - 1985)
           Vice President (1981 - 1983)
           State President elect (1986 - 1987)

Democratic Party
           Candidate, Alaska State House, District 31 - 1998
           Interior Alaska Regional Vice Chair - State Central Committee 1994-1998
           District 31 Committeewoman - (1992 to 1994)
           District 20 Committeewoman, Democratic State Central
           Committee (1984 - 1992)
           Precinct 3 Chairwoman/Secretary - 1992
           Co-Chaired Democratic Convention in Sitka - 1984
           Chair Judiciary Committee District 20 Convention - 1984
           Co-Chaired State Affairs State Convention - 1980
           Delegate to Democratic National Convention - 1988, 1996
           Chair - Delegate Selection Plan Committee - 1992, 1993
           Member - Delegate Selection Plan Committee - 1994
           Co-Chair - Delegate Selection Plan Committee - 1995,1996
           Chair of Governor's Inaugural Ball and Family Day Event Fairbanks - 1995
           Co-Chair of Fairbanks Governor's Picnic - 1995, 1996,volunteer each year
           Chair - Interior Democratic Convention, 1990, 1994, 1996,2000
           Candidate District 31 State House 1998
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Professional ExperiencePROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

VALERIE M. THERRIEN, Attorney at Law, P.C.
779 8th Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701

           I have been in private practice as a sole practitioner since June 1977. I handle a variety of clients in my limited general practice; small business and corporate, bankruptcy, wills, trusts and estates, international and domestic adoptions and real estate. I have tried many cases, both civil and criminal. I have established non-profit corporations. I incorporated my sole practice in February 1992. Recently, I have concentrated on real estate, adoptions, bankruptcy, and estate and will planning. I have also written many Supreme Court appeals.

EDUCATION
1973 - 1976NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
Boston, Massachusetts
JURIS DOCTOR, June 1976
1970 - 1973NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
Boston, Massachusetts
Magna Cum Laude
B.S. Political Science
HONORS UPON GRADUATION
Pi Kappa Phi
Pi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science Honor Society
The Academy, NU Liberal Arts Honor Society
Northeastern University Woman of the Year 1973
Student Council Achievement and Committee Award

HONORS
Who's Who 1992 - Rising Young Americans
Who's Who 1995 - In American Politics
Who's Who 1997, 1998-99
Who's Who 2000
Martindale Hubbell Listing 1995, 1996

ADMISSIONS TO PRACTICE
October 1976Supreme Court for the State of Alaska
February 1977U.S. District Court for District of Alaska
March 1977U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
June 1980United States Supreme Court
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
1976 to Present Alaska Bar Association
1976 to 1993 Tanana Valley Bar Association
1978 to Present American Bar Association
1979 to 1998 American Trial Lawyers Association
1991 to 1998 Alaska Trial Lawyers Association
MEMBERSHIPS
Fairbanks Rotary Club
Russian Committee; Babies & Book Committee; Christmas Charity committee
Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce
Tanana Valley League of Woman Voters(past)
Treasurer 1982; V.P. 1985
Alaska Women's Lobby
American Arbitration Association (past)
ALASKA BAR ASSOCIATION APPOINTMENTS
Lawyers Assistance Committee (formerly Substance Abuse Committee) - 1995 - to present: We advise the Bar Association and Alaska Supreme Court on recommendations for treatment, and sentencing of attorneys, as well as changes in Bar rules.
Various committees over the last 20 years.

Pro Bono Lawyer 1977-present
Pro Bono Bankruptcy program 1998-2000
I teach seminars three to four times a year for the Alaska Legal Services Offices in Fairbanks
GOVERNOR'S APPOINTMENTS
Transition Team on Policy and Administration - Jan. 1995

            Advisory Board on Alcohol and Drug Abuse - Jan. 1995 - June 2000
            Co-Chair Legislative Committee - 1996,1999-2000
            Member of the Budget Committee - 1995, 1996
            Chair Ad-Hoc By-Laws Committee - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,2000
            Chair Legislative Committee - 1996 - July, 1997
            Member of Legislative Committee - July, 1997 - present
            Mental Health Trust Authority delegate to visit to Alakanuk and Bethel January 1999
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
           I taught one graduate course in Business Law the winter of 1990, and one undergraduate course in Business Law the summer of 1991, at the University of Alaska Fairbanks through the School of Management. I am currently teaching at Wayland Baptist University.

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Copyright © Valerie M. Therrien
Attorney-at-Law, P.C.