Nassau Suffolk Law Services’ Volunteer Lawyer’s Project recently honored Alexander C. Pabst, Esq. of Massapequa, as the Nassau County Pro Bono Attorney of the Month. He was recognized for his hard work and dedication providing pro bono representation to low income Nassau residents who are facing eviction and desperately in need of legal assistance.
Pabst received his undergraduate degree from Fairfield University in 2001 and graduated from St. John’s School of Law in 2009. He discovered his passion for landlord tenant law while working for a real estate company and attending law school at the same time. He assisted in every phase of the litigation process including preparing witnesses for trial, drafting motions and preparing standard business records used at trial. As his understanding and knowledge in this area grew, so too did his interest and enthusiasm for this area of law.
Today, Pabst is an associate in the firm Alizio & Galfunt LLP, where he continues to focus in the area of landlord tenant law. Alizio and Galfunt LLP practices in commercial and residential real estate with a focus in landlord tenant law as well as commercial litigation.
With the uppermost thought to giving back to the community by taking on pro bono cases, his first introduction to the VLP occurred when he found himself on the “other side of the negotiating table” from the VLP and Roberta Scoll, who coordinates the Attorney of the Day Project. After learning about Landlord/Tenant Attorney of the Day Project’s vital services, he decided that volunteering through this program would be an excellent way to use his expertise and fulfill his desire to take on pro bono cases.
By volunteering to represent tenants who qualify for VLP representation, Scoll stated, “I believe that Alexander has gained invaluable knowledge in settling cases from both the landlord and tenant’s perspective. This broad knowledge and experience has enabled him to provide his clients with a more realistic and clearer understanding of what to expect throughout their case.”
She sees Pabst as one of the rare breed of attorneys who look at the humanistic approach to resolving issues in Landlord/Tenant Court to see where there is gray, rather than black or white, in order to negotiate a settlement between the parties. According to Scoll, the Attorney of the Day Program is fortunate that Mr. Pabst has agreed to be a participant in the program and she is grateful for the time he has given to help make it successful. She also appreciates the firm of Alizio and Galfunt for generously “loaning” him out to the program.
Pabst believes that “understanding is the key to help become the best advocate and while an attorney ‘always fights for his/her client’, experience representing both sides helps create a better perception of a client’s genuine concern.” When asked to express his most rewarding moment as a Pro Bono attorney for the Volunteer Lawyers Project, he simply explained that “all of his cases have been equally rewarding”. The sense of satisfaction comes from assisting an indigent client to resolve their housing issue by providing them with guidance and understanding of the laws, terminology, and procedures involved in a case. This is especially true when such knowledge and understanding could be the difference between retaining or losing their housing.
In addition to practicing law, Pabst enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends. His compassion for others has deservingly earned Alexander Pabst the title of Pro Bono Attorney of the Month and he will certainly continue to be an asset to the law profession, the VLP and our community for years to come.
-Submitted by Dana Aronow, J.D.
