Claire Keneally and Dylan Hitchcock-Lopez

Our Volunteers of the Month for October, Claire Keneally and Dylan Hitchcock-Lopez, are not only partners as co-counsel on their case, they are also partners in life. Dylan and Claire began their careers in Philadelphia, where they worked as Assistant District Attorneys at the District Attorney’s Office. They were both fresh out of law school–Dylan from Washington University in St. Louis, and Claire from the University of Colorado. While they both started in the Municipal Court Unit, Claire went on to handle DVSA cases and Dylan specialized in gun violence offenses.

The pair moved up to Alaska in 2021, where they got clerkships in Fairbanks. After a year, they transitioned to living in Anchorage, where Claire now works as an Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Law, and Dylan works as an Associate Attorney at Ashburn & Mason, P.C.. Dylan, who is originally from Sitka, Alaska, knew ANDVSA Legal Program Director Christine Pate growing up, and had ANDVSA on his radar. The day after Dylan and Claire were sworn into the Alaska Bar, the Pro Bono Director of the Alaska Bar suggested they consider volunteering at ANDVSA. They are now working on their first ANDVSA pro bono case together.

In regards to working together, Dylan says that one thing he misses about Philadelphia is “getting to strategize about cases with Claire regularly as part of my workday. This has been a great opportunity to get to do that again a little bit.” Claire adds that it’s nice to have someone to talk through things with about the case, and to double check your work. “We’re both relatively new to our jobs, in addition to working on this case, so it’s nice to know that when I am a bit more bogged down with work I can pass the baton to him, and vice versa. It’s nice to have that balance, and in that way, it’s actually allowed us to be more responsive to the client.”

Claire and Dylan say that they would encourage other attorneys in the state to volunteer with ANDVSA. “They have really excellent onboarding, and there is so much support for volunteer attorneys–the written resources are fantastic,” says Dylan. Claire also adds that one of her frustrations while working at the DA’s office was not being able to help with the “things that most immediately impacted people’s lives,” and that this felt like a good way to meet that need. “It’s an issue with the criminal justice system, more broadly. Of course there is an impact, but what people needed most immediately–protective orders, divorces, custody of their children–I was only able to refer people to those services. It’s nice to be the one who helps them really change their lives in the way they need.”

Dylan and Claire say that they feel grateful to be a part of the Alaska legal community, which Dylan describes as full of “thoughtful, involved lawyers.” Outside of work, they enjoy riding bikes, hiking, “puttering around the house,” and listening to Agatha Christie novels on audiobook.

Thank you, Claire and Dylan, for your work to assist survivors of domestic violence!