Federal Access to Information: FOIA for Alaska Lawyers

FEDERAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION:
FOIA FOR ALASKA LAWYERS
Recorded Thursday, January 18, 2024
2.0 General CLE Credits | CLE# VOD_2024001
Registration fee: $85
 

Unveil the untapped potential of the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) with our tailored program exclusively designed for Alaska lawyers.  Delve into the intricacies of crafting impactful FOIA requests, navigating administrative appeals, and mastering the evaluation criteria used by the federal courts in FOIA cases.

Alaska, with its unique relationship with federal activities, stands to benefit greatly from wielding the power of this half-century old statue.  Gain a comprehensive understanding of FOIA’s reach and harness its potential to empower your legal practice.

By participating in the program, lawyers will learn to scrutinize agency search efforts, ensuring transparency, and explore contemporary challenges surrounding the most frequently cited FOIA exemptions. 

Learning objectives:

1. Crafting Effective FOIA Requests: Participants will learn the art of formulating precise and impactful FOIA requests tailored to extract specific information from federal agencies. They'll understand the nuances of language, scope, and focus necessary to prompt timely and comprehensive responses.
    
2. Navigating Administrative Appeals with Finesse: Lawyers will develop strategies to navigate and advocate effectively during the administrative appeal phase of FOIA requests. They'll gain insights into leveraging legal arguments, evidence, and procedural understanding to strengthen their clients' positions for successful outcomes.
    
3. Understanding Judicial Review in FOIA Cases: Participants will grasp the criteria and processes used by federal district courts when evaluating FOIA cases. They'll explore how courts assess agency compliance, delve into precedents, and analyze contemporary issues related to FOIA exemptions, empowering them to navigate judicial reviews skillfully.

Presenter: Peter Sorenson

Peter Sorenson is an attorney with over 40 years of experience. His expertise is helping clients with requests, administrative appeals, and judicial reviews of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) matters.

He has worked at the federal level as a legislative assistant in the United States House of Representatives and as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture, both in Washington, DC.

In his community of Eugene, Oregon, he has been active in civic affairs. He served as an Oregon State Senator, has chaired the Lane County Board of Commissioners, the Housing Authority and Community Services Agency of Lane County, the Lane Workforce Partnership Board of Directors, the Lane Community College Board of Education, and the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency Board of Directors.

As a Freedom of Information Act attorney, Pete heads a law firm with substantial experience drafting, serving, and monitoring responses to FOIA requests. FOIA guarantees the public access to federal agency records including reports, documents, letters, emails, photographs, and databases. He has helped thousands of people, journalists, organizations, and businesses navigate the FOIA request, administrative appeal, and judicial review processes. He has assisted clients in obtaining records and awards of attorney fees in FOIA litigation in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Mr. Sorenson earned three degrees from the University of Oregon: a BA and MA in Geography and a JD in Law. He has taught public affairs, geography and law courses at the University of Oregon. He belongs to the District of Columbia Bar, the Bar of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the Oregon State Bar, the Lane County Bar Association and many others.

As an active FOIA lecturer, Mr. Sorenson has presented FOIA programs at the University of Tennessee College of Law, the University of Georgia School of Law, as well as in-person presentations at Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, and several online programs.

For more information, please contact him directly at 541-606-9173, email peter@sorensonFOIAlaw.com, or visit his firm's website at www.sorensonFOIAlaw.com.