Volunteer Spotlight: Alex “Lenny” Leonard

Alex “Lenny” Leonard, Assistant General Counsel with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, volunteers with the Shelter Advocacy Project and the Federal Pro Se Legal Assistance Project for the Southern District of New York. He was honored with a 2024 Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award for his work with the Legal Clinic for the Homeless, where he helped to start a new initiative involving clients with commercial storage unit issues.  

How did you get started volunteering with us? I got involved as part of the New York Fed’s initial partnership with CBJC, taking on multiple cases in which I advocated for clients whose benefits payments the city was trying to recoup. More recently I have been active in assisting clients whose possessions were auctioned by self-storage companies after the city failed to make payments. I’ve also recently participated in Fed Court Fridays with the SDNY pro se clinic.  

What inspires or motivates you about doing pro bono work? I’m motivated by the opportunity to help individuals with legal issues that have an enormous impact on their lives but who face personal, logistical, bureaucratic, or legal hurdles. Guiding people and giving them a voice is rewarding no matter the outcome. I am inspired by the perseverance many display when dealing with these challenges.  

What has been your favorite or proudest moment as a volunteer, or what is a moment that has particularly stood out to you? I was able to successfully sue a self-storage company who had auctioned a client’s irreplaceable possessions, locate the purchaser, and recover some of the items lost. I remember the client crying tears of joy when I returned them.  

Why do you find this work to be important in our current world? There are so many people who face legal obstacles but do not have the resources or the ability to address them on their own. I think part of my responsibility as an attorney is to help fill that void, even just one client at a time.  

How has doing this work affected you and/or your legal practice? Working with the Shelter Advocacy Project and the pro se clinic allows me to strengthen skills that I use in my day-to-day role, such as interviewing clients or initiating lawsuits. This makes me a better lawyer and enhances my ability to support the New York Fed’s mission in my everyday work.  

What would you tell someone who hasn’t volunteered with CBJC but is thinking about starting? You can make a huge impact on someone’s life with just a little time and effort. Do it! 

What song do you currently have on repeat? My family Spotify account currently toggles between the Moana 2 soundtrack, the Beatles’ “Let it Be,” and several Chappell Roan songs.  

Interested in volunteering? Visit our “Do Pro Bono” page for more information.