Karen Fairbairn Nath, J.D. graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1988. She practiced labor/employment law at Dorsey & Whitney in Minneapolis before she went in-house and worked in the Holiday Companies’ Legal Department. Karen then took a lengthy hiatus from the practice of law to raise and homeschool her two children. Karen is originally from Rochester and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1979; she graduated magna cum laude from St. Olaf College in 1983. In addition to working at LAOC, Karen is an active member of the Friends of the Rochester Public Library. She enjoys running, cooking, time with her family and her collies.
Peter A. Foss, J.D. graduated in 2006 from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he participated in clinical programs including the Wisconsin Innocence Project and the Public Defender Project. Prior to joining LAOC in December 2014, Peter gained a variety of legal experience working as an associate attorney at small law offices in Wisconsin and Massachusetts and also as a temporary attorney working on large-scale corporate litigation projects in Washington, D.C. He has practiced in multiple areas including criminal defense, family law, landlord-tenant, bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, personal injury, corporate fraud litigation, and FCPA investigations. Peter received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Pacific Lutheran University in 2001, majoring in Communications (emphasis print journalism) with a minor in Philosophy. Outside of work, he enjoys travel, reading, hiking, music, and recreational sports.
Kayleen Asmus, J.D. graduated in 2018 from the University of Iowa College of Law, where she worked as a research assistant in the Writing Resource Center and was a student writer for the Journal of Corporation Law. Kayleen received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado State University with a major in English and minor in History. Kayleen is licensed to practice law in both Minnesota and Iowa.
Catherine Anderson Benscoter, J.D., graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 1997, where she was a staff writer for the William Mitchell Law Review. She received a B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, in Scandinavian Languages and Studies, summa cum laude, in 1994. After law school, Catherine was a Judicial Law Clerk in Olmsted County. She then worked as a Staff Attorney at the Office of Administrative Hearings in St. Paul, where her focus was on agency law, including legal research and writing and agency rulemaking. After staying at home with children, Catherine returned to work as a law librarian at the Olmsted County Law Library, and then as an Assistant City Attorney in the Rochester City Attorney’s Office. Catherine was born and raised in Rochester, and continues to call Rochester home.
Kristy Turner started working as the LAOC Office Administrator in 2008. Kristy is responsible for the office case management system, grant invoicing and billing, payroll, and bookkeeping. Previously, she worked for 16 years as a legal assistant for attorney Mary Alice Richardson. Outside of LAOC, Kristy has been a very active Girl Scout volunteer and was the Service Unit Manager for the Kasson-Mantorville Service Unit for several years. She is an active runner and enjoys gardening, sailing and reading.
Victoria Ness is a native of Rochester and graduated from Mayo High School. After serving in the military, she graduated from Winona State University with a Masters in Counseling Education and a Bachelor’s in Social Work and a minor in Psychology. Victoria is responsible for the Volunteer Attorney Program and coordinates all the legal clinics, placing pro bono cases, and assisting the Executive Director in fundraising, marketing, trainings, and volunteerism. She has spent hundreds of hours volunteering in this community and her passion is teaching and providing people with the tools they need to be productive and successful in their own lives and community.
Samantha Fletcher graduated Magna Cum Laude from Winona State University in 2021. She completed her degree with a major in psychology and a minor in sociology. She graduated high school concurrent with her associates degree from RCTC in 2019 earning Summa Cum Laude. She is responsible for intakes, phones, and assisting those where they need it.
Carly received her undergraduate degree from Winona State University in 2021 where she majored in legal studies with a minor in philosophy. Prior to joining LAOC, she worked at the Winona County Attorney’s Office for two years working in their victim services department. Carly plans to attend law school in 2023 where she will further her education and passion for law.
Legal Assistance of Olmsted County is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides free civil legal services to low-income people in Olmsted County.
Monday – Friday
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Office Open:
Mon-Thurs: 10-2
Fri: 10-noon
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