Breaking the Ice: Pro bono work ‘really builds fellowship’

Scott Cloutier values the connections he makes as senior corporate counsel at U.S. Bancorp Asset Management and those that come through volunteering to help emerging businesses and entities.

Joining the in-house pro bono committee soon after he arrived at U.S. Bancorp was a good way to get to know colleagues, Cloutier said.

It’s also where he learned about Minneapolis-based LegalCORPS, the nonprofit where he runs a monthly clinic to help small-business owners, entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations.

Volunteering there “really builds fellowship and interconnectedness with individuals who represent our broader communities,” Cloutier said. “Oftentimes our paths probably would never cross otherwise, so those experiences provide perspective that I could never gain solely through my role at work.”

At U.S. Bancorp, Cloutier supports the company’s investment advisory services business that works with large institutions. He previously worked at a Chicago law firm, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and in-house in the hedge fund industry.

Name: Scott Cloutier

Title: Senior corporate counsel, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management

Education: B.A., economics, University of Michigan; J.D., University of Minnesota Law School

Q: Best way to start a conversation with you?

A: Lead with humor and curiosity. And probably ask about our dog. We’ve got a squirrel-obsessed Bernedoodle. She loves snow and she’s always up to some mischief.

Q: Why law school?

A: I’ve had a lifelong curiosity about the legal system and the challenge of a rigorous education that law school provides. I also had strong interest in business and finance, and I wasn’t sure how it would all come together. But it felt like the education would provide flexibility for a number of different paths and career opportunities, and that’s been true.

Q: What are you reading?

A: “The Devil in the White City.” My kids are reading it for school and invited me to be in a mini book club with them. It’s a historic crime novel set in Chicago around the World’s Fair in the late 1800s.

Q: Pet peeve?

A: Probably when relatively small obstacles derail progress toward bigger goals. Through a lot of collaboration, there’s usually ways to solve those problems. That may be a big reason of what’s led me to this profession and why I enjoy the pro bono work with LegalCORPS.

Q: Best part of your work?

A: I’m on an outstanding team led by an exceptional manager. Working with the professionals within the business line we support is great. The pro bono work is also really high on the list. It allows me to use my background and education in different and deeply rewarding ways.

Q: Most challenging?

A: Helping to chart a path forward with confidence when the answers aren’t entirely clear. That requires strong judgment and adaptability and often a broader vision to see how things fit together and to anticipate future states.

Q: Favorite activity away from work?

A: I play hockey in a couple different pickup leagues. I’ve probably been skating for about 50 years. My kids would call me a duster. I don’t think it’s a compliment. But every once in a while, I can get the puck on net.

Q: Where would you take someone visiting your hometown?

A: I was born in Minneapolis, and that’s I where I live. I’d start with a bike ride around the Minneapolis lakes. Then head up the North Shore to Grand Marais.

Q: Legal figure you admire?

A: Former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page. I was a huge Vikings fan as a kid, and got an autographed picture from him that I have on my desk. It’s been cool watching his remarkable journey from NFL legend to leader in the legal community and his philanthropic work.

Q: Misconception about your work?

A: That banking is boring. There’s been a lot of adaptability and innovation along the way. Every day is something new, and it’s a lot of fun.

Q: Favorite book, movie or TV show about lawyers?

A: “A Few Good Men” feels a little too obvious. The next one I thought of was “Night Court.” I used to get a kick out of it.