pro bono spotlight

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC attorneys participate In Entergy’s Day of Pro Bono Service

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC attorneys Andrew Dixon, Philip Elmore, Glenn Larkin and Jon Mader (pictured l-to-r) volunteered their time to answer questions from low-income community members. The Day of Pro Bono service, organized by Entergy in recognition of National Pro Bono Week, brings together legal professionals throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to help clear the queue of questions in each state’s freelegalanswers.org website.

Modrall Sperling attorneys participate in pro bono legal clinic

Mexico Immigrant Law Center’s SIJC Clinic. I’m grateful to work at a firm that not only encourages attorneys to pursue these meaningful pro bono opportunities, but also makes it workable for attorneys to take on pro bono matters, even with a busy schedule. We are still in the early stages of the firm’s collaboration with the NMILC, but I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Dysart Taylor’s John Wilcox as Pro Bono Champion

Dysart Taylor president John F. Wilcox, Jr. was recognized by the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association as a “Pro Bono Champion” in connection with his work through the Volunteer Attorney Project (VAP) of Legal Aid of Western Missouri.

Wilcox’s dedication to helping his clients is always present, but for this case in particular, his knowledge and devotion was life changing to a client that was out of options. The client had used her entire savings to purchase a vehicle from a dealership and was assured that the vehicle was reliable and in great working condition. Soon after driving the car off the lot, the car began having mechanical issues and after several months of the dealership making promises to repair the car, it remained undrivable.

Wilcox, along with the other member of the pro bono team, Ashley West, were commended by the Honorable Judge Louis Angles for their use of the Missouri Merchandising Practices law and “going above and beyond the call of duty” as a lawyer.

Wilcox said of his achievements, “…I am very pleased that we were able to help… The owner of the dealership knew that the Missouri Lemon Law was inapplicable and was initially unwilling to negotiate. However, this changed when he realized that we were serious about pursuing litigation if he did not make things right.”

Rivkin team helps migrant teen find safety

Eight Modrall Sperling attorneys participated in the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center’s Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) clinic, held at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Abby Bannon-Schneebeck, Liliana Benitez de Luna, Tessa Chrisman, Spencer Edelman, Chandler Farnworth, Chris Killion, Dominic Martinez and Jeremy Nickell assisted clients seeking SIJS, a status available to some young immigrants that provides a path to lawful permanent residence for that child.

To be eligible for SIJS, the child must be subject to a predicate order from a state court in which the court finds that the child has been abandoned, abused, or neglected by one or both parents. The New Mexico Immigrant Law Center relies on assistance from pro bono attorneys to obtain time-sensitive predicate orders necessary to begin SIJS proceedings. At the clinic, attorneys met with clients in person to complete this first step of their case.

Dominic Martinez said, “I was thrilled that we had such a great turnout of Modrall Sperling shareholders and associates at the New

Last November, Jennifer Abreu, Evelyn Arboleda, Laura Gindele and Sean Gorton, led by Henry Mascia and under the supervision of Alan Rutkin , raced against the clock to stop the removal proceedings against an unaccompanied Guatemalan minor.

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) referred the case to Rivkin Radler, which the firm took in March 2021 on a pro bono basis. KIND provides support to pro bono attorneys, and the firm has worked with the organization for many years. (continued next page)