This award recognizes a lawyer or law firm for the delivery of direct legal services, free of charge, to the poor or, in appropriate instances, to charitable organizations whose primary purpose is to provide other services to the poor. In addition to the Pro Bono Award, the KBA awards a number of Pro Bono Certificates of Appreciation to lawyers who meet the following criteria:

• Lawyers who are not employed full time by an organization that has as its primary purpose the provision of free legal services to the poor;
• Lawyers who, with no expectation of receiving a fee, have provided direct delivery of legal services in civil or criminal matters to a client or client group that does not have the resources to employ compensated counsel;
• Lawyers who have made a voluntary contribution of a significant portion of time to providing legal services to the poor without charge; and/or
• Lawyers whose voluntary contributions have resulted in increased access to legal services on the part of low– and moderate–income persons.

Past Recipients

2013 – Joni J. Franklin

2012 – William K. Schmidt

2011 – Zach Chaffee–McClure

2010 – Kathleen O. Coode

2009 – Kansas Elder Law Hotline

2008 – U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas Pro Se Task Force

2007 – T. Lynn Ward

2006 – Thomas C. Henderson

2005 – Carol A. Boorady and Jim L. Lawing

2004 – Scott Wissel, Alan F. Alderson, Cary L. Standiferd

2003 – Randall W. Weller

2002 – William H. Zimmerman Jr.

2001 – Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, Melanie J. Branham

2000 – Robert L. Kennedy Sr., Paul W. Rebein, Diane W. Simpson

1999 – W. Thomas Stratton Jr.

1998 – Clifford L. Malone

1997 – Thomas J. Drees

1995 – J. Eugene Balloun

1996 – Patrick Bishop

1994 – Alderson, Alderson, Montogmery & Newberry

1993 – Martin J. Weishaar, Steven L. Islas

1992 – James F. Vano, Robert L. Feldt

1991 – David R. Morris, Susan C. Jacobson

1990 – Sloan, Listrom Law Firm

1989 – John M. Simpson

1988 – Roberta L. Comer

1987 – Cary L. Standiferd