Pro Bono
Firm / Organization
of the Year
The Legal Assistance Committee promotes the establishment and maintenance of organizations that provide legal services to low- and moderate-income people. It explores new ways to increase the accessibility of legal services. The committee provides encouragement and assistance to others in improving legal services delivery while promoting pro bono service to Wisconsin lawyers as a way to give back.
To that end, the Legal Assistance Committee recognizes attorneys and organizations for their outstanding pro bono service through the Pro Bono Attorney/Organization of the Year Awards.
Godfrey & Kahn SC is the Pro Bono Firm of the Year. The Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office nominated the firm for its outstanding pro bono service in 2019. In that time, Godfrey attorneys donated over 2,000 hours to an impressive range of pro bono clients and causes.
They provided direct representation to indigent litigants, advocated for law reform, staffed “brief legal advice” clinics, raised funds for legal services organizations, and helped other firms and businesses develop their own pro bono initiatives. On behalf of SPD clients, Godfrey attorneys donated hundreds of pro bono hours handling four criminal appeals involving ineffective assistance of counsel, Chapter 51 commitment, racial profiling in traffic stops, and involuntary medical treatment of inmates.
Other attorneys at the firm helped a victim of sex trafficking regain time with her children, represented dozens of tenants in court through the Eviction Defense Project, and helped staff the Mobile Legal Clinic in Milwaukee. One attorney alone represented 35 families in eviction cases. Godfrey & Kahn is a true champion of equal justice for the poor.
Watch the presentation of the Pro Bono Firm/Organization of the Year Award 