Legal Assistance Committee
The Legal Assistance Committee promotes the establishment and maintenance of organizations that provide legal services to low- and moderate-income individuals. 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 services through the
Pro Bono Attorney/Organization of the Year Awards.
Jennifer Binkley, Director of the Family Court Clinic (FCC), is the recipient of the Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award. FCC is part of the Economic Justice Institute and offers legal services in divorce, paternity, child placement and custody, and other family law matters.
Under her leadership as chair since 2004, the Dane County Bar Association’s Delivery of Legal Services Committee (DLSC) has worked to develop, maintain, and coordinate pro bono projects in Dane County, including clinics and attorney training opportunities that benefit the underserved.
Attorney Binkley has organized and provided training for Dane County’s Small Claims Assistance Project (SCAP) and the Family Law Assistance Clinic (FLAC). She single-handedly ensured these clinics could continue operating virtually during the pandemic and implemented the transition back to in-person clinics. Binkley also manages the Veterans Law Clinic, ensuring that volunteers are available to assist veterans and expanding the number of locations where veterans can be served.
Binkley holds an Of Counsel position with Community Justice, Inc. (CJI) and serves as a guardian ad litem for children and vulnerable adults. She has been honored as a Leader in the Law by the Wisconsin Law Journal and the Pro Bono Society of the UW Law School for her pro bono work. In 2022, she became a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Attorney Binkley is known as a leader who acts with integrity, dedication, and good humor. Nominator Marsha Mansfield wrote: “Jennifer exemplifies the type of leadership that is so important in our community, and she has given back to the community in numerous ways with the goal of increasing access to justice for Dane County’s residents.”
