Click "Play" to watch President Taze Shepard's video message as we celebrate the 13th annual Pro Bono Month!
The Alabama State Bar is excited to celebrate the 13th Annual Pro Bono Month. We spend every October showing communities how lawyers truly give back and make a difference. Throughout this month we challenge you to get involved in pro bono service activities. For a list of pro bono events happening near you, visit alabar.org/events.
If you haven’t already, follow the Alabama State Bar on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and connect with us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on the events happening during Pro Bono Month. If you are doing any pro bono work, be sure to tag us by using the hashtag #celebrateprobono. We want to flood social media with all the great work that our lawyers do in Alabama.
Governor Signs Proclamation Declaring October Pro Bono Month
Gov. Kay Ivey has proclaimed October 2021 “Pro Bono Month” in Alabama. Gov. Ivey joined Alabama State Bar VLP and the Pro Bono Month Celebration Task Force to sign the proclamation before the September Board of Bar Commissioner's Meeting. Read more here.
Alabama Supreme Court Designates October Pro Bono Month
On September 23, 2021, Chief Justice Tom Parker issued an order designating October as Pro Bono Month in the Alabama Judiciary, recognizing the valuable contributions made by attorneys through the year and encouraging pro bono participation to address the needs of low-income Alabamians.
Thank You To All Volunteers with the Volunteer Lawyers Program
Pro bono work would not be possible without the work of our incredible volunteers. Last year, our volunteers completed 9,250 hours of pro bono work. Each year we aim to increase this number and expand access to justice. The VLP hopes to create a space and place where anyone can receive legal assistance despite their ability to pay. Each of you helps us get closer to achieving that goal with every case you take and every client you advise. The ASB VLP acknowledges, appreciates, and commends your efforts. Thank you for your service! #Makingadifferencetogether
Pro Bono Month Events
Mark your calendars for these free CLEs planned each Wednesday at noon in October.
Wednesday, Oct. 6 at Noon: Ethics Update - Join Alabama State Bar General Counsel Roman Shaul for this ethics update. This program has been approved for one hour of MCLE Ethics Credit. Register here.
Wednesday, Oct. 13 at Noon: Top 10 Mistakes Made in Mediation - Cooper Shattuck has been a mediator on the Roster of the Alabama State Court Mediators and an arbitrator on the Roster of the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution since 1998. Mediation gives parties the opportunity to resolve disputes in a timely manner while having more control over possible solutions and agreements. Join Cooper as he discusses the Top 10 Mistakes Made in Mediation. Register here.
Wednesday, Oct. 20 at Noon: What's Next? Landlord-Tenant Issues Post Eviction-Moratorium - Sarah Taggart founded Sarah Taggart, P.C., a boutique Alabama law firm focused on landlord-tenant law, in her hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. Holly Ray is the Managing Attorney in the Huntsville Office of Legal Services Alabama. Join them as they discuss Landlord-Tenant issues post-eviction moratorium. Register here.
Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Noon: FEMA 101 and Disaster Legal Assistance: How Attorneys Can Prepare and Respond to Climate-Related Emergencies - Jeanne Ortiz is the Pro Bono & Strategic Initiatives Manager at Pro Bono Net, a national nonprofit that combines access to justice and technology. She helps grow digital initiatives that strengthen the work of attorneys assisting low-income families with their legal issues. Shrushti Kothari is the Project Managing Attorney of National Disaster Content and Resources at Lone Star Legal Aid. Join these national experts as they speak about Disaster Legal Assistance. Register here.
Upcoming Pro Bono Legal Clinics:
Oct. 7 (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) - Wills for Heroes Clinic
Vestavia Hills Police and Fire Department - Vestavia Municipal Court, 1032 Montgomery Hwy., Vestavia Hills
Oct. 12 (8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.)- Senior Wills Clinic
Rose Hill Senior Center, 401 South Appletree St., Dothan
Oct. 21 (3 - 5 p.m.)- Counsel and Advice Clinic (Volunteers needed)
Tuscaloosa Public Library, 1801 Jack Warner Pkwy, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Oct. 26 (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)- Senior Wills Clinic (Volunteers needed)
Dr. Michael and Catherine Bullock Community and Recreational Center, 1428 Broad St., Selma
Please contact Hilaire Armstrong if you would be interested in volunteering.
Sign Up For Inaugural Pro Bono Book Club
The Pro Bono Month Celebration Task Force is launching an inaugural Pro Bono Book Club. The book club will be reading A Knock At Midnight by Brittany K. Barnett. Register for the Book Club here.
Book Club discussions will take place via Zoom from Noon - 12:45 p.m. on Tuesdays in October. The zoom link, meeting ID and password are listed below:
The American Bar Association, an inaugural Book Club partner, will host (via Zoom) a book discussion with the author, Brittany Barnett, Wednesday, October 27, at 3 p.m. Please register in advance with the ABA to attend the book discussion with the author.
Join VLP and be selected for lunch with the Chief Justice Parker
When you join the VLP you can select the practice areas and counties in which you are willing to volunteer, you can decline a case if necessary, cases referred to you are covered by malpractice insurance, and you get one hour of CLE credit for every six hours of pro bono work (up to three CLE hours a year). Plus,if you sign up to join the VLP during Pro Bono Month, you could be selected to attend lunch with the chief justice!
Pro Bono Snapshots
Each year, we recognize outstanding lawyers and law students who have made an impact on pro bono work in Alabama. This year we are recognizing L. Thomas Ryan, Jr.; Stephen D. Rygiel; Joseph A. Holley; and the law firm Carr Allison. Look for their stories on the ASB website, and follow us on social media to learn more about the impact they are making in Alabama.
Law School Video Contest Returns This Year For Pro Bono Month
For the second year, Pro Bono Month will feature a Law Student Video Contest. The contest winner(s) will receive free registration to the Young Lawyers’ Section Annual CLE. Thank you, Young Lawyers’ Section, for donating the registrations for the winners of the competition.
The ABA has decided to pick up this project and extend it nationwide. Many good videos were submitted to the Bar's contest last year, and we hope that one of our own Alabama students can also win the ABA competition this year! Read more here.
Celebrate Pro Bono Month By Joining the VLP
If you have not yet joined the VLP, now is the time! Joining the VLP will give you career satisfaction, but will also give you an opportunity to make a difference in a person’s life. When you join the VLP, you can choose your practice areas, choose the counties you want to work in, be covered by malpractice insurance, and receive CLE credit for your pro bono work. We want you to be a part of our team! #Makingadifferencetogether
Congratulations 2020-21 Law Firm Challenge Partners
In celebration of the Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program’s 30th Anniversary, the Pro Bono Committee created the Law Firm Challenge. The committee challenged Alabama attorneys and law firms in the state to adopt a pro bono policy to expand access to justice. They also had the option of providing pro bono service to the Volunteer Lawyers Program or Alabama Legal Answers or donating to the Alabama Law Foundation. All donations given to the Alabama Law Foundation will be dispersed to the Volunteer Lawyers programs throughout the state. We are thrilled that so many attorneys and law firms accepted the challenge this year. We are excited to announce that 35 firms and 134 attorneys completed the challenge, and raised $8,400 for the VLP programs in the state. Thank you all for being our 2020-2021 Pro Bono Partners! One person can have an impact, but together we can make a difference!
Autumn Fritsch Law Firm, LLC
Beasley Allen
Beverlye Brady and Associates
The Bertella Law Firm, PC
Bond, Botes, Sykstus, Tanner & McNutt, PC
Carey & Hamner, PC
Davidson, Davidson, Umbach & Forbus, LLC
E. Peyton Faulk, Esq.
Eric Wilson Law, LLC
Griess, Shaw & Willingham, PC
Dihanne Perez Guilbert, Esq.
Hankey Law Firm, LLC
Susan K Harmon, Attorney at Law
Betsy M. Harrison, Esq.
Heath Trousdale, Esq.
Jinks, Crow & Dickson, PC
Key Greer Harrison & Casey
Kinder Law Firm
The KJ Law Firm, LLC
Law Office of Al Danner
Law Offices of Marcie L. Foster
Law Offices of Robert I. Hinson, PC
Law Office of Stephen Perdue LLC
John E. Medaris, Esq.
Montgomery Divorce Law
Ogle Law Firm, LLC
Powell & Hamilton
Prim & Mendheim, LLC
Reed Law Firm, PC
The Samantha Valenzuela Law Firm, LLC
Cooper Shattuck, LLC
Stone Piper Law, LLC
Tommy James Law
Earl P. Underwood, Jr. Attorney at Law
Michael A. Wing, LLC
Buzz from the Bar
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The Supreme Court of Alabama held its annual Red Mass and Opening of the Courts ceremony today. President Taze Shepard spoke at the Opening of the Courts, giving a memorial address in memory of the lawyers who passed away duringthe past two years.
#MoreThanALawyer: Tobias, McCormick & Comer Law Firm
Friday’s #MoreThanALawyer featured attorneys from Tobias, McCormick & Comer Law Firm. Share your story or nominate a fellow attorney today!
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For the second year, Pro Bono Month will feature a Law Student Video Contest. The contest winner(s) will receive free registration to the Young Lawyers’ Section Annual CLE. Thank you, Young Lawyers’ Section, for donating the registrations for the winners of the competition.
If you have not yet 
In celebration of the Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program’s 30th Anniversary, the Pro Bono Committee created the Law Firm Challenge. The committee challenged Alabama attorneys and law firms in the state to adopt a pro bono policy to expand access to justice. They also had the option of providing pro bono service to the Volunteer Lawyers Program or Alabama Legal Answers or donating to the Alabama Law Foundation. All donations given to the Alabama Law Foundation will be dispersed to the Volunteer Lawyers programs throughout the state. We are thrilled that so many attorneys and law firms accepted the challenge this year. We are excited to announce that 35 firms and 134 attorneys completed the challenge, and raised $8,400 for the VLP programs in the state. Thank you all for being our 2020-2021 Pro Bono Partners! One person can have an impact, but together we can make a difference!
