AFTER CELEBRATING a quarter-century of providing help and hope to low-income families in New Hampshire by coordinating the efforts of New Hampshire attorneys, the NHBA Pro Bono Referral Program is making new partnerships, developing new opportunities for volunteering, and responding to urgent needs as they arise.

In addition to making more than 900 referrals last year, a 4 percent increase over 2002, Pro Bono established a new partnership with the Disabilities Rights’ Center to recruit and train lawyers to accept special education cases; it moved forward in implementing the Low Income Taxpayer Project, partially supported by a grant from the Internal Revenue Service; and it assisted the Army National Guard by setting up clinics on short notice to link reservists being mobilized for active-duty overseas assignments with urgently needed estate-planning services.

At the 2003 Midyear Membership Meeting that concluded last week, awards recognizing the outstanding Pro Bono attorneys in each county were presented. (See accompanying list and descriptions below.) In addition, NHBA President Russell Hilliard presented the L. Jonathan Ross Award for Outstanding Commitment to Legal Services to the Poor to Michael P. Hall, who was instrumental in launching the Pro Bono program in the mid-1970s. (The origins and growth of the Pro Bono Program are described in the recently published "Quest for Justice" issue of the Bar Journal.)

In 2003, Pro Bono teamed up with the federally funded Disabilities Rights Center to bridge the gap between special education calls for help and the handful of attorneys who specialize in this field. Bar Foundation Justice Grant funding provided the wherewithal to enlist several dozen enthusiastic attorneys in the state for training at a special two-session CLE seminar. As a result, an additional very essential service is now available to families through Pro Bono.

TheLow Income Taxpayer Project is growing, too. Funded in part by the Internal Revenue Service itself, this project led to a Pro Bono reduced-fee CLE last fall on tax issues confronting low-income people—who are actually seven times more likely to be audited than other segments of society. Now a panel of attorneys stands ready to respond to the inquiries that have begun to come in.

Military personnel have greatly benefited from the Pro Bono Military Project, which twice in the past few months has mobilized the public spirit of Bar members, deploying and supporting volunteers at clinics at National Guard armories. The civilian attorneys pitched in to assist military legal officers in meeting the sudden burden of preparing estate-planning documents for hundreds of men and women mobilized for active duty. Pro Bono attorneys and Pro Bono staff will continue to bring peace of mind to members of the armed forces by assisting the families left behind—families often shocked by drastically reduced incomes. This valuable program is possible because of IOLTA support.

In addition to these efforts, other projects on the Pro Bono horizon during the coming months includes continuing the Pro Bono referral marathons, which used peer-to-peer contacts to assist in linking nearly 200 needy individuals with Pro Bono lawyers over the past few months. Recently, for the first time, participating attorneys called fellow law school alumni to recruit new volunteers. Franklin Pierce Law School and Suffolk University Law School have led the way in this new approach. The Bar’s Professionalism Committee also held a special recruiting marathon. It was so successful that Pro Bono hopes to involve more Bar committees in sponsoring future marathons.

During the next few months, said Ginny Martin, NHBA Associate Executive Director for Legal Services, Pro Bono will collaborate with New Hampshire Legal Assistance on a continuing education program covering changes in nursing home rules. (See page 21). "Other efforts we’re working on include holding a seminar in conjunction with the Bar’s new Military Section, networking with AIDS organizations, refining the services of our most recent projects—and developing additional ways to support our faithful Pro Bono attorneys, such as providing information and tips on the Bar’s Web site," said Martin.

2003 COUNTY PRO BONO AWARDS

The New Hampshire Bar Association presented the following County Pro Bono awards at the Mid-year Meeting on February 13^th. The Bar Association and the Pro Bono Department gratefully acknowledge the winners and salute all those who have dealt with the 904 referrals the Pro Bono Department received during the past year. The following tributes are only a small portion of all that could be said about these admirable attorneys.

Belknap County: Margaret Sullivan

Attorney Sullivan’s commitment involves her time, her resources and her heart. A member of the Pro Bono Panel since 1999, Margaret has spent an impressive number of hours, (198 hours on one case alone) helping families stabilize their lives, dealing with child support orders, shelter and debt relief measures and domestic violence resolution.

Carroll County: Erland McLetchie

The very first Pro Bono Award for Carroll County was given to Attorney McLetchie in 1985. He won again in 1986 and has continued to use his legal skills, scarcely taking a break between cases. Always ready to make the difference in someone’s life, he has helped with a variety of issues, including family, landlord and consumer problems.

Cheshire County: William Robinson

Attorney Robinson has been involved in Pro Bono work since he first became a lawyer in 1991. His deep commitment to the program was evidenced recently when he joined the Peerless Insurance Company. He asked his employers if he could continue his Pro Bono work; they responded enthusiastically, saying they would gladly support his efforts.

Coos County: George Carter

Attorney Carter has been a solid supporter of Pro Bono for many years. Not only will he accept complex family law cases, but he will also meet with vulnerable homebound seniors or with prisoners who have civil matters. Many of the North Country’s low-income families have benefited from his commitment. He is also a Pro Bono mentor.

Grafton County: Thomas Rappa

A tremendous friend of the Pro Bono program and its clients, Attorney Rappa has served on the Pro Bono Board since 1993. His caseload comprises many of the program’s most difficult cases. It is impossible to estimate the number of hours he devotes to Pro Bono; this is the third time Attorney Rappa has received this award.

Hillsborough North: The firm of Ansell, Barradale, Newkirk, Anderson & Dwyer

The firm assisted in forming an advisory committee, acted as faculty at a recruitment seminar and helped to launch the Pro Bono Low-Income Taxpayer Project. They also gave their time and resources to the Pro Bono Military Project.

Hillsborough County South: Kathleen Mary Earnshaw

Kate Earnshaw is always a reliable source for the Pro Bono Program. She is willing to take the difficult cases and is up to the challenge. Since 1997 Kate has accepted nearly 30 Pro Bono domestic cases, many of them DOVE referrals. She has proven herself a champion for the most vulnerable, emotionally and financially, in her community.

Merrimack County: The firm of Stephen A. Cherry & Associates

This Henniker firm has a vibrant history of helping needy individuals. Since 1989 Attorney Cherry and his associates have provided representation in a wide range of legal matters. They have accepted more than 21 cases in the last few years alone, volunteering countless hours to assist in family matters, as well as in many other areas. In addition, the firm is always ready to help with emergencies and Pro Bono special projects.

Rockingham County: William Theroux

Joining the Pro Bono panel soon after his 1999 admission to the NH Bar, Attorney Theroux extended his efforts to the DOVE project in 2001. In this short amount of time, Bill has accepted more than 14 cases and invested over 450 hours. He is professional, positive and generous—a tremendous asset to Pro Bono and to the legal community.

Strafford County: Allan Krans

Attorney Krans is a public-spirited lawyer and has a long history with the Pro Bono program. Since 1995 alone, Allan has accepted 23 Pro Bono referrals—but whether the client is a Pro Bono referral or just happens to walk through his door, Attorney Krans is always ready to put his experience to use for the disadvantaged.

Sullivan County: The Newport firm of Elliott, Jasper, Auten & Shklar, LLP

The attorneys of this Newport firm have a long-standing and remarkable tradition of serving low-income people. This award will mark the 9^th time this firm has won the Sullivan County award. During just the past three years, these attorneys have taken 26 cases and served as a beacon of hope to many families and individuals across a broad spectrum in Sullivan County.

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