Attorneys in Husch Blackwell Sanders’ St. Louis – Clayton office were recently featured in a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article, “Economic Woes Summon Lawyers to Lend a Hand to the Poor.”
Associate Kristopher Lyle, who was recently recognized by Legal Services of Eastern Missouri for his outstanding pro bono commitment, explained, “There is such satisfaction in ending someone's nightmare....What you're doing is such a small thing, but it will make such a huge impact on their lives."
The article continues to explain, “At larger area large law firms, requests for help are often handled by committees headed by one or two partners who oversee pro bono efforts. Husch [Blackwell Sanders] is the only large area firm with a full-time pro bono coordinator, lawyer Jennifer Schwendemann. ‘I send out an e-mail that I need volunteers. It's seldom that I don't get a response,’ she said.”
A Partner with Husch Blackwell Sanders, Adam Hirtz, recently handled a pro bono matter involving a single mother’s eviction from her home. He recalled, "The thing I remember the most was getting a hug from the lady," Hirtz said. "You don't often get that from a CEO client."
Husch Blackwell Sanders has a long standing commitment to providing pro bono legal services to individuals, public service groups, and charitable organizations that are unable to pay for the legal representation they need. The firm encourages its attorneys to provide pro bono legal services, engage in activities that improve access to justice for all, and provide financial support for organizations that provide legal services to persons of limited means.
Husch Blackwell Sanders is a Signatory Member of the Pro Bono Institute's Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge, a national organization that encourages pro bono work in law firms across the country.