Dykema Receives Law Firm Of The Year Pro Bono Award

Detroit

Dykema, a leading national law firm, has been selected by the Legal Aid and Defender Association (LADA) for the Law Firm of the Year Pro Bono Award. The firm was honored at the LADA’s 100^th Anniversary Celebration on November 6.

“We are delighted that in its banner year the LADA has recognized Dykema for its significant contributions in encouraging pro bono work in the Detroit metropolitan area,” said Heidi Naasko, Dykema's attorney pro bono coordinator. “We are honored that we could share in their 100^th anniversary celebration and we look forward to continuing our longstanding relationship with the organization, and supporting its mission to provide comprehensive, aggressive legal advocacy and representation for Detroit low-income residents.”

Working in conjunction with the LADA, Dykema has helped lead several pro bono initiatives including:

• A partnership with General Motors to develop a medical legal clinic with the Children’s Hospital of Michigan primarily involving Social Security disability and landlord/tenant law matters.
• The Wayne STEP program where attorneys represented individuals through a criminal expungement process.
• The launch of a project with summer associates to represent Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI) clients.

In addition to providing top-notch cooperating attorneys for numerous cases, several Dykema attorneys have served on the LADA’s Board of Directors.

The LADA is Michigan’s largest provider of free civil legal services to low-income residents. It serves metropolitan Detroit through its offices in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. It also represents criminal defendants in Wayne County and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Dykema’s Longstanding Commitment to Pro Bono

Dykema believes the practice of law, especially in a large corporate firm, is a privilege that carries with it profound societal responsibilities. Performing legal services for those who cannot afford to pay for them – or for organizations that benefit such persons – is a central part of the firm’s effort to improve the quality of life for the underserved in its community.

Last year, Dykema attorneys and support staff performed 11,252 hours of pro bono work. The firm and its attorneys have earned several prestigious awards for its pro-bono work, including the 2009 Exceptional Service Award from the ABA Death Penalty Representation Project, the 2009 John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award and the 2009 Detroit Metropolitan Bar Pro Bono Service Award.

Click here for more information on Dykema’s pro bono program.