Randall T. Shepard Award Honoring Pro Bono Service

Leadership and vision. They are attributes that  describe the 2011 honoree. The Randall T. Shepard Award will be presented to the family of John Pushor, Columbus, to honor him posthumously. Prior to his death, Mr. Pushor volunteered more than 10 years for Legal Aid-District Eleven.  He also created a special fund toassist his local pro bono district’s expenses after his passing.He actively recruited other attorneys in his district to assist in pro bono service and was passionate about meeting the legal needs of Hoosiers. Judge Heather M. Mollo asserted that “It is not an exaggeration to say that without John, the pro bono program would not have existed.”Mr. Pushor’s nominator, Thomas Lantz, noted, “John went to theDistrict 11 pro bono office four to five days a week, met with potential clients, determined their eligibility and then sought attorney matches in the five-county area.” Explaining Pushor’s commitment, Judge Mollo noted that one year he donated 392 hours to legal aid. She said, “It is equally impressive that in 2010 with John battling personal health issues, he continued to come into the legal aid office and donated 260 hours from the first of the year until his death on Sept. 2, 2010.”“He was the ultimate compassionate volunteer,” said Dan A. Patterson, Jones Patterson & Tucker.
   

Pro Bono Publico Awards

Jackie M. Bennett, Jr.

Indianapolis

Bennett is an aide to pro bono organizationally and individually. He has served on the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society’s board since 2000, assisted it with fundraising and represented many indigent clients himself as well as supervising junior lawyers at Taft, Stettinius and Hollister in pro bono assistance. In May 2011, Bennett secured a presidential pardon for two northeast Indiana men. The sub machine gun one of the men brought home from service in Vietnam in the 1960s was confiscated in a federal sting operation almost 20 years later.  Besides a clean record, the pardon means both men - hunters - can now return to a sport they love. Nominated by colleague Robert Hicks.

Thomas Bunger

Bloomington

Bloomington area nonprofits have a friend in Tom Bunger. Bunger has been giving free legal advice to seniors at Bloomington Adult Community Center for 16 years. He acts as pro bono in-house counsel to Shalom Community Center, a daytime resource center.  With his firm, Bunger and Robertson, he writes powers of attorney and health care representative appointments for terminally ill patients at Bloomington Hospice. Monroe County United Ministries, the Salvation Army and the Community Foundation have also benefited from his legal expertise. His partner Joe O’Connor said, “He has set the standard for many of the attorneys in our firm, who I believe take their pro bono obligations very seriously.”

Nominated by Diane Walker, District 10 Pro Bono Project.

Andrew Campbell

Indianapolis

Campbell’s pro bono service runs from the administrative to the applicable. He is currently representing two El Salvadorian youth in asylum proceedings. He attends most Indy/Bar Legal Line evenings to thank the volunteers and give legal advice to callers. He is chair of the IndyBar’s Pro Bono Standing Committee. He has increased the number of community residents receiving assistance at an IndyBar’s Ask a Lawyer collaboration with IPS. He has also increased the number of callers that receive assistance through the Legal Line program by 30 percent. He has expanded the legal advice and document creation/execution for the IndyBar Hospice program and grown partnerships with local hospitals. Also he sent updates of the pro bono members’ work to the 25 largest Indianapolis law firms to ensure volunteers receive recognition. Nominated by the Indianapolis Bar Association.

Evansville Bar Association Women Attorneys section

Domestic violence victims in Evansville’s Albion Fellows Bacon Center can count on attorneys of the women’s section for assistance. Members volunteer to be on a free legal advice contact list for residents of the shelter. Sometimes a compassionate phone conversation is all that’s needed. However, preparation of legal documents and court appearances are provided pro bono. Likewise members also donated 100 victim assistance kits annually. In addition to the financial underwriting, members stock and assemble the kits provided to area hospitals and shelters for abuse victims  who need a change of clothes or other necessities for a dignified departure. Nominated by the Evansville Bar Association.

David E. Kenninger

Danville

Kenninger performed more than 77  hours of pro bono service in 2010 up from 18 in 2009. In his own words, Kenninger noted, “A big problem with lawyers and the law [is] people cannot access the judicial system; you are shut out if you don’t have the money. I want to help as many people as I can and demonstrate to them that the system does work and is based on common sense principles and fairness. They need to find a way in to see that. They need someone on their team.”  Judge Mark A. Smith, Hendricks Superior Court, said, “... one of the most critical aspects of pro bono service is attitude. It is easy to take a pro bono case out of obligation. It’s quite another to take several pro bono cases annually out of a genuine concern for those in need. I know David fits the latter description.” Nominated by Traci Justice Twait, Hendricks County Pro Bono Program and Judge Mark A. Smith, Hendricks Superior Court #4.

Robert Schuckit

Zionsville

At an initial attorney recruitment event held by Heartland Pro Bono Council, Bob Schuckit provided reasons to incorporate pro bono into their practices: “You can pursue justice for those who would not otherwise be able to obtain it, and you can conduct yourself honorably in your professional dealings and share the advantages which you have been blessed with others who haven’t been so fortunate.” Schuckit has certainly demonstrated his commitment. He also volunteers for the federal and Marion County Courts pro bono programs. According to Heartland Pro Bono plan administrator  Laurie Beltz Boyd, he has never turned down a  pro bono case that she has asked him to take. Schuckit has also recruited other attorneys from his own firm to take  pro bono work.  Boyd noted that, “According to Bob a few hours a week spent on pro bono provides a breath of fresh air and break from the usual litigator’s day.” Nominated by Laurie Beltz Boyd, Heartland Pro Bono Council.

Law-related Education Awards

Evansville Bar Association Young Lawyers section

The Young Lawyers section of the Evansville Bar Association assists more than 250 high school students annually as they learn about the judicial system through its Annual Mock Trial and Student Lunch Program. The section prepares a fact pattern and numerous volunteers mentor a high school team for a two-month period.  Every April, the section operates a mock trial where 16 high school teams compete in the Vanderburgh County courthouse courtrooms before Vanderburgh County judges. At the lunch, volunteers from the section operate a trivia program with questions centering around a Law Day theme and the mock trials. Creating the questions and conducting the trivia game keep the students engaged and entertained. Nominated by the Evansville Bar Association.

Thanks to our Shepard Celebration sponsor, The National Bank of Indianapolis, for supporting pro bono service!