2025 Justice Impact Awards Government: Acacia Bellamy
20 November 2025 Blog, Featured
Acacia Bellamy is an Attorney-Advisor at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In her position at HUD and throughout her legal career, Acacia, has demonstrated a deep commitment to her community and colleagues through her pro bono service and leadership.
2025 Justice Impact Awards Law Firm: Kate St. Romain
20 November 2025 Blog, Featured
When it comes to pro bono service, Kate St. Romain, Partner at Fried Frank, exemplifies using her legal tools in direct representation and systemic advocacy to defend and protect her clients and community members at every level. Her incredible ability to help those in her community through innovative legal strategy is paralleled by her compassion, judgement, and leadership. While her representation has spanned across many areas of law, she works tirelessly to support survivors of domestic violence through direct representation and aims to strengthen the legal framework that protects women and families through systemic advocacy.
2025 Justice Impact Awards Corporate Legal Counsel Award: Justin Loffredo
19 November 2025 Blog, Featured
Throughout his career, Justice Loffredo, Senior Principal Intellectual Property Legal Counsel at Medtronic PLC, has shown an unparalleled dedication to pro bono service. Justin’s career illustrates what it means to lead with compassion, integrity, and a resolute commitment to expanding access to justice.
2025 Justice Impact Awards Legal Services Award: Kaitlin Banner
18 November 2025 Blog, Featured
In this past year, our neighbors and people all around the country have faced unprecedented attacks on their civil rights. Thanks to the leadership of Kaitlin Banner, the Deputy Legal Director at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC), they did not need to take on that battle alone.
2025 Justice Impact Awards Presidents Award: Laura Klein
17 November 2025 Blog, Featured
For more than twenty-three years, the name Laura Klein has been synonymous with government pro bono. No one has had a greater or more sustained impact on the ability of federal attorneys to provide volunteer legal services. Throughout her long career, Laura has exemplified the ideal of serving “for the public good.”
Laura first received the Government Pro Bono Award from the Washington Council of Lawyers in 2004. It is fitting that at the conclusion of her distinguished federal career, she receives our 2025 Presidents’ Award, honoring her exceptional leadership, profound impact, and the generous spirit that has inspired—and continues to inspire—so many in the pursuit of justice.
2025 Justice Impact Awards Recipients
03 November 2025 Blog, Featured
Each year, we recognize outstanding lawyers who make exceptional contributions to the pro bono and public-interest community and celebrate the hundreds of public-interest and pro bono professionals who dedicate time, expertise, finances, and compassion to helping their neighbors. We are thrilled to honor our 2025 Justice Impact Awards recipients! Read on to find out more.
Volunteer! DC Bar Advice & Referral Clinic
28 October 2025 Blog, Events, Featured
When: 15 November 2025, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Where: Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School (2427 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE Washington, DC 20020) Cost: Free to attend, registration required Trying to find a way to fit pro bono service into your schedule? Join us for a rewarding day of service, where your skills can make a significant difference in the lives of those seeking legal guidance and support! Volunteer on Saturday, November 15th to gain experience in serving the D.C. community in a variety of matters! At the clinic, you’ll provide brief advice (and referrals) to people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to legal help. We meet at Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School (2427 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE Washington, DC 20020). Please arrive at 9:00 am, a brief orientation takes place at 9:15 am, and volunteers are asked to stay until the last client is seen, usually at least 3:00 pm. There’s no time commitment beyond the clinic itself. As a volunteer attorney, you’ll answer questions about consumer law, family law, housing law, public benefits, bankruptcy, and other topics. You don’t need to be an expert in these areas of law: D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center staff and expert mentors will be on hand to help. You do need to be a member of the D.C. Bar, or a federal government attorney barred in another state to participate. The deadline to volunteer is Tuesday, November 11 by 5:00 pm ET. Once you register to attend, our Program Director and volunteer coordinator, Chris Marin, will be in touch with additional details. We are currently looking for volunteers in private practice, including solo practitioners and those at firms. If you are currently a law student and would like to volunteer please contact Rachel Lawrence at lawrencera@cua.edu. Thank you! Register
DEADLINE EXTENDED for Government Nominations for the 2025 Justice Impact Awards!
12 October 2025 Blog, Featured
Annually, Washington Council of Lawyers is thrilled to celebrate us! – the hundreds of public-interest and pro bono professionals who dedicate time, expertise, finances, and compassion to helping their neighbors. Our Justice Impact Awards is a time for us to come together, recharge our collective batteries, celebrate our accomplishments, commiserate on our challenges, and be inspired. Read on to find out how to nominate a pro bono champion.
Event Recap: Full Representation in Pro Bono — Building Sustainable Support for Clients and Counsel
07 October 2025 Blog, Featured
Our recent discussion on Best Practices in Pro Bono: Keeping the Commitment: Structures to Make Full Representation Work for Everyone brought together leaders from across the legal services, corporate, and law firm communities to explore how to make sustained, high-quality representation both achievable and rewarding for volunteers. Panelists included representatives from law firms, corporate legal nonprofit, and legal services organizations, each offering insights into what it takes to provide full representation—from the first client meeting to case resolution.