Pro bono is part of Public Counsel’s DNA. Our partnerships with volunteer attorneys, law students, paralegals, and other legal professionals amplify our impact—bringing unmatched expertise and resources to our clients and powering both high-profile litigation victories and deeply meaningful individual wins that transform lives. It’s a true partnership: Public Counsel’s collaborative model depends on the unique talents, perspectives, and dedication of our pro bono community, while offering the structure, mentorship, and support needed for every volunteer to make a meaningful impact.
For 55 years, Public Counsel has been a leader on the legal front lines, sharing a unique responsibility to ensure justice is accessible to all—not just those who can afford it. Together with our pro bono partners, we pull every lever—including comprehensive direct services, impact litigation, and policy advocacy—to secure justice for community members and strategically transform the systems that cause harm in the first place. When broken systems stack the odds against people, they turn to Public Counsel and our pro bono legal volunteers for support.
As we celebrate National Pro Bono Week, Public Counsel is honored to recognize our 2025 Pro Bono Honorees—volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to justice and service. Their tireless dedication to Public Counsel clients is the epitome of the life-changing legal work all of our volunteers engage in every day. We will be recognizing our honorees at a celebration in early 2026, where we’ll have the opportunity to highlight their incredible efforts in greater depth. In the meantime, please join us in congratulating and celebrating this year’s recipients:
- Geoff Olsen, Encore Program Volunteer – Honored By The Disaster Recovery Program & Pro Bono Department
- Measure ULA Litigation Team and Yale Terrace Litigation Team: Morgan Chu and Irell & Manella LLP – Honored by Public Counsel’s Community Development Project
- Barry Weisz and Michael Rosenblum of Thompson Coburn LLP – Honored by Public Counsel’s Community Development Project – Small Business Unit
- David Hagen Of The Law Offices of David S. Hagen – Honored by Public Counsel’s Consumer Rights & Economic Justice Project Bankruptcy Clinic
- Nick Hoffman and Aria Hangval Of McGuireWoods LLP – Honored by Public Counsel’s Consumer Rights & Economic Justice Project
- Conrad Wilton and Spencer Persson of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP – Honored by Public Counsel’s Child, Youth & Family Advocacy Project Adoptions Team
- Sarah Brooks, David Fink, Josie Hall, Alexandra Kolsky, Claire Serruto, Adel Kelifa, Kristy Hsi, and Matthew Raber of Venable LLP – Honored by Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project Anti-Detention Team
- Lorenzo Gasparetti of Crowell & Moring LLP – Honored by Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project Pro Bono Asylum Team
- Kevin S. Litigation Team: Mike Hart of Martinez, Hart, Sanchez and Romero, P.C.; and Christina West & Kayla Jankowski of Barnhouse Keegan, Solimon & West LLP – Honored by Public Counsel’s Opportunity Under Law
- Vazquez Pedromo v. Noem and San Francisco v. Trump (Sanctuary) Litigation Team: Matthew Craig & Mack Jenkins of Hecker Fink LLP – Honored by Public Counsel’s Strategic Litigation Counsel, Opportunity Under Law, And Immigrants’ Rights Project
We also want to express our profound gratitude to each and every one of our pro bono partners. Every year, thousands of talented legal professionals selflessly volunteer their time and expertise, providing essential support and advocacy that transforms the lives of those in dire need. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey to build a more just society. Together, we are making a meaningful difference, and we are honored to stand alongside you in this vital work.
With heartfelt thanks,
David Daniels
Director of Pro Bono
P.S. If you’re inspired to make a difference and join our team of dedicated volunteers, click here to get involved!
