Every year, during Pro Bono month, the Greater Richmond Bar Foundation celebrates those making an impact on pro bono service in Central Virginia. All of the nominees for this year’s awards impressed the committee with their volunteer efforts & tangible efforts to increase access to legal services & strengthen pro bono participation.
George H. Hettrick Pro Bono Leadership Award
We’re pleased to announce that the recipient of this year’s George H. Hettrick Pro Bono Leadership Award is Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn of the Virginia Supreme Court. The Hettrick award recognizes outstanding efforts, innovative thinking, & visionary leadership in the pro bono space. Chief Justice Goodwyn, who until recently chaired the Virginia Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission, has led efforts to make Virginia courts more accessible to litigants. Chief Justice Goodwyn developed judicial orientations regarding pro se & low-income litigants & promoted the use of natural language in Virginia court forms. He championed permitting litigants to use their cell phones to present evidence in circuit court & encouraged courts’ efforts to accommodate pro bono service. His efforts have helped shift the culture of pro bono in Virginia.
Benjamin R. Lacy, IV Volunteer of the Year Award
Our recipient for the Benjamin R. Lacy, IV Volunteer of the Year is Michael Goldman of Hunton Andrews Kurth. The Lacy award recognizes outstanding efforts in pro bono service. Mike has logged countless hours as a volunteer for GRBF’s Pro Bono Clearinghouse, prompting unsolicited (& gushing) testimonials from his nonprofit clients. He also trained other Clearinghouse volunteers & provides ongoing assistance to GRBF to match nonprofit clients in need of legal services with local volunteers. Mike has substantially helped make the Pro Bono Clearinghouse a unique & valuable service for nonprofits in Virginia.
Please join us on Tuesday, October 18, to honor our award winners and celebrate pro bono service. Beginning at 3 p.m., we will provide a variety of FREE CLE training, covering topics ranging from No Fault Divorce & Domestic Violence Protective Orders to Eviction Diversion, Eviction Defenses & Expungements, & Transactional Legal Support for Nonprofits. At 5 p.m., we will honor our award winners & hear from Chief Justice Goodwyn for our keynote, then wrap up our Celebration with a cocktail reception.
