The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland relies on the dedication and expertise of volunteers to assist its many clients. Volunteers play an important role in helping us close the justice gap, and we are sincerely grateful for their dedicated service. To learn more about volunteering with Legal Aid, visit the volunteer section of our website, or email probono@lasclev.org.
The Legacy of Justice Award recognizes those whose participation in pro bono or other volunteer efforts has been significant in terms of length and/or impact.
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John Kirn |
2025 |
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David Kutik |
2024 |
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Stephen Hobt (posthumously) |
2023 |
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Judge Mary Jane Trapp |
2022 |
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Julie Rabin |
2021 |
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Ann McGowan Porath |
2020 |
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Frantz Ward, LLP Patrick Haggerty |
2019 |
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Cleveland Public Library |
2018 |
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Frank DeSantis |
2017 |
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Association of Corporate Counsel – Northeast Ohio Chapter John Kirn, Jr. |
2016 |
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James Young KeyBank National Association |
2015 |
The Access to Justice Award is given in recognition of significant contribution to advancing the mission of The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland through pro bono commitment. This recognition is informed by number of hours/ cases/ clinics.
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Lee Hutton Lenore Kleinman Honor Wolfe |
2025 |
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Daniel Leizerman Lynn Rowe Larsen |
2024 |
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Ellen Meehan Michael Meehan |
2023 |
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Allison Kreiner Irene Meyerhoefer Mark Dobbins Michael R. Durnwald |
2022 |
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Ashley Bailes James King Arthur Smialek |
2021 |
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Amy Willey Frank DeSantis McDonald Hopkins LLC R. Jeffrey Pollock Thompson Hine, LLP |
2019 |
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Anna Luczkow Gerald Meader Michael Harvey Mark Wallach |
2017 |
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Elizabeth Hendricks Patrick McGraw |
2016 |
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Brandon Cox Christopher Caryl John Allerding John Shryock Karen Seawall Kathleen Amerkhanian Kelly Noll Linda Cooper Melissa Laubenthal Nicole Wilson Robin Kunikis Stacey Greenwell |
2015 |
The Community Impact Award is given to individual(s), firm(s), group(s), or other volunteer(s) who have made a mark for outstanding participation, effort, or critical involvement that ensured success for a client, client community, or project.
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William (Bill) Ferry Dorcas Russo |
2025 |
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Delores Gray Judge Terri Stupica |
2024 |
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Normal S. Minor Bar Association |
2023 |
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Leslie A. Gentile Lydia Gross Magistrate Jennifer Himmelein |
2022 |
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Betsy Rader Christina Royer Donna Taylor-Kolis Jason Dawicke |
2020 |
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Fatima Family Center Geauga County Bar Association West Side Catholic Center |
2019 |
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Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County Oberlin Community Services |
2018 |
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Judge Harry Field Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A. |
2017 |
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Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Lorain County Bar Association Luke Lindberg Ryan Ellis |
2016 |
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Paul Binder R. Jeffrey Pollock Sandra Walker |
2015 |
Prior to the creation of the current award categories in 2015, volunteers were recognized in various ways. We applaud these individuals and organizations for their contributions to Legal Aid.
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Carolyn Brown Christopher Williams Curtis Tuggle Family Law Section, Lake County Bar Association Jenifer Novak Jessica Baaklini Joseph Dunson Karl Kammer Magistrate Jennifer Himmelein Nadia Zaiem Paula Goodwin Peter Shenyey Robert Glaser Stacy Cozart Martin William Perry |
2014 |
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Abigail Greiner Anthony Aveni Diana Jancura Ellen Keller Judge Deborah Nicastro Judge Joan Synenberg Judge Kristin Sweeney Julie Rabin Mark Chimo Robert Farinacci Robert LaForce Robert Walton Thomas Sacerich |
2013 |
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Christopher Newcomb Councilperson Philip Cordova David Pontius Edward Wadding Gary Pasqualone Henry Holz II Jason Fairchild Jeffrey Ford Jerome Lemire Jonathan Winer Judge Nicholas Iarocci Kenneth Piper Mark Andrews Richard Dana, Jr. Ryan Ellis Samuel Altier, Jr. Virginia Miller |
2012 |
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Tania Nemer |
2011 |
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Howard Stern John Hickey John Kealy John Kohler Joseph Corso Leonard Davis Mary Ann Rabin Sheldon Greenberg William Lawko William Moore William Steiner |
2009 |
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James Gemelas Lorain County Bar Association Wickens Herzer Panza |
2008 |
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David Kutik Dennis Rotman Jennifer Peyton John Kealy Teresa Stanford |
2007 |
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Karen Ireland-Phillips Mary Cibella Michael Harvey Victor Mezacapa III |
2005 |
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Bruce Molnar Howard Rabb John Kirn, Jr. John Valenti Joseph Straka Leanne Larimer Patrick Nixon |
2004 |
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Alan Gelbman Ann Bergen Edward Kramer John Shryock William Day |
2003 |
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Diana Thimmig Ellen Keller Howard Stern John Hallbauer Robert Belovich William Moore |
2002 |
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Dharminder Kampani Gallagher Sharp George Macdonald Joel Newman Michael Coffey Russell Moorhead Steven Davis Thomas Stroh |
2000 |
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Christopher Horn Edward Brice Gerald Jackson James Koerner Marlene Struger Mary Ann Rabin McDonald Hopkins Nancy Olson Robert Belovich |
1999 |
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Blair Melling Frederick Green George Ressler Judge Brian Melling Louise Mosher Magistrate Keith Belkin Martin Baker Terry Weddleton BakerHostetler Calfee, Halter & Griswold, LLP Jones Day |
1994 |
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Howard Egert John Ready Michael Banta Pearce Leary III Theodore Meckler William DiPalma |
1993 |
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David Davies Donald McFadden Karl Kammer Ralph Skonce, Jr. |
1992 |
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Beverly Briggs George Mineff, Jr. Mary Walsh Russell Kornblut Sheldon Greenberg William Steiner Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP Thompson Hine, LLP |
1991 |
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David Parchem Patrick Alcox Thomas Wilbur |
1990 |
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David Michel Howard Mishler John McGinnis Michael Shapero Ronald Balbier Vladimir Rus Case Western Reserve University School of Law |
1989 |
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Donald Canestraro Janet Kronenberg Joel Sacco Keith Brooks William Heine |
1988 |
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Abraham Kay Alan Goodman Edward Icove Sheldon Stein Todd Raskin William Fulton |
1987 |
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Murray Richelson |
1986 |
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Glenn Billington Jacob Kronenberg Jeffrey Spiegler Kent Minshall, Jr. Richard Kaplow Thomas Mazanec |
1985 |
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Gerald Gold John Gherlein John Hickey Wilson Leece II |
1984 |
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Carol Eisenstat Marvin Drucker Richard Drucker Volodymyr Bazarko |
1983 |
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Benson Pilloff James Todoroff Kent Minshall, Sr. Robert Gilcher Tyrone Reed Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP |
1982 |
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Lawrence Loeb Mark Knevel Robert Berk Steven Froberg |
1981 |
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Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association George Lowy Robert Lewis |
1980 |
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Alexander Jurczenko Neil Evans Otha Jackson Richard Agopian Squire Patton Boggs |
1979 |
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Michaele Tyner William B. Norris |
1978 |
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Bruce Rose Squire Patton Boggs Tom Connolly Zygmunt Slominski |
1977 |
The Legacy of Justice Award
The Access to Justice Award
The Community Impact Award
Pro Bono Recognition