The State Bar Association of North Dakota Spring 2013 Gavel Magazine | Page 18

SBAND’S PRO BONO HEROES A lawyer should render public interest legal service. A lawyer may discharge this responsibility by providing professional services at no fee or a reduced fee to persons of limited means or to public service or to charitable groups or organizations, by service in activities for improving the law, the legal system or the legal profession, or by financial support for organizations that provide legal services to persons of limited means. Rule 6.1, North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct. VOLUNTEER LAWYERS JANUARY THROUGH MARCH 2013 ASHLEY Sidney Gross CAVALIER Jessica Hibl Deanna Longtin BISMARCK/MANDAN Chris Aaron Bryan Denham Alex Kelsch Jesse Matson Kent Morrow Bobbi Weiler BOTTINEAU Asmundur Benson DICKINSON Robert Keogh FARGO/WEST FARGO/ MOORHEAD Vanessa Berge Tasha Gahner Timothy Hill Kimberlie Larson Frannie Nelson Timothy McLarnan Julie Oster DeAnn Pladson James Sandsmark E. Jane Sundby GRAND FORKS/EGF Alisha Ankers Rhiannon Gorham Diane Hausmann Darla Schuman MINOT Andrew Schultz PARK RIVER Tracy Laaveg WAHPETON Erica Chisholm Amy Clark Jonathan Green WALHALLA Duane Schurman WATFORD CITY Robin Schmidt The following members have rendered professional services to persons of limited means in the preceding calendar year by accepting a case, or cases, through SBAND’s Volunteer Lawyer Program. MEMORIALS The North Dakota Bar Foundation has received the following memorial contributions: In memory of A. Roger Kringlie PROVIDING QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES UNDER THE LAW TO ALL NORTH DAKOTANS Rule 6.1 shown above clearly states that providing pro bono services is a responsibility of every North Dakota lawyer. It differs from providing volunteer services, because the specific skills of lawyers are used to provide services to those unable to afford or access them. “People in different professions have certain obligations to the society as a whole,” says Bill Neumann, SBAND executive director. “For lawyers, the obligation is to render justice. They must help guarantee fair and impartial treatment for everyone who comes to our legal system with their problems and disputes.” Equality before the law is a fundamental part of fair and impartial justice. “When we stand before the bar seeking justice, it must make no difference who we are, or what we own - all must be equal before the law, if the law is to be fair and impartial,” says Neumann. In the practice of law, this often means providing legal representation to people who cannot pay or who may have an unpopular case. “This is not an act of charity,” says Neumann. “It is an obligation imposed and reinforced by society when it grants lawyers control of the legal system. The duty to serve becomes the duty of all lawyers, who are expected to do their part to ensure equality before the law.” There are many ways that North Dakota lawyers can provide pro bono services, including the SBAND Volunteer Lawyer Program and Legal Services North Dakota. These will be detailed more in future articles. The State Bar Association of North Dakota The State Bar Association of North Dakota The State Bar Association of North Dakota In memory of Warren Johnson In memory of Nicholas J. Matt 16 The Gavel Spring 2013 ??