KU Law students make 2022 honor roll for pro bono service
LAWRENCE – Forty-nine University of Kansas School of Law students contributed 2,721 hours of free legal services over the past year.
Students prepared tax returns for low-income residents, represented individuals in the KU Court of Parking Appeals, drafted petitions for families seeking guardianship of their adult children with disabilities and worked with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, prosecutors’ offices and public defenders’ offices.
“Lawyers have a responsibility to perform pro bono service and promote access to justice,” said Meredith Schnug, clinical associate professor and chair of KU Law’s Pro Bono Committee. “We are so proud of KU Law students for being committed to pro bono service and making a difference in their communities.”
Pro bono work is defined as uncompensated, law-related work that benefits the public, such as through a nonprofit organization or government agency.
Nine KU Law students participated in a new pro bono guardianship project last fall. Carly Booth, L’06, set the new project in motion, modeling it after a previously existing, similar program that KU Law students volunteered for in Wichita. Students worked with local agencies to provide services in adult guardianship cases for families.
“As a mom of three boys, I understand intimately the level of concern you can have for a vulnerable loved one,” said Caitlin McPartland, a first-year student who volunteered for the project. “And I now better understand how the complexity of the legal system inhibits so many people from accessing it. Participating in this project gave me an intimate glimpse of the emotional rewards I will find from being a lawyer in the Kansas City area, and because of my experience, I am looking forward to the future more than ever.”
The following 40 students completed 15 hours or more of pro bono service during the 2021-2022 academic year, earning a spot on KU Law’s Pro Bono Honor Roll. Students are listed by name, graduation year and hometown:
- Bander Almohammadi, Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) 2022, Saudi Arabia
- Anshul Banga, Class of 2024, Suwanee, Georgia
- Doug Bartel, Class of 2023, Olathe
- Karlie Bischoff, Class of 2024, Kansas City, Missouri
- Katie Calderon, Class of 2022, El Paso, Texas
- Katherine Carter, Class of 2024, St. Charles, Missouri
- Chad Cook, Class of 2024, Spring Hill
- Riley Cooney, Class of 2022, Loveland, Colorado
- Samuel Crowley, Class of 2024, Hays
- Christian DeShazo, Class of 2022, Park Hills, Missouri
- Cortez Downey, Class of 2022, Edmond, Oklahoma
- Hannah Eubanks, Class of 2022, Tempe, Arizona
- Christian Flores, Class of 2024, San Antonio
- Jamie Gallagher, Class of 2024, Oak Lawn, Illinois
- Katelyn Girod, Class of 2023, Overland Park
- Shannon Greene, Class of 2024, McLouth
- Tyler Hellenbrand, Class of 2022, Barneveld, Wisconsin
- Rachel Henderson, Class of 2024, Wichita
- Steven Hendler, Class of 2023, Leawood
- John Langmaid, Class of 2024, South Whitley, Indiana
- Sophia Leonard, Class of 2024, Lake Quivira
- Ryan Love, Class of 2024, El Paso, Texas
- Lauren Mangiameli, Class of 2022, Omaha, Nebraska
- CyLeigh Maroney, Class of 2024, Guthrie, Oklahoma
- Amanda McElfresh, Class of 2023, St. George
- Caitlin McPartland, Class of 2024, Prairie Village
- Lindsay McQuinn, Class of 2023, Shawnee
- David Miranda, Class of 2024, Chicago
- Allyson Monson, Class of 2023, Clark, South Dakota
- Audrey Nelson, Class of 2022, Prairie Village
- Roman Panickar, Class of 2023, Frederick, Maryland
- Stephany Rohleder, Class of 2022, Topeka
- Toni Ruo, Class of 2023, Shawnee
- Tyler Schembri, Class of 2024, Foster City, California
- Riley Schumacher, Class of 2022, Olathe
- Ashlyn Shultz, Class of 2022, Manhattan
- Edwin Sullivan, Class of 2022, Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Andrew Tague, Class of 2022, Topeka
- Alden Vogel, Class of 2024, Lenexa
- Heidi Wolff-Stanton, Class of 2022, Camdenton, Missouri
In addition, 28 students were honored with Pro Bono Distinction for completing 50 hours or more of pro bono service throughout their law school career. Collectively, members of the Class of 2022 completed 4,923 hours of pro bono service.
Students who received Pro Bono Distinction were honored during the law school’s Hooding Ceremony on May 14. Students recognized with Pro Bono Distinction:
- Katie Calderon, Class of 2022, El Paso, Texas
- Riley Cooney, Class of 2022, Loveland, Colorado
- Ethan Crockett, Class of 2022, Baxter Springs
- Karsyn Dahl, Class of 2022, West Point, Utah
- Christian DeShazo, Class of 2022, Park Hills, Missouri
- Casey Douglas, Class of 2022, Los Altos, California
- Cortez Downey, Class of 2022, Edmond, Oklahoma
- Hannah Eubanks, Class of 2022, Tempe, Arizona
- Alec Feather, Class of 2022, Overland Park
- Cayce Good, Class of 2022, Ogden, Iowa
- Tyler Hellenbrand, Class of 2022, Barneveld, Wisconsin
- Rachel Highsmith, Class of 2022, Hesston
- Simrat Johal, Class of 2022, Springfield, Missouri
- Chloe Ketchmark, Class of 2022, Overland Park
- Katherine Lenson, Class of 2022, Overland Park
- Cathryn Lind, Class of 2022, Derby
- Lauren Mangiameli, Class of 2022, Omaha, Nebraska
- Mary McMullen, Class of 2022, Yelm, Washington
- Audrey Nelson, Class of 2022, Prairie Village
- Stephany Rohleder, Class of 2022, Topeka
- Olivia Ruschill, Class of 2022, Shawnee
- Riley Schumacher, Class of 2022, Olathe
- Grace Seger, Class of 2022, Olathe
- Kendra Stacey, Class of 2022, Kansas City, Kansas
- Edwin Sullivan, Class of 2022, Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Abigail Weber, Class of 2022, Olathe
- Alex Williams, Class of 2022
- Heidi Wolff-Stanton, Class of 2022, Camdenton, Missouri.
Photo: KU Law students Ryan Love, Cathryn Lind and Joan Lee, all participants of the Guardianship Clinic. Students worked with local agencies to provide services in adult guardianship cases for families.