In May 2009, Leonard, Street and Deinard received the American Bar Association Litigation Section's John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award. This prestigious award recognizes those who ensure that our legal system meets the needs of the indigent and other persons in need of access to justice.

Bob Rothman, left, chair of the ABA Litigation Section, presents the Wisdom Award to firm shareholders.

The award reflects the firm's 87-year history of providing pro bono legal services and other contributions to the community. The Legal Clinic partnership in the Phillips neighborhood, the firm's representation of community nonprofits and its commitment to the Minority Scholars Program continue the firm's tradition of giving back to those in need.

Each year Leonard, Street and Deinard recognizes its volunteer attorneys and those who have so graciously contributed outstanding pro bono efforts to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. The Pro Bono Committee selects award recipients in four categories: Legal Clinic Volunteer of the Year, Pro Bono Service to the Indigent, Pro Bono Service to the Community and Pro Bono Service in the Public Interest. Please view page 2 of the 2008 Pro Bono and Community Service Annual Report for last year's award recipients.

In October 2009, a team of Leonard, Street and Deinard attorneys received the Distinguished Service Award for Children from the Children's Law Center of Minnesota. This prestigious award recognized the team's efforts to promote the rights and interests of Minnesota children who are in foster care or who are wards of the state. The following firm attorneys were honored for their work: Jim Dorsey, Dominic Cecere, Robert Devolve, Jeff Ehrich, Claire Gagnon, Robert Kugler, Daniel Palmquist, Elizabeth Papacek, Matthew Seltzer and Amy Walsh Kern.

The firm would like to thank the attorneys, paralegals and summer associates noted below, each of whom contributed more than 50 hours of pro bono service in 2008. Because of their interest in and dedication to pro bono involvement, we were able to give back to those in need and exceed our Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge^© last year.