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  • May 15, 2024

    Representing a Community of Caring: Philomena Kebec is Pro Bono Attorney of the Year

    Each year, the State Bar honors volunteers who stepped forward to address the legal needs of Wisconsin's most vulnerable residents. Find out more about Odanah lawyer Philomena Kebec, recipient of this year’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award.

    Shannon Green

    Philomena Kebec

    May 15, 2024 – Philomena Kebec’s legal practice philosophy reflects the traditions in her community of caring for the most vulnerable and living a life of service.

    “Come to Bad River any day of the week and you’ll see folks pulling extra hours to make things better for the kids and protect water for the whole wide world. It’s our way of life.”

    Kebec of Odanah is the recipient of this year’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award. The award, presented by the State Bar’s Legal Assistance Committee, recognizes dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to low-income individuals or those who develop innovative ways to deliver volunteer legal services.

    Kebec is the economic development coordinator for the Bad River Band of Lake Superior-Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Odanah, serving her tribe and community in legal and nonlegal capacities.

    She is also an associate justice for the Leech Lake Tribal Appellate Court, and an instructor in Indian law at the University of Minnesota at Duluth.

    “For me, this award recognizes my community – the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.”

    Kebec is a leader with the Gwayakobimaadiziwin Bad River Harm Reduction Program, which supports members of the community who are struggling with addiction. She worked with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) to create a national standard Harm Reduction Framework.

    In addition to her existing tribal law work with Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Wisconsin and Leech Lake in Minnesota, Kebec has joined multiple tribal bars in Wisconsin in order to represent clients across jurisdictions. She also sits on many boards related to her local community, Native American issues, and harm reduction.

    Work with Judicare Legal Aid

    Kebec has worked with Judicare Legal Aid (formerly Wisconsin Judicare) for more than seven years, taking pro bono cases on a wide range of family and housing issues.

    “Judicare is an outstanding organization that provides low-income individuals with access to high-quality representation on critical civil cases: domestic violence, disability rights, housing, public benefits and others,” Kebec said.

    Her cultural background, coming from “a tribal nation that has been sabotaged by colonial and genocidal tactics meant to undermine our people, culturally and economically, informs my perspective on the value of Legal Service Corporations, and especially Judicare,” Kebec said.

    Her dedication is apparent. “Philomena takes some of Judicare’s strangest cases with the most desperate clients and far-flung jurisdictions,” said Paige Juel, private attorney involvement director for Judicare Legal Aid. “From consultations to full representation in state and tribal courts, she treats her clients with care, compassion, and respect.”

    Kebec said she is grateful for the partnership Judicare has fostered with tribal nations in Wisconsin, including “representing countless tribal members on cases involving their children, their homes and their safety. Judicare and other legal service corporations have been involved in the fight for justice for tribal causes as well – treaty rights and taxation issues. I am proud to be a small part of the Judicare story.”

    Kebec has a special gift of meeting her clients “where they are at,” and helping them 110% with all of her expertise, said Juel.

    “Judicare is grateful to every private attorney who works with our clients. Philomena is a shining example that Wisconsin attorneys can have more than one passion, use more than one skillset, and serve more than one commitment, including impactful pro bono work,” said Juel.

    “With her duties serving her tribe and community in legal and non-legal capacities, she is truly going out of her way to serve her pro bono clients throughout northern Wisconsin, several tribes, and even across the country,” Juel said.

    Celebrate these 15 Leaders in the Law

    Member Recognition Celebration collage

    They are members of the legal community who make a difference – by living a lifetime of service, mentoring others, offering their pro bono services, and going the extra mile. Congratulations to these 15 award recipients, all leaders in the law.

    Join Us at the Annual Meeting & Conference in June in Milwaukee

    Want to celebrate a friend, family member, or colleague being honored at the Member Recognition Celebration? Join us for this free event 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, at the KI Center in Green Bay.

    The celebration takes place at the State Bar Annual Meeting & Conference, June 19-21. Register now to choose from more than 26 CLE sessions covering top trends, hot topics, and enduring advice for today’s lawyers.

    In addition, featured plenary speakers, the Legal Expo, networking luncheons, the Presidential Swearing-in Ceremony, and the Lawyers at Lambeau All-Conference Bash will help you connect, learn, and relax.

    Reserve your spot today!

    A Long History of Pro Bono Service

    Kebec started working on pro bono cases while in law school. She learned how to take on tough cases working with her mentor and former employer, Minnesota attorney Mark Gardner. He took the most challenging cases in his work with the Volunteer Lawyers Network in Minneapolis, including an international child kidnapping case.

    In 2023, Kebec took the most pro bono cases of any Judicare attorney, including a challenging and urgent family case that spanned multiple states involving two children abducted from their home state outside Wisconsin.

    “My client was frantic when we first talked,” Kebec said. “I was able to press the right levers of public safety and justice for their safe return home.”

    “I might be a bit of an adrenaline junkie because the cases always start out seemingly impossible and it’s stressful to take on the responsibility. But they’re like any other case: you need to be familiar with the facts and the law, create a plan of attack, assemble allies, and execute your plan. Facilitating a good outcome for a vulnerable client is the sweetest reward,” she said.

    Kebec ensured the children were safe in Wisconsin and returned to their mom as soon as possible. Her advocacy led to criminal charges against the abductor, said Juel.

    “Philomena is a shining example that Wisconsin attorneys can have more than one passion, use more than one skillset, and serve more than one commitment, including impactful pro bono work,” said Juel.

    Pro Bono Honor Society: 280 Lawyers x 50 Hours or More = 14,000+ Hours

    Kebec is one of 280 extraordinary Wisconsin lawyers who made a real commitment to pro bono service and who make a difference in their communities. In turn, they are recognized and honored through the State Bar of Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society.

    The Pro Bono Honor Society recognizes Wisconsin lawyers who volunteer at least 50 hours of their time annually to help expand access to justice for low-income Wisconsin residents.

    If you will donate more than 50 hours of pro bono services in 2024, the State Bar of Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society would like to recognize your service and inspire more lawyers to follow your example.

    Join the Honor Society by completing the certification form on the Pro Bono Honor Society webpage at the end of the year, and sending it to the State Bar no later than March 1, 2025.

    Eligible pro bono legal services for this program means the direct provision of legal services without fee or expectation of fee, or at a substantially reduced fee, to:

    • persons of limited means;

    • organizations in matters that are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means; or

    • charitable, religious, civic, community governmental and educational organizations to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties, or public rights so long as a substantial majority of such services benefit persons of limited means or organizations that serve persons of limited means.

    2023 Pro Bono Honor Society

    Congratulations to these 280 Wisconsin lawyers recognized as 2023 Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society members:

    Auriel Ackerman

    McKenzie Ahmet

    Shannon A. Allen

    Scott T. Allen

    Timothy D. Anderson

    Scott D. Anderson

    Ellen E. Anderson

    Samuel Anderson

    Timothy A. Andryk

    Kelsey E. Annen

    Deborah A. Asher

    Elise A. Ashley

    Ruba Assaf

    Kirsten A. Atanasoff

    Kelsey E. Bailey

    John T. Bannen

    David B. Bartel

    Steven R. Barth

    Karen M. Bauer

    Nina G. Beck

    Amanda K. Beggs

    Christopher Beglinger

    Michelle A. Behnke

    Brett S. Bellmore

    Kyndle Bennett

    Melita M. Biese

    Jennifer L. Binkley

    Abigail Bogli

    Larry J. Bonney

    Ann T. Bowe

    David Britton

    Harper Brown

    Michael R. Burton

    Sara Butler

    Michael J. Calabrese

    Dawn R. Caldart

    Thomas D. Cameron

    Nicholas D. Castronovo

    James R. Cauley

    Kristin L. Chapman

    Katherine L. Charlton

    Max B. Chester

    Iris M. Christenson

    Megan Christopher

    Alexandra R. Cole

    Amanda E.B. Collins

    Catarina A. Colón

    Paige A. Conley

    Will M. Conley

    Nicholas S. Covek

    David R. Cross

    Nancy Cruz

    Charles G. Curtis

    Collin J. Dahl

    Elizabeth M. Davis

    Carmen N. Decot

    Erin K. Deeley

    Frank C. DeGuire Jr.

    Kevin J. Demet

    Joseph S. Diedrich

    Brian K. Dollhopf

    Caitlyn Doyle

    Kaitlin Dryden

    Robert H. Duffy

    Rachel Dykema

    Erik K. Eisenmann

    A.J. Fabianczyk

    Alanna J. Feddick-Goodwin

    Emily M. Feinstein

    John R. FitzGerald

    Blaine D. Fix

    Juan J. Fonseca Angel

    Victor J. Forberger

    Kristin C. Foster

    Andrea L. Gage

    Fred Gants

    Carly Gerads

    Caleb R. Gerbitz

    Sara T. Ghadiri

    Michael J. Gonring

    James A. Gramling Jr.

    Robert J. Gray

    Edward J. Hammond

    Andrew C. Hanson

    Lauren Harpke

    Amy T. Harriman

    Miles W. Hartley

    Michael W. Hatch

    Kristine L. Havlik

    Reid Hazelton

    Gregory Heinen

    Janet L. Heins

    Philip A. Helgeson

    Morgan J. Hines

     

    Kari S. Hoel

    David P. Hollander

    Thomas R. Hutchison

    Matthew K. Impola

    Jonathan R. Ingrisano

    Jack Iwrey

    Daniel M. Janssen

    David V. Jennings III

    Nicholas R. Johnson

    DeVonna Joy

    Emmaline S. Jurgena

    Alexander Karnopp

    Timothy T. Kay

    Bridgette J. Keating

    Philomena Kebec

    Kelsey Kerr

    Amanda Kerr

    Bruce A. Keyes

    Nicholas William Kitzman

    Peter P. Klepacz

    Naomie Kweyu

    Catherine A. La Fleur

    Eric Lauria Banta

    Justin D. Lauria-Banta

    Lisa M. Lawless

    Jose A. Lazaro

    Zhu Julie Lee

    Matthew C. Lein

    Alyssa M. LeRoy

    Michael A. Levey

    Miranda L. Lezcano

    Mitchell D. Lindstrom

    Benjamin Lockwood

    Bryce A. Loken

    Kevin M. Long

    Jack D. Longert

    Kass Longie

    Jessica S. Lothman

    Paul A. Lucey

    Jennifer M. Luther

    Kevin J. Malaney

    Kurt A.F. Malmquist II

    Jeffrey A. Mandell

    Mont L. Martin

    Jennifer S. Martinez

    Amelia L. McCarthy

    Renee Medved

    James C. Mentkowski

    Bryan T. Mette

    Laura P. Mikeworth

    Owen F. Miklos

    Jay W. Miller

    James D. Miller

    Heidi N. Miller

    Lillian S. Mobley

    Rachel K. Monaco

    Jason Moore

    Michelle Moran

    Isaac J. Morris

    John G. Movroydis

    Ahmad Murrar

    Elizabeth L. Neal

    Natalie S. Neals

    Andrew L. Nelson

    John A. Neuenschwander

    Maxfield E. Neuhaus

    Charles Niemann

    David V. Northcutt

    Terry L. Nussberger

    Angela O'Brien

    Mackenzie O'Connell

    Brandon P. O'Connor

    Nathan Oesch

    Alan C. Olson

    Michael Joseph Ostermeyer

    Seep Paliwal

    Nicole A. Paterson

    Timothy J. Patterson

    Jeffry J. Patzke

    Rebecca J. Paul

    Mary H. Payne

    Eric G. Pearson

    Mary E. Peranteau

    Nancy K. Peterson

    Olya Petukhova

    Randy J. Pflum

    Arthur T. Phillips

    Thomas J. Phillips

    Paul R. Piaskoski

    Elisabeth Platt

    Douglas M. Poland

    Timothy H. Posnanski

    Adam R. Prinsen

    Gail R. Prock

     

    Patrick Proctor-Brown

    Joseph E. Puchner

    Mehak W. Qureshi

    Olivia Radics

    Douglas M. Raines

    Ryan D. Rainey

    David W. Reinecke

    Anna E. Rinehart

    Francis X. Rivard

    Sheree K. Robertson

    Samuel G. Robertson

    Mark Ropella

    Tyler Roth

    Dee Rowe

    Patrick C. Rowe

    Brandon Ruffalo

    Joseph M. Russell

    James L. Santelle

    James E. Schacht

    Deborah K. Scheid

    Jill R. Schilling

    Aaron E. Schindler

    Steven H. Schinker

    Samuel P. Schlewitz

    Linda S. Schmidt

    Thomas R. Schrimpf

    Gerald M. Schwartz

    Hannah Schwartz

    Brian J. Seidl

    Margaret M. Serrano

    Riley Sexton

    Sopen Shah

    Allison V. Shepard

    Elizabeth Shirreff

    Ellen A. Sinclair

    John S. Skilton

    Carol Nolan Skinner

    Jessica K. Slind

    Jason Smathers

    Anita M. Sorensen

    Grant S. Sovern

    Matthew J. Splitek

    Emily Logan Stedman

    Gerald C. Sternberg

    Shari L. Stevens

    Grace Stewart

    Meredith Stier

    Quinn A. Stigers

    Matthew Stoiber

    Pamela G. Stokke-Ceci

    Elizabeth Stone

    Anne Thomas Sulton

    George M. Tauscheck

    Evan Tenebruso

    Shawn X. Thao

    Jacob Thorne

    Robert A. Thorson

    L. Michael Tobin

    David Treadaway

    Naikang Tsao

    Jody L. Usow

    Ryan L. Van Den Elzen

    James B. Vitrano

    Christina L. Wabiszewski

    Eido M. Walny

    Robert T. Ward

    Marquis Ward

    Daryl R. Waters

    David Watson

    Saralinda R. Watts

    Nick J. Welle

    Daniel S. Welytok

    Thomas C. Wendt

    David J. Wenthold

    Cullen J. Werwie

    Steven C. Wheeler

    Parker White III

    Chelsea A. Whitley

    Jacqueline Wilcox

    Brenna Wildt

    Apallonia C. Wilhelm

    Katelynn M. Williams

    Amy E. Wochos

    Michael Yang

    Lilah J. Zajac

    Nicholas C. Zales

    Michael D. Zeka

    Lauren N. Zenk

    Megan Ziesmann

    Kiel J.M. Zillmer

    Kathryn E. zumBrunnen

    Sarah Anne Zylstra



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