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
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 |