Oct. 19, 2011 – The Milwaukee Bar Association (MBA) recognized
Kristine Havlik, Foley & Lardner LLP, earlier this month with its Pro Bono Publico Award for her outstanding leadership, service to her community and service to the legal profession through her role in developing and implementing the
Wisconsin Wills for Heroes project. Havlik received the award at the MBA’s 8th Annual State of the Court Luncheon at Oct. 12, 2011, Milwaukee.
Wisconsin Wills for Heroes is sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin’s pro bono program and was developed with the generous support of Foley & Lardner LLP, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, LexisNexis, HotDocs, and the State Bar Young Lawyers Division.
Part of a national program that was created by the Wills for Heroes Foundation after Sept. 11, 2001, Wisconsin Wills for Heroes provides basic estate planning services at no charge to eligible first responders, including police, firefighters, and EMTs, and their families. The program launched in Wisconsin in the fall of 2009.
Milwaukee attorney Kristine Havlik witnesses signature of Justin Wheelock, a Stoughton volunteer firefighter at the first test clinic in 2009.
Since 2008, Havlik has coordinated a team of volunteers from Foley & Lardner for this project and she was instrumental in leading the team that developed Wisconsin-specific estate planning forms, organized CLE training for volunteers, prepared educational materials for first responders, and drafted the procedures necessary to make the program a success.
“Public reaction to the Wills for Heroes project in the media, in the first responder community and among volunteers has been exceptional,” says State Bar Pro Bono Coordinator Jeffery Brown. “Wisconsin Wills for Heroes held its first test clinic at the State Bar in October 2009 for a local firefighter and his spouse. Since then, over 200 project volunteers have completed more than 500 estate plans for Wisconsin first responders and their spouses or partners across the state.”
With Havlik’s help, the program now has volunteer hubs in Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay and Wausau. Havlik leads the Milwaukee volunteer hub where she often serves as an estate planning specialist at events and she is helping to continuously improve the project.
Explore the State Bar Wills for Heroes page on WisBar to learn more about eligibility requirements and to view the schedule of clinics.
Related
