The Legal Assistance Committee promotes the establishment and maintenance of organizations that provide legal services to low and moderate income individuals. It explores new ways to increase the accessibility of legal services. The committee provides encouragement and assistance to others in improving legal services delivery while promoting pro bono service to Wisconsin Lawyers as a way to give back.
To that end, the Legal Assistance Committee recognizes attorneys and organizations for their outstanding pro bono services through the
Pro Bono Attorney/Organization of the Year Awards.
Maggie Niebler-Brown
is the Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. Maggie graduated from Rutgers University School of Law - Camden. After law school, she received an Independence Fellowship to work at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of Pennsylvania (HIAS PA) representing immigrant survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and violent crime. She later developed HIAS PA's Youth Advocacy Project where her practice focused on representing unaccompanied immigrant children.
Maggie joined Legal Action of Wisconsin in 2014 as the Coordinator of the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP). She manages and oversees the pro bono program throughout Legal Action's 39 county service area. This includes recruiting, training and providing technical support for volunteer attorneys. Since 2016, Legal Action has received two Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants from the Legal Service Corporation, which funds civil legal aid projects that support new, robust pro bono partnerships through collaboration, innovation, and replication of effective practices. This funding launched the two largest pro bono projects at Legal Action, the Eviction Defense Project, and the Student Legal Aid Project.
These projects focus pro bono resources on two of Legal Action's civil legal aid priorities, housing stability and eliminating barriers to education and employment.
The need for legal services increased during the pandemic, while the VLC's ability to serve was also impacted. Even in the face of this tremendous challenge, Maggie created a VLC program that serves hundreds. Maggie's nominator, Jacob Haller, says: “I have continually been impressed by her ability to adapt and innovate for the benefit of others."
Watch the presentation of the Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award
