2009 Pro Bono Paralegal of the Year Award

 Paralegal Kim Marie Smith of Faegre & Benson LLP received the 2009 Pro Bono Paralegal of the Year Award at the Colorado Paralegal Day reception on May 7, 2009. 

Agencies that Smith has served in the past couple years include:  Metro Volunteer Lawyers Post-Decree Clinic, Habitat for Humanity, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center's Denver Domestic Violence Program, Mount St. Vincent Children's Home, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center's Dandelion Project, the Legal Services Department of Project Homeless Connect. She also helped with benefit events for the Denver Children's Home, Urban Peak and the My Hope Chest Foundation. She assisted attorneys last year with two U-Visa pro bono immigration matters involving a child crime victim. Smith offered her paralegal skills for more than 200 hours in 2008, and encourages her peers to get involved in projects. 

The Colorado Bar Association's Paralegal Committee presented the 2009 Pro Bono Paralegal of the Year award in the main lobby of the CBA offices at a reception celebrating the annual Colorado Paralegal Day.  The award was started by the Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association in 2002.

All five nominees for this year's award who were selected were recognized for their outstanding, important contributions to furthering access to justice for the underserved population. The other four selected nominees include:

OD Duhu of the U.S.D.A. Forest Service
Bonnie Sauer of Hogan & Hartson
Cindy Hendrix of the Larimer County Bar Association
RoxAnn Mack of Faegre & Benson LLP

The Paralegal of the Year Award honors the paralegal whose efforts best exhibit a commitment to pro bono activities, serving the indigent with legal assistance in times of need.  Smith received a plaque and a $1,000 donation made to a pro bono or charitable organization of her choice.  Smith chose the Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, with special designation to the Dandelion Project. Smith's name and employer has been added to a list of recipients on a plaque at the CBA offices.

Many thanks to our generous sponsors of this year's reception: