Somebody noticed.
Hours of work, years of commitment: somebody noticed attorney Mike Stepka's pro-bono contributions to the community. On Wednesday, four area organizations surprised Stepka, of Stepka & Aprea, with a plaque and a heartfelt thanks during a ceremony at the Pro-Bono Service Recognition reception. Held at the Top of the Park in the Park Place Hotel, the event drew about 40 attendees.
The Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association, Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Third Level Crisis Center and the Women's Resource Center - Grand Traverse Area sponsored the event. These organizations launched the recognition award in 2005 as a way to both acknowledge an outstanding volunteer and encourage more attorneys to provide their expertise to individuals and families in need.
Stepka's contributions span 16 years of service at Third Level's free Legal Aid Clinic plus a willingness to take pro-bono cases for Legal Services of Northern Michigan and at the monthly Pro Se Divorce Clinic at the Women's Resource Center.
"The reason why is that in Michigan our rules of professional responsibility don't require that lawyers do pro-bono work, although other states do,” said Stepka of his volunteer work. "I guess I was lucky enough to be in a community where there's a real need for pro-bono work of all kinds.”
"It's rewarding to know that you're helping someone in need,” he added. "And I'm a strong proponent to suggest it to my peers.”
Previous award winners include David Becker the inaugural year and Paul Bare last year, both of whom attended the event to help celebrate Stepka's recognition.
"Winning it last year was a great honor and what was nice about it was that somebody noticed,” said Bare.
Since 2004, the Law - Enhanced Access Partnership (LEAP) program has served people who do not quality for free legal aid at Legal Services of Northern Michigan but cannot afford to pay for an attorney. Funded by the Three Generations Circle of Women Givers, LEAP works to coordinate pro-bono hours from area attorneys at programs such as the Third Level Free Legal Aid Clinic, the Pro Se Divorce Clinic and the Women Lawyer Clinic. The concept of LEAP is the brainchild of Jo Bullis, executive director of the Women's Resource Center.
"Really what we were trying to do is let people know where to get assistance when they need legal help,” she said. "If you've never been through the court system before, it can be very overwhelming.”
With more than 400 lawyers in the Grant Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association, there is a lot of talent and expertise to be tapped. With a going rate of $1,500-5,000 for a retainer just to take a case, the need for pro-bono services continues to grow.
In 2005, Legal Aid Services helped 647 people while in 2006 they served 864 — without an increase in their budget. Local professionals in private practice willing to participate in a pro-bono program fill the gap.
"It usually is the same 40-45 people, but it is increasing,” said Mary Kavanaugh-Gahn, deputy director of Legal Aid Services. "Part of the intent is to find more attorneys to participate.”
Jennifer Berry, president of the Women Lawyers Association, has been in practice two and a half years. She has also been donating her services on a pro-bono basis to the Women Lawyers Clinic and the Pro Se Divorce Clinic for two and a half years, kicking off her legal career by giving back.
Motivated by the need she sees, Berry finds an inherent benefit in helping people without charging them.
"A lot of helping these people is helping them focus on what their legal issue is, narrowing their focus,” she said. "It's helpful to narrow their issue and you're able to help them in a small way you can.”