KU Law students make 2023 honor roll for pro bono service
LAWRENCE – Sixty-three University of Kansas School of Law students provided 1,927 hours of free legal services during the 2022-2023 academic year, earning them a spot on KU Law’s Pro Bono Honor Roll.
Students prepared tax returns for low-income residents, represented the interests of children as court-appointed special advocates, helped clients expunge past criminal convictions and prepared guardianship petitions for families seeking to secure their adult children’s futures.
“Pro bono service is a great opportunity for law students to experience firsthand how a lawyer can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life,” said Meredith Schnug, clinical associate professor and associate director of the Legal Aid Clinic. “Our hope is that these experiences in law school inspire students to continue their commitment to pro bono service throughout their careers.”
KU Law defines pro bono work as uncompensated, law-related work that benefits the public, such as through a nonprofit organization or government agency.
Additionally, the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) established a Pro Bono Honor Roll this year. Schools within the AALS may now nominate and recognize one student annually for this honor.
This year, KU Law nominated Douglas Bartel, a 2023 graduate. While at KU Law, Bartel performed more than 122 hours of service for various organizations, including the KU Court of Parking Appeals, nonprofit legal organizations assisting immigrants, the Johnson County Guardianship Assistance Program and Jackson County CASA in Kansas City, where he served as a court-appointed special advocate.
“I came to law school with an unwavering commitment to moving my community forward,” Bartel said. “While the demands of law school are many, pro bono work was always my way of recentering and recharging. This nomination is an honor and a privilege, as is being a part of a law school community that values and celebrates pro bono work.”
The following students completed 15 hours or more of pro bono service during the 2022-2023 academic year. Students are listed by name, graduation year and hometown:
- Vincent Amiri, 2024, Leawood
- Douglas Bartel, 2023, Kansas City, Missouri
- Liam Bigbee, 2025, Baltimore, Maryland
- Chris Birzer, 2024, Leawood
- Melanie Bock, 2025, Overland Park
- Amanda Brauninger, 2025, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Brooke Brownlee, 2024, Merriam
- Kaitlyn Cairns, 2025, Andover
- Dane Caster, 2025, Oswego, New York
- Jake Combs, 2025, Overland Park
- Chrissy Crowell, 2025, St. Louis, Missouri
- Matthew Firnhaber, 2024, Overland Park
- Naomi Franklin, 2024, Rochester, New York
- Ryan Fuentes, 2025, Thornton, Colorado
- Jamie Gallagher, 2024, West Point, New York
- Gabby Garrison, 2025, Wichita
- Emily Gay, 2024, Grimes, Iowa
- Kat Girod, 2023, Overland Park
- Shannon Greene, 2024, McLouth
- Kylie Hance, 2025, St. Louis, Missouri
- Jared Harpt, 2023, Overland Park
- Rachel Henderson, 2024, Wichita
- Steven Hendler, 2023, Leawood
- Reagan Hoskin, 2025, Hannibal, Missouri
- Joshua Hukil, 2025, West Valley City, Utah
- Skylee James, 2025, San Diego, California
- Charlotte Kukundakwe, 2023, Uganda
- Lauren Lile, 2025, Kansas City, Missouri
- CyLeigh Maroney, 2024, Houston, Texas
- Caitlin McPartland, 2024, Silver Spring, Maryland
- Bethany Pace Danley, 2024, Denver, Colorado
- Lauren Page, 2023, Olathe
- John Racy, 2025, Lawrence
- Toni Ruo, 2023, Shawnee
- Katie Siderchuk, 2025, Westminster, Maryland
- Makaela Stevens, 2024, Garden City
- Alden Vogel, 2024, Kansas City, Kansas
- Haylee Weissenbach, 2025, Lawrence
- Tara Wolff, 2025, Shawnee
- Connor Works, 2024, Topeka
In addition, 11 students were honored with Pro Bono Distinction for completing 50 hours or more of pro bono service throughout their law school career. Collectively, members of the Class of 2023 completed 1,317 hours of pro bono service.
Students who received Pro Bono Distinction were recognized at the law school’s Hooding Ceremony on May 13:
- Douglas Bartel, 2023, Kansas City, Missouri
- Kat Girod, 2023, Overland Park
- Jared Harpt, 2023, Overland Park
- Steven Hendler, 2023, Leawood
- Amanda McElfresh, 2023, Manhattan
- Lindsay McQuinn, 2023, Overland Park
- Allyson Monson, 2023, Clark, South Dakota
- Roman Panickar, 2023, Frederick, Maryland
- Toni Ruo, 2023, Shawnee
- Kevin Salazar, 2023, Tucson, Arizona
- Alexandra Speakar, 2023, Lawrence